County’s COVID-19 Count Holding At Six Cases; Virus Cited As Contributing But Not Main Factor In One Death

Ste. Genevieve County’s number of confirmed coronavirus cases jumped to six on Wednesday, April 1, but no additional cases had been reported in the following four days.
On its social media post of that day, the health department said the three positive test results received on April 1 “were expected as they are close family members to the original two positive cases.”
The post said that those who tested positive had been quarantined since the first two cases were identified on March 28 and that all individuals who had contact with those who tested positive, as identified by those who tested, were contacted by the health department.
As of April 6, 108 tests had been performed in Ste. Genevieve County with 77 negative and 25 pending in addition to the six positive.
Ste. Genevieve County Health Department administrator Sandra Bell reported on Sunday that there had been one death of a county resident in which the coronavirus was a factor, but it was not the primary cause.
She said the individual had “multiple medical issues” and already was on “end-of-life care.”
“The individual did test positive for coronavirus, but that’s not the cause of death,” Bell said. “It’s a contributing factor.
“I think it’s important to understand individuals who are exposed to this with other complicating medical issues are so at risk,” Bell said.
(Information from interviewing Sandra Bell, from the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.)