County moves up to yellow level on COVID warning system – Leader Publications

Jefferson County has been moved up to the yellow, or medium, level on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) three-color COVID-19 warning system.

Prior to that recent change, the county had been in the green, or lowest, level of the system for 12 weeks.

For the last four to six weeks, we've kind of been seeing a little bit of an increase in our case numbers each week, said Brianne Zwiener, Jefferson County Health Department public information officer.

The Health Department reported that the county had about 630 active COVID-19 cases as of today, June 6..

The county also has had a total of 55,360 coronavirus cases and a total of 548 COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to the Health Department dashboard.

Zwiener said she was anticipating the rise in cases because Jefferson County tends to follow what happens in St. Louis County, which now is at the red, or highest, level, on the warning system.

Also she predicted cases would rise after the Mothers Day and Memorial Day holidays.

People get together for things like that, and it can tend to be an opportunity for a virus to spread, she said.

The city of St. Louis also is in the red level again.

Zwiener said it's possible Jefferson County could soon find itself at the red level again.

However, we do have some control on some things that we can do to help, she said.

Zwiener said she recommends people wear a mask indoors and wash their hands, especially if they are immunocompromised.

She also advises people to stay home if they are sick.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force, which reports data from the four major hospital systems in the area, reported that as of today, June 6, there were a total of 201 inpatient confirmed COVID-19 positive hospitalizations and 18 COVID-19-positive patients in the intensive care unit. In addition, a total of seven COVID-19 positive patients were on ventilators as of today.

The Health Department also recommends people who are exposed to COVID-19 or have COVID-19 symptoms follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested. Those who are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease are advised to have a plan for rapid testing if needed and to talk to their healthcare provider about whether they need to take other steps to limit the spread of the diseases.

People may sign up for a vaccine appointment through the Health Department by going to the state vaccine Navigator website at covidvaccine.mo.gov/navigator. Or they may call 877-435-8411. Or, to find another local vaccine site, visit vaccinefinder.org.

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County moves up to yellow level on COVID warning system - Leader Publications