Springfield-Greene County Health Department reports 4 additional COVID-19 deaths

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - The Springfield-Greene County Health Department announced the deaths of four Greene County residents from COVID-19.

Health leaders say the victims include a woman in her 60s, a man his 70s, a woman in her 80s and a woman in her 90s. These victims suffered from underlying health conditions. The county health department reports 51 deaths in the month of October. That compares to the 128 deaths throughout the entire pandemic.

See the latest numbers of cases of the coronavirus through out the Ozarks by clicking here.

“More and more families continue to grieve the loss of a loved one taken too soon by this virus. Lives quite literally depend on us wearing our masks, washing our hands and watching our distance,” stated Director of Health Clay Goddard.

For more information on the preventative measures we can all take to help slow the spread of COVID-19, click here.

Who is at risk

Having an underlying health condition should not be interpreted as an individual being sick, feeble or infirm. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified two groups at higher risk for severe health outcomes from COVID-19: older adults and people with underlying health conditions. Underlying health conditions can impact anyone at any age and include common diagnoses that many Greene County residents live with. For instance:

16% of Greene County residents are 65 or older,
33% are considered obese and
11% have asthma

Other health conditions identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as include, but are not limited to:

Cancer
Chronic kidney disease
Lung disease
Obesity
Serious heart conditions
Diabetes
Pregnancy

A full list of conditions can be viewed on the CDC’s website.

Long-term care in Greene County

The individuals who died from COVID-19 was associated with long-term care.

Long-term care facilities are required to report a positive case among staff or residents to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services within 24 hours so guidance can be provided on comprehensive testing, isolation and quarantine instructions, personal protective equipment and staffing. Guidance for long-term care facilities can be found here.