The Marion County Health Department is responsible for protecting and promoting the health of Marion County residents, assessing health status and needs, developing policies and priorities, and assuring the communities that public health needs are met.
At Marion County Health Department, we offer a number of services to our visitors. To find out more about what we have available please click the button below.
Why is the flu vaccine essential this year? Talking Points, FAQ’s, Misconceptions, Facts & Myths
New Cases: 81
Reinfected: 4
Total Cases: 1913
Total Hospitalized: 25
Active Cases: 254
Total recovered/released: 1642
Total deaths: 21
POSITIVITY RATE 11/15/20 – 11/21/20: 22.7%
**Hospitalizations are reflected in the case total, daily admissions and discharges may occur which can change the total of hospitalizations each day.
**Our numbers are in real time. We receive, confirm, trace and post on our website. Official websites lag behind several days to weeks. On 9/14/20, 9/15/20, 9/16/20, 9/17/20, 9/18/20, 9/22/20, 10/8/20, 10/9/20, 10/21/20, 10/22/20, 10/28/20, 11/4/20, 11/5/20, 11/6/20, 11/11/20, 11/16/20, 11/19/20, 11/20/20 total case numbers and total recovered/released numbers were adjusted to correct reporting and/or count errors.
**Our numbers represent individual cases; which means that one person may be tested numerous times but only counted one time. We are utilizing the new CDC guidelines based on symptoms and severity of illness. Persons with positive results are evaluated and may be released from quarantine in 10 – 20 days without further testing, depending on their level of illness. The health department will communicate with those positive cases and give guidance. Exposed persons must self-quarantine 14 days.
For more information, visit the DHSS website or the CDC website
Missouri COVID-19 hotline: 877-435-8411.
I was on a call yesterday with Governor Parsons and during his talk, he stated that rural Missouri needs to step up and do better. Missouri positive case numbers have doubled in the last 30 days and are projected to continue increasing at an alarming rate.
Marion County is no exception to these statistics. Our daily positive counts continue to grow, our deaths are increasing, and our hospitalizations are growing. This means that we have fewer healthcare workers, caregivers, teachers, clerks, drivers, etc. due to isolation and quarantine.
It does not mean that our demand for services decreased, in fact more will need to be hospitalized, more will need to receive medical care, funeral services will increase, and businesses will have fewer staff or not be able to operate. The consequences of not doing anything puts our county at great risk!
What can we do as a county to slow the spread of this virus?
I am asking that everyone think about compromises and the people in our community. Think about respect for human life and each other’s welfare. This is not a political issue, it is not to take away rights, it is not to mandate and take away our freedom of choice. Simple basic common-sense actions can help Marion County slow the spread of COVID-19.
The CDC has now stated that wearing appropriate cloth masks (worn over the nose and mouth) protects you as well as those around you. Everyone (two years and up) wearing a mask in public places would be a great start. Sneezing and coughing into your elbow (covering your face), this is recommended for all illnesses and is just common courtesy. Good hand washing is not new, we touch surfaces with unknown germs, so remember to wash your hands, and if you’re unable to, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid gatherings; go when there are less people.
The virus is transmitted from person to person; it does not matter if they are family, friends, co-workers or strangers. Social distance.
Stay home if you are sick!
COVID-19 does not just present with a fever, most positive cases never have a fever. If you have symptoms, question them. Many positive cases thought it was just their allergies or sinuses. Be mindful that some positive cases have no symptoms, some have a severe illness and complications that can result in death.
If you have symptoms, please get tested.
When you get tested, remember you need to quarantine until you receive your results. If you are negative, then you are no longer under quarantine, unless you are a close contact to a positive case. If you test positive, you will be in a 10-day isolation. The health department will receive only the positive case information, two to five days after you have been notified by the testing provider. We will contact you and review your symptoms and isolation dates.
The health department receives hundreds of calls and notifications everyday and is working continuously to contact those who are positive. If you just tested the day or night before, please do not call for your instructions, we will not have your results yet. These calls place the older notifications further behind and delay contact tracing.
We all need to work together, think outside the box to accomplish this urgent task of reducing the spread of COVID-19. Missouri is the show me state, so Marion County let’s show everyone we can do this!!
Jean McBride
573-221-1166
