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UPDATED 8:30 P.M. TO INCLUDE PATIENT'S NAME “I just hope people do take it serious, because I was one of those that wasn’t taking it very serious and it almost cost me everything.” Those are the words of the first person in Butler County to test positive for COVID-19. A healthy man in his 30s, he watched his child crawl for the first time through video chat while hospitalized for the condition...

Editor's note: This is a daily briefing updating the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic at 4 p.m. each day. As the number of cases around Missouri and locally continues to climb, area officials want to stress that everyone can help slow the spread of COVID-19...

Butler County has had a resident test positive for COVID-19, according to a release shortly after 11 a.m. by the Butler County Health Department. This is the first COVID-19 diagnosis among Butler County residents. No additional information was released in the notification, which went out via the health department's app...

Butler County has confirmed a second positive case of COVID-19. The results were received Wednesday night, said Emily Goodin with the Butler County Health Department. The test was performed on Monday, March 30, she said. The individual is self quarantining at home, Goodin said...

OGLESVILLE — Authorities are on the scene at a rural Butler County residence where an armed man has barricaded himself inside. “It started as a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle near a residence,” explained Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs. “The vehicle fled and a white male jumped out and ran into the residence” in the 3100 block of Highway N...

Local officials learned Sunday afternoon that Missouri’s COVID-19 deaths now have reached 34, one day before the governor’s stay-at-home order goes into effect. They also provided information concerning how the order will impact workplaces Monday. The total number of deaths is up from the earlier reported 24 deaths, said Johnna Craft, director of risk management and facilities compliance officer for Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center...

UPDATE BLOOMFIELD — The Stoddard County Commission has drafted an order that limits social contact in the county effective at 12:01 a.m. Thursday in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The order, which reinforces recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and outlines punishment for a violation of quarantine orders, will continue indefinitely.

Local officials were awaiting further guidance Saturday regarding Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s stay-at-home order, which was issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The governor announced he would be issuing some other guidance later this afternoon or early this evening for certain areas,” Butler County Emergency Management Agency Director Robbie Myers said at the 2 p.m. ...

Butler County officials started going through Gov. Mike Parson’s “Stay Home Missouri” Order as soon as it was released Friday afternoon and took the first step of appointing two health officers for the county. Dr. Matthew Riffle and Emily Goodin, administrator of the Butler County Health Department, will “work with local, state and federal partners in planning actions going forward to support the health, safety and well being of Butler County residents,” county officials said in a statement. ...

The Poplar Bluff City Council voted Monday to temporarily change city ordinance regarding the sale of alcohol by the drink. The change will allow restaurants to sell alcohol by the drink as a to-go item, under specific rules. This was done to match an order issue by the governor relating to social distancing and the closure of eat-in restaurant facilities during the coronavirus crisis...