Editor's note: This is a daily briefing updating the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic at 4 p.m. each day.
The Poplar Bluff R-1 School District and Chartwells will begin delivering meals with district buses starting Tuesday.
Chris Rushin of the Boys and Girls Club of Butler County said 1,260 kids were served for a total of 2,520 meals Monday at nine locations.
Three meals will be offered or delivered to students starting Tuesday.
Six bus routes will serve the district Monday through Friday along with meals for the weekend provided Friday, for children under 18.
Here's the routes:
Butler County officials wanted to assure residents that they are being transparent with keeping the public informed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emily Goodin with the Butler County Health Department gave an update that no county resident has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center said Monday that it has two patients there who have tested positive but are residents of other counties.
Goodin explained that the health department is only contacted when a resident in the county tests positive. Once a patient tests positive, the health department and health care provider of the patient will be notified within an hour.
Once the patient is told of the positive test, the health department will release the information to the public, Goodin explained in a previous meeting.
The health department then starts an investigation and contacts anyone who may have been in contact with the patient.
Goodin said she attempted gather the number of tests that have been given to Butler County residents but “not all private providers are getting numbers to us.”
The state lab is no longer sending out notifications of negative results to the health department, Goodin said, only positive results.
“We will continue to be open and transparent with the numbers,” said Robbie Myers, Butler County Emergency Management Agency director.
With COVID-19 cases in surrounding counties, everyone needs to take precautions, he added, using social distancing and washing hands.
“No one is hiding anything,” Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley said. “And I guarantee you if we know something we ill be sharing it with the public.”
The Butler County EMA and the Animal Welfare Alliance are opening a Coronavirus Crisis Pet Food Pantry to help area families suffering financially due to layoffs or other issues during the pandemic.
Donations of pet food will be accepted from 2- 6 p.m. Tuesday in front of the former Orscheln store next to Planet Fitness.
A distribution schedule for families will be announced.
• Butler County restaurants will not be allowed to offer outdoor seating, Goodin said, but can still offer drive-thru and carry out options.
• Information was shared from Sen. Roy Blunt’s office about recent legislation. The Small Business Administration has released resources here.
• During the daily briefing by Gov. Mike Parson, an update was given from the state Department of Social Services concerning SNAP. Find information here for Pandemic Food Stamp and SNAP.
A look at stories you might have missed from the DAR:
• Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center treating two positive cases
• Stoddard County to issue stay-at-home order starting Thursday
• Third case confirmed in Carter County
A look at three stories from the Associated Press:
• Spain's hospitals at breaking point, US cities brace
• How would overwhelmed hospitals decide who to treat first?
• Country singer Joe Diffie dies of coronavirus complications
Latest coverage from AP.
As of 12 p.m. Monday, March 30:
US DEATHS: 2,575
Mo. Deaths: 13
Mo. Cases: 1,031
Cases by area county:
Butler County: 0
Carter: 3
Stoddard: 2
Reynolds: 2
Ripley: 2
Wayne: 0
Cape: 13
Perry: 12
Dunklin: 6
St. Francois: 3
Pemiscot: 2
Scott: 5
Bollinger: 1
From the AP: For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. The vast majority of people recover.
Here are the symptoms of the virus compared with the common flu.
One of the best ways to prevent spread of the virus is washing your hands with soap and water. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends first washing with warm or cold water and then lathering soap for 20 seconds to get it on the backs of hands, between fingers and under fingernails before rinsing off.
You should wash your phone, too. Here’s how.
The Missouri coronavirus information hotline is 877-435-8411.
Sunday, March 29
Saturday, March 28
Friday, March 27
Thursday, March 26
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