Butler County is ‘extreme risk’ COVID area

Butler County has reached a new point in the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Missouri public health warning requirements released by the state, Butler County is now an extreme risk area.

“Based on the criteria, the state would put us in category one (extreme risk),” said Butler County EMA Director Robbie Myers.

The state determines categories by the seven-day positivity rate, which is 23.8% for Butler County, and the positivity rate per 100,000 people, which is at 391 cases, according to the ShowMeStrong dashboard.

To be extreme risk, a county must have above a 15% positivity rate and over 350 cases per 100,000 people.

Under this category, the state says masks are “strongly advised in all offices and businesses where social distancing is not possible.”

Additionally, social group size should be limited to 10 people or fewer.

The county must have two consecutive weeks of meeting the lower category’s criteria — a positivity rate of 10-14% and 100-349 cases per 100,000 people — before moving down into the critical risk category.

When the state announced these categories two weeks ago, the county was classified as critical risk because only the positivity rate met criteria for extreme risk. It was 33% and the county was seeing 320.2 cases per 100,000 residents.

On Monday, the health department announced 52 new cases and three new COVID-related deaths. These are not counted in the state dashboard yet as of Monday afternoon.

Quarantine guidelines

Under new quarantine information released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Butler County Health Department adjusted its recommendation Monday.

The CDC still recommends 14 days of quarantine after exposure to COVID-19. However, “based on local circumstances and resources” gives the option of shortening quarantine periods.

The health department approved a shortened quarantine period of 10 days without testing if the person is not exhibiting symptoms or seven days if a test comes back negative and the person is not exhibiting symptoms.

Tests may be taken within 48 hours before the planned end of quarantine, but “quarantine cannot be discontinued earlier than after day seven.”

In both instances, people are told to continue monitoring for symptoms and wear a mask when in public through 14 days after exposure.

Butler County Health Department Director Emily Goodin could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon.

Mass Testing Events

The health department conducted a mass testing event Monday at Whiteley Park.

Events are also scheduled for Mondays, Dec. 14 and 28 at Whiteley Park.

The health department is using a new scheduling system for the events. People can preregister by texting 2020 to 866-340-1411 and completing the intake form.

You will then receive a confirmation number that you’ll need to provide when you get to the testing event.