Butler, Ripley courts allow more people next week

DAR file photo

“Substantial improvement” in the number of COVID-19 cases in Butler and Ripley counties will allow the 36th Judicial Circuit to reduce some precautions next week.

The courts will move from phase 1 to phase 2 of state guidelines, Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett said Friday.

“Although there continues to be positive cases, the number of those cases has substantially decreased on a weekly average over the past four weeks,” said Pritchett. “That ‘substantial improvement’ allows us to phase up.”

Phase 2 allows the number of people in the courtroom to increase from 10 to 25. This number does not include courtroom staff.

It is also one step closer to jury trials, which can happen when the courts enter phase 3.

The 35th Judicial Circuit, which includes Stoddard and Dunklin counties, was able to move to phase 2 on Jan. 19.

Although this is the first time Stoddard and Dunklin counties were able to move to phase 2, it is not the first time for Butler and Ripley counties.

The 36th Judicial Circuit was in phase 2 from June 1 until early November, said Pritchett. It has been in phase 1 since that time.

Pritchett also cited the fact that Poplar Bluff was the site of a mass vaccination clinic of nearly 2,000 people on Friday, with additional events planned in the future.

Pritchett provided a breakdown of positive case trends in Butler County, compiled from announcements made by the Butler County Health Center regarding cumulative cases. There were 397 cases as of Sept. 1; 799 as of Oct. 1; 1,609 as of Nov. 1; 2,745 as of Dec. 3; 3,683 as of Jan. 7; and 3,936 as of Jan. 22.