Butler County's first positive COVID-19 Delta variant case reported

The first positive case of COVID-19 Delta variant in Butler County was reported in the weekly update Wednesday, provided by the Butler County Health Department. COVID-19 Delta variant is presumed to be in Cape Girardeau County, as well as in Springfield and northern Missouri.

There are 43 new COVID-19 cases, with the total now standing at 4,683 cases in Butler County.

The report stated, 300 people were tested for the Delta variant in Southeast Missouri, with 23 positive cases, and one of the positive cases is in Butler County.

There is an increase in COVID-19 cases due to a facility outbreak. The Butler County Health Department is working closely with that facility to ensure all proper procedures are being met.

Butler County Health Department Administrator Emily Goodin said, “We will continue to investigate and monitor the situation closely.”

The requirements for testing the COVID-19 Delta variant are extensive and testing capacity is limited, Goodin said. The Butler County Health Department is working closely with the Department of Health and Senior Services, as well as the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, to track and monitor this variant.

The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center received confirmation Tuesday of the potential presence of the Delta variant of COVID-19, according to Maria Davis, a health educator at the center.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) recently ran a test of wastewater in Cape Girardeau County to look for genetic markers of the Delta variant. A sample of wastewater taken June 21 in Cape Girardeau County found genetic markers of the variant.

The tests don’t look for the variant’s entire genetic code, Davis said, so it can’t be 100% confirmed the genetic markers the DHSS found are from the Delta variant.

“But it does give us extra confidence what we’re seeing is the Delta variant,” Davis said.

Goodin said, the department of health and senior services “is watching the Delta variant very closely. It is increasing here in this country, and does appear to be more transmittable.”

Goodin explained, the Delta variant “is also impacting young people in a way previous variants have not. Fortunately, we know how to deal with this. We have safe and effective vaccines that work against this variant. People who are fully vaccinated are protected from the Delta variant. That is why it is more important than ever people get vaccinated. Particularly, we want to make sure young people are getting vaccinated as this variant also impacts young people in a way the previous variants have not.”

As other parts of Missouri see surges in COVID-19 cases, confirmed diagnoses in Southeast Missouri remain relatively low.

Vaccinations are key to avoiding another surge, Goodin and Davis agree.

Goodin said, “We encourage people who are unvaccinated to get vaccinated as soon as possible and to mask up until you do. Every time an individual becomes infected, there is a chance that the virus can mutate. It gets to the point where vaccines no longer work. Then, those who are already vaccinated have to go through the whole vaccination process again.”

According to various reports, Missouri now leads the nation in a list no one wants to be on — the newest coronavirus cases per capita in the last two weeks.

Health experts point to the Delta variant, especially in southwest and northern Missouri, where vaccination rates are very low.

Missouri’s seven-day average for recorded COVID-19 cases has increased by more than 165% since this same time last month. In addition, the positive test rate has surpassed 10% for the first time since Jan. 20.

According to the Missouri DHSS, the state has recorded 528,284 cumulative cases of SARS-CoV-2, an increase of 864 positive cases (PCR testing only), and 9,340 total deaths as of Monday, July 5. That’s a case fatality rate of 1.77%.

Approximately 2.41 million people have completed the vaccination process in Missouri; 55.2% of all adults 18 years of age and older have initiated the process. The state has administered 55,425 doses of vaccine in the last seven days (this metric is subject to a delay, meaning the last three days are not factored in). The highest vaccination rates are among people over 65. Children as young as 12 are eligible to receive the vaccine.

The Springfield medical community believes the hospitalization rate is expected to grow among fears the holiday gatherings could bring fresh cases.

Registering through local health departments, the Missouri Vaccine Navigator or contacting the Missouri COVID-19 hotline at 877-435-8411 can help Missourians identify and sign up for available appointments in their area.

Scheduled rapid testing will be done every Wednesday by appointment only in Butler County. To schedule a test, go to https://www.butlercountyhealth.org/. Look for “Vaccine Registration & Coronavirus Info” and click the “Book Now” icon, or call the COVID hotline.

Goodin said, testing requirements for the DELTA variant include:

• Being diagnosed with COVID-19 by a positive viral diagnostic test, such as RT-PCR, other nucleic acid amplification test, or an antigen test.

• The RT-PCR Ct value is no more than 28. Not required if Ct value is not available, or can’t be obtained

• Specimens must meet the required MSPHL submission criteria for COVID-19 testing available at https://health.mo.gov/lab/ncov.php, and must be received by the MSPHL within 72 hours of collection, or have been stored frozen and shipped frozen using dry ice.

• Prior approval from DHSS is obtained prior to specimen submission.

Select Criteria (At least one of these is also required for approval for specimen submission):

1. RT-PCR test results demonstrate the “S-gene dropout”. This criteria may change based on the frequency and distribution of the emerging virus variants.

2. Person developed onset of symptoms or tested positive (asymptomatic) within 14 days of returning from international travel.

3. Person developed onset of symptoms or tested positive (asymptomatic) within 14 days of exposure to a person meeting criteria #2 above.

4. Person is suspected of COVID-19 reinfection, including persons previously treated with monoclonal antibody, convalescent plasma, or antiviral drug Remdesivir.

5. Person is fully immunized with an approved COVID-19 vaccine per CDC guidelines and developed onset of symptoms greater than 14 days after receiving the final dose of vaccine.