SECOND COVID-19 DEATH REPORTED IN DUNKLIN COUNTY; NEW CASES IN DUNKLIN AND BUTLER COUNTIES
A second patient has died in Dunklin County due to the COVID-19 virus.
Dunklin County also reported its 18th positive case on Thursday, and Butler County has confirmed another case of the disease, making it the 20th case of the County. In Butler County, there have been at least 513 residents that have tested for the disease.
Officials with the Counties’ Health Departments are working with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, as well as the CDC, to find and contact any individuals who may have been exposed to the disease while the patients were active.
As of Thursday, there have been a total of 5,111 cases of the coronavirus in Missouri, and 152 deaths have been reported due to the disease.
If you are showing any symptoms of the virus, including persistent coughing, fever, and shortness of breath, you are advised to contact your primary healthcare provider before visiting a hospital. Residents are also being reminded to keep social distancing guidelines, and to continue practicing good hygiene to help curb the spread of the disease.
HOUSE DAMAGED IN STRUCTURE FIRE IN NEW MADRID COUNTY
A house in Portageville was heavily damaged in a structure fire early Thursday morning.
According to the Portageville Fire and Rescue Department, the department received a call about a structure fire at 6th and LeSieur, where a single story home was engulfed in heavy flames by the time crews had arrived at the scene.
The house was vacant at the time, however the fire was beginning to spread to surrounding houses, which still had residents inside. Firefighter crews were able to stop the flames before extensive damage could be done to the neighboring homes.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown and under investigation, however it is suspected that it may be an arson case.
TWO INJURED FOLLOWING VEHICLE COLLISION IN STODDARD COUNTY
Two people were injured from a vehicle crash in Stoddard County on Thursday.
Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that a vehicle was traveling eastbound on US 60, east of Dexter, before coming up on and striking the rear of another vehicle.
An occupant of the traveling vehicle received moderate injuries, and an occupant of the struck vehicle suffered minor injuries from the crash. Both were transported to a hospital in Cape Girardeau for treatment.
MISSOURI GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON EXTENDS STATEWIDE STAY AT HOME ORDER
Missouri Governor Mike Parson has announced that the statewide stay at home order is being extended.
The decision was announced in a press conference Thursday afternoon, where Governor Parson declared that the stay at home order is being extended to May 3rd, and stated that the extension would hopefully help improve the conditions of healthcare workers and first responders, by monitoring hospitals and health care providers who are directly handling cases of the COVID-19 virus.
Several projects will take place during the stay at home extension, including expanding current testing capacity, opening public and private supply chains, and monitoring data from hospitals housing COVID-19 patients, lab tests, and health care facilities.
Parson also stressed the importance of keeping social distancing in mind when traveling or going outside your home, and that the state would only reopen once testing for the disease is at a good level.
POLICE DEPARTMENTS WARNING RESIDENTS OF COVID-19 WARNING SCAM
Police Departments across the state are warning residents about a phishing scam related to the COVID-19 virus outbreak.
According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, a number will text you stating that you were exposed to the coronavirus through contact with an active patient, and will send you a link claiming to have either information or instructions regarding the disease.
If you receive one of these text messages, you are advised to not click on the link, and to report the number to your local Police Department.
MAN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN NEW MADRID COUNTY ON SEX TRAFFICKING CHARGE
A man was arrested in New Madrid County on Thursday on a sex trafficking charge.
According to the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department, 31 year old James Merritt, of Morehouse, was taken into custody on a felony New Madrid County Sheriff’s Office Warrant on sex trafficking.
Following his arrest, he was transported to the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office.
PET FOOD PANTRY SCHEDULED TO REOPEN IN POPLAR BLUFF
The Animal Welfare Alliance will be reopening its pet food pantry this weekend.
The organization originally opened the pantry on April 2nd, and was used to give away free pet food to owners who either couldn’t find any, or could no longer afford to buy any due to complications with the COVID-19 virus. However, due to a shortage of food, it had to temporarily close its doors.
The pantry will be opening again on Sunday, from 2 to 5:30 pm at the former Orscheln building in Poplar Bluff. Residents of Butler, Wayne, Carter, and Ripley Counties will be given preference with pet food distribution.
