After reaching the highest amount so far in the pandemic over the weekend, the numbers of active local COVID-19 cases has begun to drop.
In Randolph County, the highest number of active cases, a total of 153, was reported on Aug. 29. (The total number of confirmed positive cases was at 742 on that day.) By Aug. 31 however, the number of active cases had dropped to 133. (And the total number of cases then was 757.) Of those, only one person was reported to be hospitalized.
Many of Randolph County’s currently active cases stem from the recent outbreak at the Menard Correctional Center.
On Sept. 1, Randolph County Health Department Administrator Angela Oathout noted that a total of 164 positive cases had been confirmed at the center (70 in the staff, 94 in the offenders). Of those, there was a total of 21 cases active in the staff and 64 active in the inmates.
However, it should be noted that not all of the staff is from Randolph County. Oathout reported that of the total positive cases in staff members, the county breakdown is: 27 from Randolph, 18 from Jackson, 2 from Perry, 3 from St. Clair, 3 from Franklin, 3 from Williamson, 2 from Clinton, 1 from Saline, 1 from Pulaksi, 1 from Calhoun, 1 from Monroe, 1 from Washington and 1 from Union. A total of 6 were from Missouri.
Oathout added about the center’s outbreak, “We are releasing more and receiving less positive cases. I believe that the efforts of Menard is working in a positive direction.”
For more COVID-19 updates, please see this week’s print edition.