Audrain County Health Department Administrator Sandra Hewlett, standing conducts a coronavirus response meeting March, 5 at the department. City, county and health leaders provided updates Wednesday on preparations and responses to the coronavirus pandemic.

City and county leaders worked together in a roundtable discussion Wednesday about the ongoing response in Audrain County to novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.

The meeting was held as a teleconference to follow practices for social distancing.

Audrain County Health Department Administrator Sandra Hewlett said that research shows COVID-19 can be an airborne virus and live on surfaces for up to three days. The virus can live up to three hours in the air, according to the New England Journal of Medicine.

There currently are no known cases of COVID-19 in Audrain County.

“[News] is so fluid. It’s changing by hours,” Hewlett said.

The health department has fit tested 1,500 people for N-95 masks, a type of personal protective equipment against COVID-19. That number continues to grow. The only entity that still needs fit testing is the Audrain County Sheriff’s Office, Hewlett said.

The health department is planning to establish drive-through testing facilities in Mexico and Vandalia as the threat expands. First responders and the elderly will have priority starting out, Hewlett said. It will be one-lane facility. The health department is going to email the testing mechanism to city and county agencies for steps for testing.

Missouri State Highway Patrol will transport tests after they are conducted. Test results will take at least 24 to 36 hours. The state lab received a waiver that any positive result is accurate, rather than having to send samples to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Public safety will serve as gatekeepers for the testing facilities. We would like our flow through to be 100-200 tests per day,” Hewlett said.

Missouri Military Academy Commandant Rick Grabowski reported on plans for coronavirus prevention. The academy is currently operating as a contained campus.

There are 158 cadets on campus who are not allowed to leave. Around 57 cadets are staying with host families in other states or in their own home state, rather than returning to campus.

Grabowski asked that if anyone sees a cadet off campus to call the academy, so that cadet can be picked up by academy staff.

“It’s probably a cadet with his parents coming back to campus for whatever reason,” he said.

If the academy has to go into a quarantine status, it has the facilities available.

“You guys have done an amazing job at MMA. Their entire staff all are being fit tested,” Hewlett said.

She continued saying everyone in Audrain County is working hard to make sure the community stays healthy. Multiple events are canceled or postponed to prevent large gatherings.

Nursing facilities, such as Missouri Veterans Home, Pin Oaks and King’s Daughters are on full quarantine procedures. No visitors are allowed at all. Clinical rotations are halted for medical students.

Churches are limiting or canceling services. The health department is offering fit testing to ministers so they still can visit their parishioners.

Lori Brandow said YMCAs in Mexico and Vandalia were closed Wednesday. They will be closed for at least the next two weeks. The Senior Expo for April 2 was canceled.

Funerals will be limited to immediate family only, Hewlett said, when referencing plans from funeral homes. Large families will be limited to 10 guests at a time. Chairs will be staggered and row space will be widened.

Health department staff will no longer travel out of the county. Agencies still needing COVID-19 training should contact the health department, Hewlett said.

SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital — Audrain started screening all visitors Wednesday. It also is limiting the number of visitors and all guests are required to enter the hospital through the emergency department. Both the health department and the hospital have stockpiles available for N-95 masks for first reponsers and health care professionals.

Most retailers are staying open for the time being. Restaurants are conducting deliveries or curbside pick-up when possible.

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