Just how severe has COVID-19 spread in Audrain County? A University of Missouri researcher and the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services is trying to find out that answer through testing wastewater sources in the county.

Testing started July 6 and has occurred every Monday since then, County Health Administrator Sandra Hewlett said in a weekly teleconference Wednesday with community government, business, education and health leaders.

Three weeks worth of data is processed. The county likely will not see an initial report until Aug. 7. Despite this, Hewlett has been able to work with the MU researcher in charge of the project. The state and the researcher, Marc Johnson, professor of molecular microbiology and immunology, are looking for COVID-19 genetic markers in wastewater.

“They are measuring viral copies per million gallons of water per day,” Hewlett said.

The testing has allowed researchers to track the upward trend of infections since the start of July.

“However, our threshold is so low compared to most of the larger counties, that we are well below any kind of a safety issue,” Hewlett said. “We do not even come close.”

Residents cannot get COVID-19 from treated water, according to the state, she said. Audrain is among 64 counties having its wastewater studied for COVID-19 that have significant infection numbers.

“They still are putting the data in from Monday, so they are not going to have a report together until the end of next week,” Hewlett said.

TESTING CONTINUES; SCHOOL REOPENING

As of Thursday, nearly 4,000 county residents have been tested for COVID-19, or roughly 15.5% of the county. Of those tested there were 190 confirmed positive, with 14 of those cases still active.

All cases are from community transmission and there has been one death associated with COVID-19 in the county. The county has seen 24 new cases over the past 14 days. This means some phased reopening cannot take place until the county has a 14-day downward trend.

Missouri Veterans Home is conducting weekly testing of portions of staff and residents. There are no positive cases, so far. Testing at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital — Audrain still is hovering around 20-30 COVID-19 tests per day. Doctor’s orders are needed for testing the hospital. The hospital is continuing its visitor policy of one per patient.

School district flu clinics are planned to start in a couple months, where students and staff will receive free seasonal flu shots. The health department also has consulted with districts on reopening plans.

“We are really trying to make sure we get all the kids and all the staff immunized,” Hewlett said. “Every school has agreed to allow us to go in there and run these clinics. The teachers and staff are considered critical infrastructure so they will get their flu vaccination via insurance or the state. All of the students will as well.”

School administrators and the health department will hold a teleconference Aug. 3. to review the latest guidelines from the state’s health and education departments.

The first section of cadets are returning to Missouri Military Academy. All are being tested for COVID-19 via Arthur Center Community Health. Faculty and staff also are being tested.

Mexico School District 59 was to release its reopening plans Friday. St. Joseph Elementary School in Martinsburg continues to work on its reopening plan. Community R-VI is welcoming teachers back to prepare classrooms. All staff will return Tuesday, with students returning Aug. 11. The district will closely monitor the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

School-aged children and some staff members who tested positive for COVID-19 over the summer still are in recovery or have just recently recovered, Hewlett said. The department is working closely with those patients, she said.

SNAP BENEFITS

The Missouri Department of Social Services recently approved a waiver request to extend supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits through August due to COVID-19.

“That means households will automatically get their SNAP benefit for their household size automatically loaded on their EBT card,” Hewlett said.

Around 373,000 households or 773,00 individuals in Missouri have received SNAP benefits in Missouri since the end of June. The state’s social services department is excited to be extending the benefits, Hewlett said.