By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph officials say the message remains the same, even as the city records the first confirmed cases of coronavirus.
St. Joseph Health Director Debra Bradley expects it will be easier now to drive the message home to St. Joseph residents.
“We know we have a case and we know how important social distancing is to minimize the spread of this disease and so it’s easier to convince people to keep their distance and to stay home,” Bradley tells reporters during the news conference announcing the first two cases in St. Joseph and the immediate area.
St. Joseph announced Friday two confirmed cases; one a woman in her 20s who had a travel history and is recuperating at her St. Joseph home, the other a woman in her 30s with no travel history, recovering at her home in Buchanan County.
It announced Sunday a third positive test for COVID-19, this time a man in his 30s who tested positive at Mosaic urgent care in St. Joseph with a travel history only of going to Kansas City. He is isolated at his home.
Bradley says the city had been preparing for months for COVID-19 to hit the city.
“We’ve been talking since January about preparing for this positive case when we get it, because we knew we we’re going to get it, just nobody knows when it’ll happen,” Bradley says. “So, you prepare, and when it comes, you’re ready.”
A private lab confirmed one of the cases while Northwest Health Services confirmed the other.
Mosaic reports that of the 154 tests it has administered, one has come back positive, 136 negative, with 17 test results pending.
St. Joseph Mayor Bill McMurray says he will speak with the city council and several community leaders before deciding on whether to extend the city shelter-in-place order. McMurray points out a decision must come quickly, because the city emergency order expires Thursday.
“I’m going to ask for everyone’s input as to how we ought to proceed further,” McMurray tells reporters. “Now that we’ve had a couple of cases, it adds a few more variables to the mix. I do recall when we issued the order one of the prominent business leaders in the community said well, why are you doing this we don’t even have any cases? Well, now we have two, that we know of.”
McMurray says the message to area residents should be plain.
“Two words: stay home.”
McMurray says it is that simple.
“Please stay home as much as you can, because aggressive social distancing is the only weapon we have in the arsenal, so let’s employ it.”
These preventative steps are urged by St. Joseph city officials:
Avoid close contact with others with the recommendation to stay six feet apart.
Stay home if symptoms of the virus arise.
Stay home if you feel sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Cough in your sleeve or cover the cough or sneeze with a tissue which can be thrown away.
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; an alcohol-based sanitizer can be a substitute.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Comply with the city shelter-in-place order.