Moniteau County recorded six deaths due to the coronavirus last week, four of which came on the same day.
The first death reported by the Moniteau County Health Center was early Tuesday; four additional deaths were added to the tally last Wednesday, then another was reported Thursday.
All of the deceased individuals were between their 70s and 90s. Moniteau County has now seen 26 residents' deaths due to COVID-19.
As of press time Tuesday, there are 53 active cases of COVID-19 among Moniteau County residents, four of which are hospitalized due to their symptoms. Since peaking at 85 earlier this month, active cases have continued a slight descent. The total number of cases reported in the county since the start of the pandemic now stands at 1,824.
The Health Center continues to urge the public to take actions to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including avoiding close contact with people who are sick; avoiding touching one's eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands; washing hands with soap and water regularly; cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces regularly; staying home if one feels sick; and adhering to proper social distancing by remaining 6 feet away from others and wearing a facial covering when engaging in tasks away from home.
Symptoms of COVID-19 may include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For more information about COVID-19 in Missouri and what can be done on an individual level to help stop the spread, visit oneforallmo.com. Additional information about COVID-19 can be found at health.mo.gov/coronavirus or cdc.gov/coronavirus.
Missouri operates a statewide COVID-19 hotline at 877-435-8411 from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. seven days a week.
This article updates and provides additional information since an earlier article about the six deaths which occurred in the reported week.