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Laclede County reports first COVID-19 related death

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The Laclede County Health Department has reported the first COVID-19 related death in the county.

“Notification of continued positive cases in itself is difficult. However, this news is simply heartbreaking. Our thoughts and prayers are extended to this family,” said Laclede County Health Department Administrator Charla Baker in a media release.

The Health Department was just notified this morning (July 9) of the death and has been working with the Laclede County Coroner, healthcare partners and the family. 

According to the release, the individual was recently diagnosed with COVID-19 and was “otherwise considered healthy.”

Due to privacy concerns, no other information will be released.

The Health Department says that because of the current spread of COVID-19 in Laclede County that “any public activity should be considered a potential exposure risk and all precautions need to be taken for personal protection.”

Precautions include proper/frequent hand washing, cleaning frequently used surfaces, staying home when sick, avoiding contact with people who are sick, coughing/sneezing into tissues, wearing a mask when in public, not gathering in large groups and maintaining six feet of distance between yourself and another person.

Laclede County is now up to 80 laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19. There are 42 active cases, 38 cases that have recovered, one that has been hospitalized and released and now one death. There are currently more than 100 trending cases. More than 2,200 people have been tested, according to the Laclede County Health Department.