COVID-19 cases in Scott County grow by 24 in two days

COVID-19 positive cases grew significantly in Scott County on Wednesday, according to the Scott County Health Department.

The number of positive cases in the county now totals 39. That number has grown from 15 as of Monday.

Scott County Health Department officials have not released information about the location of the positive cases.

Administrator Barry Cook said by telephone Wednesday the county had been directed by state officials not to release geographic information about the positive cases. Cook said the withholding was because of the county’s rural nature and “small towns.”

State of Missouri officials did not immediately respond to questions regarding the discrepancy in location reporting Wednesday evening.

Cape Girardeau County cases grew by two overnight for a total of 32. Six patients remain hospitalized. Fourteen of the positive cases are in Jackson.

Positive COVID-19 cases in surrounding Missouri counties as of Wednesday were:

• Bollinger, 3
• Perry, 38
• Stoddard, 13

Missouri officials reported a total of 4,895 cases Wednesday, with 147 deaths and 50,432 residents — 0.8% of the state’s population — tested.

Neither Union County nor Alexander County in Illinois have reported a positive case.