Four dozen new coronavirus cases reported in region; Illinois county records first death

More than four dozen new COVID-19 cases were reported in the region, and one county recorded its first death attributed to the disease.

Alexander County, Illinois, reported the fatality, a man in his 60s. Thus far, the county has not been heavily impacted by the disease associated with coronavirus, with only 47 total cases. Southern Seven Health Department reported three new cases in the county Thursday. Thirty-eight patients in the county have recovered from the virus.

Cape Girardeau Public Health Center officials reported 21 new cases, pushing the county’s total case count to 1,063, with 847 recoveries and 12 deaths.

Southeast Missouri State University reported three new cases Wednesday. All of the cases involved students and pushed the total number of cases at the university to 33 (27 students and six employees)

Two other Missouri counties each reported 11 new virus cases. The new cases in Scott County increased the county’s total number to 673, with 508 recoveries and 14 deaths. Bollinger County’s case number increased to 168, with 112 recoveries and one death.

Stoddard County, Missouri, reported seven new cases, pushing the county’s total to 338, with 278 recoveries and 10 deaths.

No update was available from Perry County, Missouri.

Union County, Illinois, reported one new case (426 total cases, 345 recoveries, 20 deaths.)

A free drive-through virus testing event will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Southern Seven Health Department Union County Clinic, 260 Lick Creek Road in Anna.