20 More Cases Of COVID-19 Reported; 31 In Washington

The Franklin County Health Department reported Tuesday that 20 more cases of COVID-19 have been discovered, bringing the total to 57.

Thirty-one of those are in Washington.

The health department also is reporting that eight of the 57 patients have made recoveries.

Message from health department:

Attached is the updated listing for lab confirmed Covid-19 cases in Franklin County.  I know the general public is very focused on the numbers and the locations of the individuals presented in the data above.  I would ask that you please step back from focusing on the number of cases, age and location.  Through disease case surveillance and investigations, we know that the virus is here and spreading.  With limited testing ability the general public should know this virus is not contained only to the specific age, gender and location presented in the data. Covid-19 is everywhere. The majority of people have mild to no symptoms at all.  That majority is likely to be the folks that are out and about in the community.  The folks that are lab confirmed and presented in our data are actually the least risk to the community because they are home under quarantine orders and were likely home for much longer as they did not feel well. 

As you will see there is a significant jump in cases in Washington, MO.  The majority of these cases are contained within a specific population and location.  The increase in cases in Washington does not mean that the city itself is less safe than another city within or outside of our county.  This virus does not care about city, county or state lines.  It is spreading rapidly through close personal contact AND through community contact.  The idea that the general public can stay away from “this place” or “that place” is not re