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One local person may have tested “presumptive positive” for coronavirus. 

Gov. Mike Parson announced late Thursday afternoon he would be heading to Springfield to give a press conference alongside Mayor Ken McClure and health department director Clay Goddard about the second such case statewide. 

The announcement came hours after local health department officials announced they had submitted three tests to state labs from people who were exhibiting symptoms that could not be contributed to other causes, such as the flu. 

All of those tested had recently traveled or been associated with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and were exhibiting symptoms. 

Health department officials have asked those people to self-isolate, health department director Clay Goddard said.

The news came at a press conference Thursday as major events around the community, such as the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and the National Christian Homeschool Basketball Championship, had been canceled as the viral infectious disease continues to spread across the country.

The only confirmed case in Missouri was found in St. Louis County, where a 20-year-old woman recently returned from studying abroad in hard-hit Italy. Springfield had previously tested four people for the virus, and those came back negative. 

The process of testing has come into public focus in recent days as health departments, private labs and testing centers have reported shortages in testing materials. 

Findley said last week the local health department received just five test kits from the state, and Goddard said Thursday he had just ordered the maximum of five more from a private lab called LabCorps. 

“We are aggressively seeking more test kits,” he said. “The problem is, there is great scarcity and great demand. I want to pledge to you that we’re doing all that we can.”

Goddard said the scarcity was proving to be a challenge with accurately pinpointing the disease. 

“We’re playing a game of hide and go seek, but we’re not seeking,” he said. “That is not a place I want to be.”

Goddard said currently the testing criteria will be limited to people with the most severe symptoms and highest risk, and the local health department will be setting up a testing clinic that will be available upon referral from a doctor.

Two private labs are currently allowing doctors to submit tests, but the turnaround is about three days. The state can return results in about six hours, Goddard said Monday.

Local officials hope there would be more tests available soon, but noted that even if tests were widely available, the health department wouldn’t be testing everybody. 

“We need to be intelligent and scientifically based about who we test,” he said. “I think the public needs to understand that just because you’re worried doesn’t mean you’re qualified — even if (extra tests) were available.”

Some countries have taken a more aggressive tack with testing.

In South Korea, for example, regulators created a system to allow rapid approval of test kits for viruses that may cause pandemics, according to Bloomberg. So when the novel coronavirus emerged, officials worked with biotech companies and researchers to develop and produce tests in a matter of weeks.

Officials estimated the country was testing 20,000 people each day, according to the BBC. The fatality rate for COVID-19 in that country is .7 percent. Globally, it’s around 3.4 percent.

(However, scientists estimate the actual global death rate of the coronavirus is likely lower because not all cases are reported, potentially skewing the numbers, according to the Washington Post.)

Initial study of the virus shows that the vast majority of people who contract COVID-19 will have mild symptoms that will be resolved. People who aren’t in “high risk” categories are much less likely to suffer more severe symptoms and potentially die, Goddard said. 

But if you are feeling sick, Goddard urged people to stay home from work, school or other large gatherings like church.

“We have to make calm, intelligent, thoughtful decisions on approaches that we can take together as a community,” he said. “Social distancing is one of those tools, and it is one of the strongest tools in our tool belt.” 

The health department has also released a list of preventative steps people can take to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Those include: 

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask, which says face masks should be used by people who show symptoms to prevent the spread of disease to others. Face masks are also crucial for care workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings. 

Health care officials were also encouraging residents and businesses to visit health.springfieldmo.gov/coronavirus for information and best practices and contact [email protected] or the state health department 24/7 hotline at 417-874-1211 with any questions.

Goddard said taking proactive measures could greatly help the community cut down on potential spread and deaths.

“We recognize that some people may think that event cancellations and other actions that are being taken in our community and all across the country are overreactions,” he said. “But it is our solemn responsibility as public health officers to raise the alarm when we see a threat and to bend the curve of illness transmission as much as possible.”

In addition to large-scale event cancellations, local groups, agencies and statewide organizations have made changes based on the threat.

Local doctor Gil Mobley announced Wednesday he would temporarily be closing his clinic, Dr. Gil’s Immediate Care and Occupational Health Center, as two of his employees are out sick, “one with bad fevers and chills and the other with significant chest congestion and tightness,” Mobley wrote in a Facebook post.

The Ozarks Literacy Council also announced it would postpone its annual Pizza and Pasta Bowl fundraiser, the Nixa Chamber of Commerce announced it would cancel its annual NIXPO Business and Community Expo and two Branson sporting tournaments were cancelled amid concerns about the virus. 

In Jefferson City, Missouri Senate leaders said they would shut down the chamber for at least two weeks in an effort to shield lawmakers and staff from the virus. And Missouri House leaders said they would stay in session to pass the budget. 

Meanwhile, local schools and universities announced changes of schedule, with Springfield Public Schools canceling class trips and local universities announcing plans to extend spring break or move classes online. 

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