Ozark County has its first confirmed case of COVID-19


Ozark County Health Department

Ozark County Health Department administrator Rhonda Suter confirmed that the first Ozark County resident tested positive for COVID-19 today. Suter said the resident had been notified and is in isolation. There is no additional information about the resident or the case at this time, but Suter said she will post updates on her Facebook page as more information is received. The Times will share those updates on our Facebook page. 

There have been over 300 people tested inside Ozark County, according to the OCHD. All have been negative, other than the postivie case this morning.

Before the confirmed test this morning, Ozark County and Hickory County were the only two of Missouri's 114 counties to not yet have a confirmed case of COVID-19. Now that Ozark County has its first confirmed case, Hickory County, located about 60 miles north of Springfield, is the only county without a confirmed case of the virus. 

Suter said the Ozark County Health Department is currently making plans to have a free COVID-19 testing clinic inside the county in the near future. The clinic will be free and open to anyone who wants to be tested for the virus. Details will be posted as soon as they are finalized. 

Residents in the county may also visit Ozark Medical Center or Missouri Ozarks Community Health in Gainesville and Theodosia Medical Clinic to be tested. 

Suter reminds residents to continue taking precautions including social distancing, washing your hands, staying home if you are sick and avoid touching your face. 

As of 2 p.m. yesterday, there had been 16, 908 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 946 deaths attributed to the virus in Missouri.

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423