YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
Last edited 11:50 a.m., April 10, 2020
The Springfield-Greene County Health Department on Thursday afternoon announced the eighth local COVID-19 death.
Speaking at a livestreamed news conference, Health Department Director Clay Goddard said the individual was an immunocompromised man in his 70s. Without disclosing the man’s place of residency, Goddard said he was not a resident of the Morningside of Springfield East assisted living center that's been a source of the virus.
“We have to do better," Goddard said, noting it's been a month and one day since Missouri's first confirmed case of the coronavirus. "We have to stay the course."
Goddard also cautioned residents about locations that recently diagnosed coronavirus patients visited.
He said one positive case visited the Springfield Hy-Vee around 3 p.m. March 27, as well as the Verizon Wireless store on East Independence Street in Republic at 1 p.m. March 30.
Another case visited the Dollar General on Highway 125 in Rogersville around 8 a.m. March 29, the Kum & Go on Highway 125 in Rogersville before 9 a.m. and the Aldi on East Sunshine Street in Springfield around 11 a.m. that same day. Officials have provided dates and times to warn residents who may have visited the locations during the same time periods. Those who visited the locations are at low risk, Goddard said, but should monitor for symptoms.
Potential progress
Goddard said officials believe the local stay-at-home order is working. But he cautioned residents to continue staying at home and to refrain from traveling over the Easter weekend.
"It's irresponsible and it puts all of our citizens at risk," he said.
City spokeswoman Cora Scott on April 7 shared an image of a city document on Facebook indicating local efforts to flatten the curve are paying off.
According to the image, COVID-19 is progressing slower than projected.
Angel Animal Hospital relocated; Great Dave’s Coffee Co. expanded with a brick-and-mortar shop in downtown Monett; and the Missouri Job Center began moved.