The original item was published from August 26, 2020 6:28 PM to August 26, 2020 6:31 PM
COVID-19 cases continue to increase in our community, but downward trends in some of our statistics provide some positive news to share this month. It is still critical for residents to stay diligent with social distancing, avoiding large crowds, washing hands, and wearing masks to keep our community safe and control the pandemic now and into the fall and winter.
As of Aug. 24, the “Daily Total & 14-Day Moving Average” graph on the COVID-19 dashboard at sccmo.org/COVID shows a 3 percent decrease in confirmed cases, and an 86 percent decrease in deaths over the last 14 days. At 80 percent, the majority of deaths since the pandemic began are in long-term care facilities; the Department of Public Health continues to work with these facilities to help control outbreaks.
Below is a chart of COVID-19 cases by month and age from March through Aug. 24 on the COVID-19 dashboard. While cases for the 20-29 age group remains the highest, cases have dropped. Other age groups demonstrate drops in cases, as well.
St. Charles County is still faring well compared to St. Louis city and county, and even nationwide. Since March, our cases per capita were, and continue to be, lower than St. Louis city and county.
Additionally, for hospitalizations and ICU admissions, the graph below shows these numbers are starting to decrease after peaks in July and early August.
While these trends are positive, how residents are contracting the illness is still of concern. Household contacts, community contacts, and unknown sources as demonstrated by the chart below are the most common ways people in our county are contracting COVID-19. As of Aug. 24, 1,163 residents were in quarantine as a confirmed case or as a contact with a confirmed case. Residents need to follow the simple precautions I mentioned earlier – social distancing, avoiding crowds, washing hands and wearing masks – to avoid bringing the illness home to their family and friends.
I hope that next month I can share more positive news and more dramatic drops in our statistics. As I said in last month’s blog, I believe it is the duty of government to educate the public about the importance of masks and other precautions – which we are. I am continuing to trust there will be voluntary compliance. Thank you to everyone who has and continues to follow our recommendations and precautions for the safety of their family, friends, neighbors and coworkers.