N O RT H W E S T
MISSOURIAN
THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022
MARYVILLE, MISSOURI
Virus isolation periods updated at NW
NWMISSOURINEWS.COM
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JAKE PRATER News Reporter | @JakobLPrater
The Maryville R-II School District started the second semester of the 2021-2022 academic school year Jan. 5 with updated quarantine protocols. Superintendent Becky Albrecht said the school district is continuing its cooperative work on COVID-19 and quarantine protocols with the Nodaway County Health Department. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced an update in quarantine guidelines Dec. 27. The updated isolation period for the general population should now last five days. If the infected isolator shows no symptoms after the five days, then they can end their quarantine, followed by wearing a mask in public for five days. “We are always concerned about the health and safety of our students and staff,” Albrecht said. “... and we believe we are making the best choices we can given the circumstances.”
SEE MHS | A4
126 OCT.
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COVID-19 CASES IN NODAWAY COUNTY BY MONTH
GRAPHIC BY MAKAYLA POLAK DESIGN EDITOR
SOURCE: NODAWAY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
COVID-19 CASES HIT RECORD NUMBER
SEE PROTOCOLS | A4
Maryville R-II adapts to new guidelines
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KENNEDY KALVODA News Reporter | @TheMissourian
There were more than 60 million cases of the COVID-19 omicron variant in the U.S. as of Jan. 9, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of that total, 193 of the cases are in Nodaway County. Lt. Amanda Cullin, member of Crisis Response Team 2, said the biggest changes to campus protocols amid the surge of cases are how long quarantine and isolation periods are. The CDC changed the time required for quarantines after a positive test to five days, so Northwest will change its requirements to match. The CDC has also updated the protocols for those exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. If those exposed are vaccinated with boosters, have completed the primary series of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last six months, or completed the primary series of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the last two months, people should wear a mask for ten days and test on the fifth day if possible.
VOL. 110, NO. 16
NATHAN ENGLISH Managing Editor | @nathan_3nglish
A day before the spring semester was set to begin at Northwest, Nodaway County was setting a record — for COVID-19. Wednesday morning the Nodaway County Health Department reported 71 people tested positive for the virus on Monday, the most in a single day since the start of the pandemic. Mondays have been historically the highest testing days in the county due to individuals delaying testing over the weekend. NCHD also announced on Wednesday a new death from COVID-19 in the county occurred Jan. 9. It’s the 38th death from the virus in the county since the pandemic began. The individual was in the 80-99 age category. The county has 202 active cases of COVID-19, according to the most recent data available at the time of publication. Nodaway County’s record day comes as the U.S. is also setting records for case counts, with 1.5 million active cases in the country on Monday due to the omi-
46.5%
New variant takes hold of Nodaway County cron variant. Tom Patterson, administrator for NCHD, said the new variant is “real aggressive.” “We’re just going to have a lot of cases and a lot of people probably walking around that don’t know they have it,” Patterson said. Early studies have indicated that omicron, while more contagious than its predecessors, is likely less severe. However, the record case numbers are causing hospitalization rates to soar to new heights
across the state and country. There are currently nine people in Nodaway County hospitalized with COVID-19, according to the most recent data available at the time of publication. Nate Blackford, president of Mosaic Maryville, said the hospital is seeing increasing numbers of caregivers testing positive for COVID-19 putting a strain on the system. The normal amount of caregivers out with COVID-19 was around three to four prior to omicron. Now, that number is at 15. “It’s not like our marketing department. I mean, it’s direct-care individuals, predominantly, and so that’s my biggest concern,” Blackford said. Other health systems are reporting similar problems; Kansas University Hospital reported more than 900 staff out due to the virus over the weekend, with many more waiting on test results. Staff shortages and increased cases could create nightmare scenarios, making it extremely difficult for hospitals to provide normal patient care.
SEE RECORD | A4
71
24.75%
people tested positive for the virus Jan. 10 Vaccinated population in Nodaway County SOURCE: NODAWAY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
of total positive cases in the county are at Northwest GRAPHIC BY MAKAYLA POLAK DESIGN EDITOR
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