The Jasper County Health Department said an individual who tested positive for the coronavirus on May 31 had symptoms of Covid-19 for about two weeks prior to the test and could have exposed people at a Carthage church to the coronavirus.
Jasper County Health Department Director Tony Moehr said interviews with the person indicated the individual stayed away from other people for most of the time between May 17, when he or she started feeling symptoms, until May 29 when the person was contacted by the health department and asked to self-quarantine because of contact with another positive individual.
However, on Sunday, May 24, the person attended a service at the Alpha y Omega Church at 203 W. 10th St. Carthage.
“We are asking the public to contact the Jasper County Health Department at 417-358-3111, if they were in attendance at the Alpha Omega Church, Carthage, Mo.,” the Health Department said in a written release.
Moehr said he could not release the person’s identity or gender to protect the individual’s privacy.
Moehr said the person was wearing a mask and gloves when he or she attended the service, which might limit the possibility of spread, but it doesn’t rule it out entirely.
He said health department investigators are still interviewing the individual as of Tuesday to see if he or she may have gone elsewhere and had contact with other people.
He said this person is the 24th positive case for the coronavirus in Jasper County outside Joplin since the pandemic began in February.
The timeline released by the health department is as follows:
May 17, 2020 — the individual developer mild symptoms after exposure to another person.
May 24, 2020 — the individual attended church at the Alpha Omega Church, Carthage, Mo.
May 29, 2020 — the individual was placed under quarantine when he or she was named as a contact to a positive case.
May 31, 2020 — the individual received medical attention that included COVID testing for worsening symptoms at Mercy Joplin Hospital from 9:30 p.m.-midnight.
“The Jasper County Health Department is working with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to determine any close contacts of this individual who were possibly exposed,” Moehr said. “If exposed, health officials will provide guidance to the individual and monitor them closely for the development of symptoms.”
