Callaway County Health Department closes doors because of staffing shortage
FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ)
This week the Callaway County Health Department closed it's doors due to a staffing shortage and increasing cases of COVID 19.
The Callaway County Commission could decide Friday if the health department will stay closed for another week.
The health department announced the closure on Monday. It has been shuttered through Friday. The department has considered closing for the upcoming week as well if circumstances do not improve.
The department said in a recent news release, “[the closure] will allow the health department staff to focus on COVID-19 case investigations and contact tracing.”
The health department has stated previously it is a few days behind in coronavirus case investigations.
On Nov. 6, Health Department Director, Sharon Lynch, released an update that said additional staff was hired to help with case investigations.
"The Callaway County Public Health Department is currently receiving a large number of positive COVID-19 cases. Additional personnel have been hired to assist with the large caseload, however, due to the increase in positive cases we are still behind on our contact tracing investigations," Lynch said in the release.
As of Tuesday, Callaway County has reported 673 active COVID-19 cases, the county's coronavirus tracking website said. The total number of cases reported in the county was 1,845. Health officials say 10 have died from the virus.
The health department is responsible for environmental services, health services and WIC. The health services provided by the health department include; birth and death certificates, breastfeeding instruction, childhood immunization, nursing services, nutrition counseling, TB testing.
Environmental services are still available to citizens if needed. Birth and death certificate services are still available Monday through Thursday.
The County is providing a free COVID Testing event to all Missouri residents on Tuesday. It's being held at 54 Country on 400 Gaylord Dr. in Fulton.
