From Wednesday, May 20, to Tuesday, May 26, Franklin County reported four new cases of COVID-19, one death and 14 recoveries from the virus.

Presiding Commissioner Tim Brinker announced the county has hired two employees to do contract tracing on those with the virus. These positions were created in the county’s Health Department and will be paid an hourly rate. Currently 10 of the active cases in the county are confined to skilled nursing facilities, which makes contact tracing a little easier. There are eight county residents who currently have the virus who are not in such facilities. That is where the contact tracers will earn their pay.

Totals for the virus stand at 139 confirmed cases, 104 recoveries and 16 deaths as of Tuesday.

Since May 1, there have been 23 new positive cases, 47 recoveries and three deaths in the county.

As of Tuesday, May 26, Missouri had 12,291 total positive cases and 686 deaths statewide. That was an increase of 1,059 confirmed cases and an additional 70 deaths in the prior week. Since May 1, there have been 4,456 new cases and 349 deaths in the state.

This is how the numbers break down in the county for May.

Wednesday, April 29 - Tuesday, May 5: 14 new cases; no new deaths

Wednesday, May 6 - Tuesday, May 12: five new cases; one death

Wednesday, May 13 - Tuesday, May 19: four new cases; one death

Wednesday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 26: four new cases; one death

Brinker declared the county open for business Monday, May 4, with limitations on distancing and contact in place.
This past Memorial Day weekend saw an increase in public gatherings across the county. Time will show what effects, if any, that will have on future numbers.