Ripley Co. Confirms First Covid-Related Death Of ‘22

Ripley County coroner Mike Jackson and health center director Tammy Cosgrove announced Friday, Jan. 14, confirmation of two new deaths of county residents who suffered from COVID-19 among other underlying conditions.

One death occurred since Jan. 1, making it the first in the county in the new year, said Cosgrove. The second death occurred during 2021. The health center wasn’t informed until this week that it was COVID-related.

Ripley County officials have now confirmed 40 deaths in 2021 of those who suffered from COVID-19 among other underlying conditions. In 2020, 11 such deaths occurred locally.

The health center confirmed Thursday nine new positive cases of COVID-19 in Ripley County. and four more on Friday.

The latest announcement brings the total number of positive cases in the county for 2022 to 98, said Cosgrove.

Ripley County had a total of 1,399 cases during 2021. The total number of positive cases ending Dec. 31, 2020, was 722.

Health center staff continue to monitor new cases and follow up with contacts is being done.

The Ripley County Health Center is working with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the CDC to identify and contact people who may have come in contact with any individuals while they were infectious and will monitor them for fever and respiratory symptoms.