Warren County experienced its first COVID-related death over the past week, and the total number of cases detected this year passed 500, according to the Warren County Health Department.

The health department on Sept. 24 announced that a recent death was confirmed to be COVID-related by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Health officials released little identifying information about the COVID-victim, saying only that they were a Warren County resident over the age of 60.

“We offer our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends,” said health department Administrator Ruth Walters.

At the beginning of this week, the county’s COVID-19 case count surpassed 500 identified cases since tracking began in March. The total as of Wednesday, Sept. 30, was 525 cases, with 364 considered recovered.

That puts active cases in Warren County at 161. Health officials have said recovery data is being updated only once a week, potentially causing that data to lag behind.

Midway through September, the health department said around 100 new cases had been detected since the beginning of the month. In the next 15 days, over 90 more cases were added to that count. That would mean around one-third of local COVID cases occurred within the month of September alone.

Health officials are urging the public to help slow the spread of COVID-19 by continuing to wear face masks in public, washing hands and disinfecting surfaces frequently, and avoiding large gatherings or events.

“Please follow instructions if you are asked to quarantine as a close contact to a positive case. These steps are vital to helping reduce the spread in our community,” the health department said in a press release.

County offices close

The Warren County Administration was temporarily closed to the public starting last week “due to potential exposure to COVID-19,” the county said in a public statement.

“Out of an abundance of caution ... the Warren County Administration Building will temporarily close physical access to the building. All public services will continue to operate without interruption,” the county announced Sept. 24.

The administration building reopened Sept. 30. County employees continued to work at the administration building during the closure.

A team of county election clerks moved their work into the county’s parking lot for the duration of the closure. They were stationed in a tent outside to provide absentee voters a chance to fill out ballots in-person ahead of the November general election.

Voters do not need to call ahead to vote absentee, although they do need to fill out a form and state why they won’t be able to vote on Election Day. The county administration building is located at 101 Mockingbird Lane in Warrenton.

Warren County Courthouse facilities remained open under restricted operating guidelines mandated by the Missouri Supreme Court.