St. Louis County Reports 212 Breakthrough COVID-19 Cases

CBS St. Louis

June 03, 2021

The St. Louis County Department of Public Health is monitoring breakthrough COVID-19 cases.
The health department considers a case meeting the breakthrough criteria when someone tests positive for COVID-19 or shows symptoms at least 14 days after receiving their final vaccine dose. As of Thursday morning, the department has recorded 212 cases of breakthrough infection. The health department notes the number of breakthrough infections is “incredibly small” since more than 350,000 adults in St. Louis County have been fully vaccinated.
Stephen Melgar, an employee with Total Access Urgent Care was one of the first to receive the vaccine in December. In mid-April he developed allergy-like symptoms and eventually lost his taste of smell. After a positive COVID test, he realized he was one of the few who had developed a breakthrough case.
Of the breakthrough cases, there have been 13 hospitalizations and one death.

According to the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, most of the people with breakthrough infections have minor symptoms. In 17% of the breakthrough cases, the county said the person has been asymptotic and was tested because of exposure. Health department officials report that a third of cases involve healthcare workers who have mild symptoms.
Dr. James Hinrichs is an infectious disease advisor with the St. Louis County Health Department. While numbers are incredibly low, he said it’s an important reminder of why it’s crucial people get the vaccine. Hinrichs said St. Louis County has over 500 cases of individuals in St. Louis County that have been re-infected with the virus. Those are individuals who have not gotten the vaccine but have developed COVID twice.
Starting this week, St. Louis County is reaching out to people with newly infected cases and are actively engaging them in becoming vaccinated after they recover from their infection.