First COVID-19 cases identified in Boone, Cole counties

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Cole County officials said Tuesday that a resident has tested positive for novel coronavirus, while state health authorities said a Boone County resident also has COVID-19.

Cole County leaders made the announcement at a news conference but provided few details about the case. The person has tested positive for COVID-19 and the result has been confirmed by the state laboratory.

The person is self-isolating at home, officials said. The case was travel-related.

Watch the news conference below

The Boone County case was publicized in a tweet by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

University of Missouri Health Care officials later said the Boone County patient was treated by MU Health doctors.

The case is travel-related and the 60-year-old patient is self-isolating, Columbia Mayor Brian Treece said.

The organization said it would start offering drive-through testing Wednesday and it is offering free online screenings for those with symptoms of COVID-19.

The state reported 13 positive samples through the State Public Health Laboratory, including the Cole and Boone cases, and two from other laboratories in Cass and Jackson counties. The tweet didn't include information about new cases other than their locations.

No one has died from COVID-19 in Missouri.

Cases have now been found in all 50 states and more than 100 people in the United States have died from the disease.

The announcement came a little more than an hour before Gov. Mike Parson was set to have his first daily briefing on the coronavirus pandemic in his Capitol office.

Check back for updates to this developing story.