FRIDAY UPDATES: DHSS reports three deaths, 73 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Missouri
UPDATE: 7:40 P.M.: A woman in her sixties with underlying health conditions marked the third death related to COVID-19 in Missouri.
It was the first death for St. Louis County, according to local health department officials.
Officials said the positive test result was received on Tuesday.
As of Friday night, DHSS was reporting 73 confirmed cases in the state.
UPDATE 6:25 P.M.: Officials with the University of Missouri announced Friday that two employees tested positive for COVID-19.
According to a news release, the patients have quarantined themselves at home and are under the care of physicians.
“We are appreciative that these individuals have taken the proper actions by immediately self-quarantining, following directions from health officials and staying away from others,” UM System President Mun Choi said.
UPDATE 6:15 P.M.: Leaders of the Missouri House of Representatives say a member of the House has tested positive for COVID-19.
The announcement came in an emailed statement Friday night:
“We have recently learned a member of the House of Representatives has tested positive for the coronavirus. We are still working to notify members and staff that might have been in contact with the member and have requested all employees stay out of the Capitol for at least the next 10 days. While we learn more and work closely with DHSS to take every precaution necessary, we keep this member and their family in our thoughts and prayers in their battle to return back to health.”
UPDATE 5:30 P.M.: City of Ashland officials declared a state of emergency Friday, limiting certain businesses to 50 percent of their normal capacity.
The emergency resolution meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 was approved at a special 5 p.m. board of aldermen meeting at City Hall, the city said in a release.
Officials said the city is closing City Hall, halting utility cutoffs for non-payment and suspending meetings of city boards for 30 days. The order also prohibits events with crowds of more than 50 people.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Boone County rose Friday to 10.
UPDATE 5:10 P.M.: Boone County health officials said in a tweet that 10 people have tested positive for COVID-19 countywide.
The number was up from eight patients Friday morning. The announcement did not include any details about the new Boone County cases.
UPDATE 5 P.M.: The Cole County Health Department said Friday that a third person has tested positive for COVID-19 in the county.
The case was related to travel within the United States, the department director said.
Friday morning Boone County health authorities reported eight people positive for COVID-19 in the county.
UPDATE 4:40 P.M.: The City of Columbia said Friday that it will restrict access to public buildings starting Monday.
At City Hall, visitors will only be allowed to enter through the main entrance, where they'll use a speakerphone at the main desk in the lobby to call customer service representatives.
Public access will be restricted at several other city buildings, the city said in a news release. Read the news release by clicking here.
UPDATE 4:25 P.M.: Boone Hospital Center is among the hospitals to announce Friday that it is stopping elective procedures.
The hospital said in a news release that the change takes effect Monday.
The hospital said it will evaluate scheduled appointments for the next four weeks. Those that are deemed elective will be postponed eight weeks or more.
UPDATE 3:55 P.M.: Capital Region Medical Center and SSM Health Care in Jefferson City said Friday that they are canceling all elective procedures to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
The moves take effect Monday.
The SSM decision applies to the organization's hospitals in Jefferson City and in Mexico, Missouri.
“The decision to cancel elective procedures was made with careful deliberation and we believe is a necessary step in protecting patients and hindering the spread of infection,” Dr. Randy Haight, vice president of medical affairs at Capital Region Medical Center, said in a news release. “Furthermore, we want to be as conscientious as we can be to preserve resources in the event the number of infections continues to expand.”
The medical centers say the decision follows CDC guidelines.
The move came the same day that a second person died from the virus in Missouri, this time in Jackson County. Also on Friday, Gov. Mike Parson said his administration would sign an order on Saturday prohibiting gatherings of 10 or more people.
UPDATE 2:43 P.M.: Jackson County Health officials said Friday a person who tested positive for COVID-19 has died.
The tweet from the health department said it's the first death in the county related to novel coronavirus.
As of Friday, March 20, at least two people have died from COVID-19. The first person to die from the virus was from Boone County.
At least 54 people have tested positive for novel coronavirus in the state as of Friday afternoon. According to a tweet from Gov. Mike Parson, three people have tested positive in Jackson County.
Editor's note: This story has been updated regarding the person who tested positive for COVID-19. Originally the story said the person was an employee.
UPDATE 2:05 P.M.: The Office of Administration announced Friday that a person at the Truman Building tested positive for COVID-19.
An email sent out to staff members at the Truman Building said the person was last in suite 720.
Office of Administration Commissioner Sarah Steelman said in the email the suite was closed and being sanitized. She included all workers in the office are working remotely.
Steelman added the worker has not been in the office since March 13.
According to the email, employees who may have come in contact with the person who tested positive will be contacted by the Cole County Health Department.
As of Friday afternoon, Cole County had two confirmed cases of novel coronavirus. The case today brings the total to at least three positive cases.
UPDATE 1:55 P.M.: The Missouri Department of Corrections said Thursday it's screening all new inmates and people being assessed at state prisons for COVID-19.
The announcement on the department's website said officials are working on a plan to separate inmates with novel coronavirus symptoms from the general prison population.
State officials announced earlier this week that all visits with inmates have been suspended.
UPDATE 11:45 A.M.: Local health authorities say Boone County now has eight confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The number was up from three cases identified Thursday. Both University of Missouri Health Care and Boone Hospital Center started drive-thru testing Thursday in Columbia.
Gov. Mike Parson reported 47 cases statewide Friday morning but that number did not include the five additional Boone County cases.
William Woods University also said Friday that it had shut down its campus in response to a student testing positive for COVID-19. This is the first case reported in Callaway County.
UPDATE 10:55 A.M.: Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City announced Friday it's implementing a restricted visitor policy until further notice.
The hospital said one visitor will be allowed into the facility with each patient.
"For your safety and the safety of our patients and our community Capital Region Medical Center is implementing a policy to allow ONLY ONE visitor with each patient. Visitors must be 18 or over, will be screened for illness upon arrival, and are asked to stay in the room with the patient as much as possible. For surgical patients, the visitor is asked to stay in the designated waiting area. Visitor travel to vending areas and the cafeteria is acceptable."
Capital Region Medical Center
The release included no visitors will be allowed into the hospital's intensive care unit. Hospital officials say restricted visiting hours are set at 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., as well as 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
UPDATE 10:09 A.M.: The Trump Administration announced the filing deadline for taxes was extended from April 15 to July 15.
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin tweeted Friday morning taxpayers will have the extra time to avoid penalties amid the spread of COVID-19.
Mnuchin tweeted again encouraging Americans to file early to get refunds sooner.
ORIGINAL: The Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri announced Friday morning that it's changing programming.
The organization said all services are by appointment only. The news release shows all volunteer opportunities have been canceled and no in-office classes are being held until April 3.
Staff members will continue to provide services via teleconference, according to the release.
