Information on positive cases of COVID-19 goes directly to local health departments

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Once a test for COVID-19 comes back positive, the information goes straight to local health departments to be distributed.

University of Missouri Health Care spokesman Eric Maze said his organization administers the tests, then sends the samples to a state testing lab. State leaders have said MU Health is expected to start its own testing as a state-sanctioned lab Wednesday.

Maze said if a test turns out positive, the information goes to the local health department, which decides how much information to give out and when it should be released.

Maze said that may change when third-party vendors begin testing in a move to increase capacity.

The first case was confirmed in Cole County Tuesday Evening. The communicable disease coordinator for the Cole County Public Health Chezney Schulte said it took them about an hour to make the announcement to the public.

"Public health is sort of that middle ground of ensuring the safety of our community, while also keeping private medical information and test results private because that certainly doesn't need to be broadcasted," Schulte said.

She said once a positive test comes in, the immediately notify the patient, then start an investigation into who the person would have come into contact with.

Those people on the list are notified and asked to isolate themselves and watch for symptoms. More information about the patient will not be available to the public to respect the privacy of the patient.

"People are concerned about the amount of unknown but people know, need to know and do know," Schulte said. "People just need to see both sides of the coin understand we are doing the best for all the people we can."

After the first case was confirmed in Boone County Tuesday evening, Mayor Brian Treece said the Columbia/Boone County Health Department was notified around 4 p.m.

Limited information was made available about the patient in an effort to protect their privacy. Treece said the patient is a person in their 60's in Boone County. He said it is a travel-related case.

The patient has self-isolated in their home, has been in contact to put together a list of people that may have been in contact with the individual.

The director of the Columbia/Boone County Health Department Stephanie Browning said they have been in contact with the patient to put together a list of people that may have been in contact with the individual.

"Our staff will continue to follow up with those persons both tonight and tomorrow," Browning said Tuesday evening.

She said the patient will be on home isolation until they show no symptoms, and two negative tests come back more than 24 hours apart.

No one was immediately available to comment at the Columbia/Boone County Health Department.

Check back for more on this developing story and watch ABC 17 News at 5 and 6 for a full report.