EXPLAINER: Discrepancy in case numbers from state and local health departments

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

As of Friday night, Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Services is reporting 69 cases of COVID-19 in Boone County, but the state is showing a higher number.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services updated its website Friday to show Boone County had 74 cases.

There was also a discrepancy with the numbers in Callaway County, with the Callaway County Health Department reporting 17 cases and the state reporting 18.

ABC 17 News contacted officials in both counties to find out why the numbers differed.

"Sometimes, if the state gets lab reports in without a patient address, they initially automatically assign it to the county the lab is in, then go back and try to research the patient address and adjust the website after they've done so, Scott Clardy with Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Humans Services said. "That is probably what has happened here."