THURSDAY UPDATES: Cole County reports one additional COVID-19 case
COVID-19 case numbers might differ among state and local health authorities because of issues with reporting and address verification.
UPDATE 10:20 P.M: The Cole County Health Department reported one additional COVID-19 case Thursday night.
The new case brings the total of lab-confirmed cases in the county to 41.
Of the 41 cases, 31 are recovered and nine are active. The county reported its first death earlier this month.
UPDATE 5:05 P.M.: Callaway County again reported no new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, extending its streak to more than a week.
The county's number stood at 19 on Thursday, according to a news release. The last time Callaway County reported a new case was on April 7.
County health officials say 15 people have recovered from COVID-19, one has died and three people have active infections.
The state has reported 20 cases in Callaway County for several days, but local health officials have said address verification and other issues can cause differences in reporting.
This April 3 video lays out explanations for the discrepancies.
Scholastic employee tests positive
The Scholastic book company said this week an employee at its Jefferson City distribution center has tested positive for COVID-19.
"We are fully cooperating with the Cole County Health Department to support the employee through their recovery," the company said in a statement sent to ABC 17 News. "We are also taking every possible precaution above and beyond our existing, stringent sanitation protocols to maintain the safety of our workplace and the health of our other employees."
UPDATE 4:15 P.M.: Three more employees of Burgers' Smokehouse have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total to six.
A Burgers' spokesperson told ABC 17 News in a statement that about 300 employees work at the company's California, Missouri plant. The plant is operating on limited capacity and will fully reopen Monday.
Burgers' said this week that before Monday it will work on ways to increase social distancing at the plant and implement more stringent screenings of employees. The company also plans to buy more face masks.
UPDATE 3:02 P.M.: County health departments in Boone and Saline counties added new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.
The Boone County Health Department said one more person has tested positive for novel coronavirus since Wednesday. It brings the total number of cases in the county to 87.
According to the county website, there are 10 active cases of COVID-19.
The Saline County Health Department reported two more people tested positive for COVID-19 since Wednesday. Health officials said there are 53 confirmed novel coronavirus cases in the county.
According to a post from the health department, four people in the county have recovered.
State COVID-19 cases surpass 5,000
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said Thursday that 5,111 people across the state have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Thursday afternoon.
More than 200 cases of novel coronavirus have been reported since yesterday.
The health department said 152 have died from novel coronavirus. It's an increase of at least five since Wednesday.
Gov. Mike Parson is scheduled to hold a COVID-19 briefing at 3 p.m. on Thursday.
UPDATE 11:09 A.M.: County health officials in three Mid-Missouri counties confirmed more new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.
The Pulaski County Health Center confirmed nine additional cases of novel coronavirus Thursday morning. It brings the county to at least 25 positive cases of COVID-19.
According to a Facebook post from the health center, eight of the positive cases are linked to temporary county residents. It included there is at least one probable case of COVID-19 in the county.
The county more than doubled its amount of cases since Monday.
Moniteau County health officials confirmed at least five more cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed since Wednedsay.
Spokesman with the health center Darrell Hendrickson said there are 13 confirmed cases and seven probable cases. Hendrickson said the probable cases are people who have had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. He added the probable cases are all awaiting results.
Hendrickson said as of Thursday county health officials were still working to track down people that had recent contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
The Morgan County Health Department said it confirmed one more case of novel coronavirus. It brings the county to at least two positive COVID-19 cases.
As of Thursday, more than 300 people across Mid-Missouri have tested positive for COVID-19. The highest concentration of confirmed cases was reported in Boone County with 86 positives.
UPDATE 9:31 A.M.: Health departments in Saline and Moniteau counties confirmed more new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.
A Facebook post from the Saline County Health Department said 51 people have tested positive for COVID-19.
It included three county residents have recovered. The county has added at least 32 confirmed novel coronavirus cases over the past week.
The Moniteau County Health Center also confirmed new positive cases of COVID-19 yesterday. According to a Facebook post, 8 people have tested positive for COVID-19.
The post said there are seven probable cases of COVID-19 in the county. The health department said the individuals haven't tested positive for novel coronavirus, but it is "highly likely that they the disease."
Health officials included four people who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered.
Burger's Smokehouse in California announced Wednesday it closed its facility after three workers tested positive for COVID-19. The county has doubled its number of coronavirus cases since Monday.
ORIGINAL: MU Health Care announced Thursday morning it's joining a nationwide clinical trial to research how plasma from COVID-19 patients affects those still battling the virus.
A news release from the hospital said it's one of 100 hospitals participating in the trial that was spearheaded by the FDA, American Red Cross and the Mayo Clinic.
Researchers will look at how 'convalescent plasma' from recovered COVID-19 patients can be used to fight coronavirus in patients currently battling the virus, according to the release. Workers will infuse plasma from the recovered patients with those currently combating the virus.
The release said it's a strategy used to fight other infectious diseases.
Hospitals workers ask that adults who have recovered volunteer for the un-paid program.
“We believe this trial could be promising, the risks to the donor are minimal, and it could save someone’s life,” MU Health Care physician Dima Dandachi said.
