Local health officials concerned about return of college students
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
More than half of Boone County's coronavirus cases have been in people 29 and younger.
Boone County reported 23 new cases Friday, bringing the county's total to 843. Of those, nearly 28 percent have been in people 20 to 24 years old.
Scott Clardy, Columbia/Boone County Health Department Assistant Director said the department is concerned about the possible increase in cases when students return in the fall.
The University of Missouri has taken precautions to help stop the spread of the virus by hosting both virtual and in-person classes and students are required to wear masks during classes, but Clardy said when the students are not in school they will still be in close proximity with one another.
"The students are not in class all the time," Clardy said. "They're still going to be together, living together and socializing together... and just what we have seen so far among the 20 to 24 year old age group, and that alone causes us a great deal of concern when we have more people in that age group coming into the community."
Clardy said the health department is working to hire more staff for contact tracing and that the University of Missouri is hiring contact tracers to take care of the student's cases.
Liz McCune, MU News Bureau Associate Director said the University has been working with 135 faculty and staff across campus, including some of its medical experts to draw up a plan that ensures that the university can be as safe as possible when students come back this fall.
Clardy said Boone County has been fortunate as many hospital systems started drive thru testing events, and a local laboratory transitioned from doing genetic analysis to COVID-19 analysis, which put Boone County ahead of the curve and the rest of the state of Missouri when it comes to testing.
"What we're being told by our local lab is that they have not only enough testing availability," Clardy said. "They still have more room to expand even farther. So I don't think the availability of the laboratory availability is going to be an issue."
McCune said MU Health Care now has two drive thru testing facilities where people can get results from tests within 24 to 72 hours, and that students will be using those services as the semester begins in the fall.
Eric Maze, a MU Health Care spokesman said that they do have test capacity and continue to monitor supplies at MU Health Care's two testing sites, which have the ability to accommodate more testing for when students return.
"The University of Missouri is of course part of MU Health Care," McCune said. "And our MU Student Health Center is located within MU health Care, so we're very close partners with them. And we'll be working hand in hand with them to ensure that our students have access to timely testing."
Maze said MU Health Care does have a strong supply of tests that are available, on hand and ready for the student's return now.
McCune also said that the university has PPE supplies called COVID kits ready for all faculty, staff and students. McCune said the kits include a mask, hand sanitizer and wipes.
MU professors and instructors will be provided will clear face shields and there will be extra disposable masks and hand sanitizer in MU's facilities all over campus.
Clardy said hospitals in Boone County have indicated that they don't see any problem with PPE supplies, therefore, the health department doesn't have any concerns right now either.
Clardy said the health department is doing the best it can to prepare and will try to be flexible and do the best it can to to adjust if testing availability or supply changes.
