Boone Hospital sees highest COVID-19 positive inpatients since pandemic started

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

On Thursday and Friday, Boone Hospital Center saw its highest numbers for COVID-19 positive inpatients since the pandemic began in March.

As of Friday, the hospital had 26 positive inpatients, but during the same time last month, there were only 10.

A spokeswoman for Boone Hospital, Jessica Park, said while Boone Hospital continues to see positive test results, the number of positive cases per day has decreased since August.

"We are adapting to the situation as needed to ensure we continue to provide the best care possible for our patients and protect our employees and visitors," she said.

Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services Assistant Director Scott Clardy said the increase in hospitalizations could be a lagging indicator from case spikes several weeks ago.

"If an event happens it won't show up as a hospitalization for some time, it lags behind," Clardy said.

Clardy said the uptick in hospitalizations played a role in the health order extension.

"It is a concern these numbers are rising and we want to make sure that we keep a very close eye on that and we don't want to do anything to cause those numbers to increase anymore," he said.

MU health currently had 31 coronavirus positive inpatients on Friday.