FRIDAY UPDATES: Cole County reports the largest increase in daily COVID-19 cases
UPDATE 5:45 P.M.: Cole County Health Department is reporting the largest single-day COVID-19 increase since the pandemic started in March.
According to their daily dashboard, the department is reporting 90 new cases, an increase of 61 today. For perspective, Boone County increased their daily case list by 60. Boone County has a population of over 100,000 more people than Cole County.
The number of active cases also increased to 239, a 22-percent increase.
Recoveries increased by 39 to 2,148 overall.
The department is reporting 20 people have died due to COVID-19 with no daily increase. However this week, there were four deaths during the week.
If you have been following the blog, the increase in daily cases reported from Cole County would show 100 new cases. The department is only reporting 90. We have reached out to the Cole County Health Department to better understand the discrepancy in daily numbers being reported.
Boone County reports 83 new COVID-19 cases, largest increase in a week
UPDATE 4:53 P.M.: Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services is reporting the largest increase in a week of new COVID-19 cases.
According to the health department, 83 new cases were reported today bringing the total overall number of cases to 5,849.
The county is also reporting 39 new recoveries and an increase of 22 active cases to 370 total.
The increase in cases help raise the 5-day average back up to 50, an 11-case increase.
The county is reporting 81 people currently being hospitalized due to the pandemic, a drop of six and ten fewer than the record of 91 set on Monday.
The number of Boone County residents hospitalized because of the novel coronavirus remains at 15. The county is reporting the number of ICU patients rose by three to 28 and 12 of them are on a ventilator.
According to the Boone County COVID-19 Information Hub, there are no issues/shortages with Boone County hospitals.
However the Missouri Hospital Association dashboard, the ventilator availability has moved into the red in the recent update.
COVID-19 community testing efforts ongoing in Missouri
UPDATE 4:00 P.M.: In partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) will be providing free COVID-19 testing at various sites in Missouri in a regular, weekly pattern.
These five new testing sites are part of national surge testing efforts, and will temporarily increase federal support to areas in Missouri where there have been recent increased levels of new cases and hospitalizations related to the ongoing outbreak.
Testing site locations are:
Columbia
- Mondays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., (beginning October 26)
- Memorial Baptist Church
- 1634 Paris Road
Branson
- Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., (beginning October 27)
- Cox Health
- 121 Cahill Rd
St. Louis City
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (beginning November 3)
- Affinia Healthcare
- 3930 S. Broadway
Cape Girardeau
- Thursdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., (beginning October 29)
- Arena Park
- 410 Kiwanis Drive
Lee’s Summit/Jackson County
- Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., (beginning October 29)
- 616 NE Douglas, Lee’s Summit
Testing at these surge locations is available to anyone – including those experiencing symptoms; those who believe they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and anyone who is worried about possibly having the virus.
Individuals seeking testing do not need to be a resident of the city or county where these testing sites are located. Individuals under 18 years of age must have a parent or legal guardian present to consent to testing.
Individuals seeking COVID-19 testing at any of these sites should pre-register for testing in advance at: www.DoINeedaCOVID19test.com.
Missouri COVID-19 positivity rate hits record high, 33 more die from virus
Missouri's COVID-19 positivity rate hit a new high on Friday breaking a recent record.
According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services COVID-19 dashboard, the department's positivity rate calculation was up to 21.3%.
The rate is up two-tenths from the previous record.
By the CDC's calculation, the positivity rate was at 11%.
Health officials also reported 33 new virus-related deaths in the state.
The dashboard said total virus-related deaths during the pandemic were at 2,688, up from Thursday's total of 2,657.
Missouri reported 1,811 new coronavirus cases since Thursday. The total went up to 164,534 since the dashboard was updated.
State rankings for new COVID-19 cases and deaths over the last seven days fell considerably on Friday. Missouri was 26th in the nation for new deaths and 11th for new cases.
Recently, Misosuri has been inside the top 10 in the nation for both categories.
COVID-19 hospitalizations were unchanged since Thursday staying 1,349. The seven-day average for hospitalizations was 1,411, slightly lower over the last 24 hours.
