Coronavirus cases, hospitalizations dropping in Missouri and Boone County
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are dropping in Boone County and Missouri as a whole, according to data from Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services.
Just weeks ago, Missouri was in the grips of the omicron wave, setting records for new cases and hospitalizations. Now the wave appears to have crested.
The state on Friday reported a daily average of over 3,500 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and over 21,000 cases were reported within the past 7 days. Just two Fridays ago the state reported more than 4,000 new cases. Last Friday, the department reported over 1,900 newly confirmed cases.
Statewide hospitalizations are dropping, too. More than 3,200 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized as of Jan. 6, according to the state health department. As of Friday, the state reported over 2,800 hospitalizations. Official hospital data is delayed three days for accuracy.
Cases are on a downward curve in Boone County, too. Boone County's information hub reported 30 new positive COVID-19 cases Friday -- 300 fewer than the previous Friday.
Boone County Hospital is currently treating 133 COVID-19 patients, with 35 patients in intensive care. That's after the county set a record less than two weeks ago with 192 patients. However, COVID-19 is still straining Mid-Missouri's medical system. Boone County hospitals are delaying some transfers and procedures because of the coronavirus load.
"So we're definitely seeing a decrease in the number of hospitalized patients through all the hospitals in Boone County, which is great", Dr. Robin Blount with Boone Health said.
But Blount cautioned that in order to maintain low numbers there is still work to be done.
"I think that we are seeing more and more natural immunity but all of the studies still show that the best immunity is through the vaccine, and if you also get the disease and are vaccinated and boosted you're really in the best category", Blount said.
Cases are also on the decline in Cole County, where just nine new cases were reported Friday.
"We're definitely on the downside, the downslope of the surge, the numbers continue to come down but slowly and um I'm hopeful that um when spring comes around in about 6 weeks and the weather warms up and people start spending more time in the sunshine and better ventilation hopefully the spread will decrease", SSM Health Dr. Lenora Adams said.
COVID-19 has swept the globe with more than 75 million COVID cases being reported in the United States as of Feb. 2, the CDC states.
