WEDNESDAY UPDATES: Boone County reports two more coronavirus-related deaths; 108 new cases
The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services reported two new coronavirus-related deaths. The county has reported 215 total deaths since the pandemic started in March 2020. The first individual was in the 40-44 age group and died on Jan. 11. The second individual was in the 50-54 age group and died on Feb. 6.
The county reported 108 new coronavirus cases were added to the information hub for Monday. The county now delays reporting cases by two days.
The county has reported 41,956 since the pandemic began.
The health department is reporting 121 COVID-19 patients in Boone County hospitals and the healthcare system capacity is yellow. Of the 121 patients, 21 are in intensive care and 11 are on ventilators.
Boone County ranks seventh in the state with the most coronavirus cases in total volume in the past week and is 28th when sorted by cases per 100,000. Cases are down 62.1% when comparing last week to the prior week. The county has a 20.7% positivity test rate, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).
The Missouri coronavirus vaccine dashboard reports that 118,094 residents have received their first dose in Boone County and 105,248 Boone County residents have completed their vaccine doses.
Boone County has the third-largest percentage of county residents in Missouri that have received at least one dose of the vaccine with 65.4%. The largest county in the state is St. Louis County with 70%.
Boone County is third in the state with a reported 58.3% of residents that have completed their coronavirus vaccine doses. St. Louis County is the first county in the state with 61.8% of residents having completed the doses for vaccination. The city of Joplin has 62.4% of the population fully vaccinated.
Cole County has the second-highest first vaccination rate in Mid-Missouri with 55.2%. Callaway County is third with 51.4%.
Cole County passes 17,000 coronavirus cases
The Cole County Health Department reported 29 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday.
According to the dashboard update, there are 16,702 residential cases and 323 long-term care facility resident cases. That is 17,025 total cases in the county since March 2020.
Cole County has reported 182 coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began.
Cole County ranks 31st in the state for counties with the most coronavirus cases per 100,000 in the past week. Cases are down 53.3% when comparing last week to the prior week. The county has reported a 22.8% positivity test rate, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
The Missouri coronavirus vaccine dashboard reports about 55.2% of the county have initiated their first dose of the vaccine and 51.1% of the county's population have been fully vaccinated.
The Jefferson City School District reported no new coronavirus case in a student but two new cases in staff on Tuesday.
The district is reporting three active cases in students and four active cases in staff.
State of Missouri reports positivity rate continues to drop
The state of Missouri reported 4,643 new and probable coronavirus cases for Wednesday.
The state of Missouri’s daily average of new coronavirus cases has gone back up to a 2,492 seven-day average (17,443 confirmed cases from the previous week of reporting) as the state reports new coronavirus cases across the state according to state health department reporting. The daily average looks at the last seven days and doesn't account for the past three days, which will push that number even higher.
The state reported 3,643 new coronavirus cases through PCR testing and another 1,000 probable cases identified in antigen testing from Tuesday, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services coronavirus dashboard. Missouri has now reported 1,100,189 confirmed cases for the pandemic and more than 266,707 probable cases.
The state recorded 17 new death for 14,592 total and four probable death was removed for 3,379.
Missouri's new cases are down 54.4% over the past week, the state reports, as recent cases surge nationwide.
The rate of positive tests is 21.1% for the last week. A higher positivity suggests higher transmission and that there are likely more people with coronavirus in the community who haven’t been tested yet.
Callaway (13), Pettis (15), Saline (16), Boone (28) and Cole (31) counties are all in the top 40 Missouri counties in cases per capita over the last week, according to state statistics.
The state reports that 7.6% (a .03 increase for Wednesday) of vaccinated Missourians have developed COVID-19 infections. The state is reporting 1,469 new cases of breakthrough cases for 259,327 breakthrough cases out of 3,410,680 fully vaccinated people. The state has reported 1,272 breakthrough deaths.
Experts continue to tout vaccination as the best tool to fight the wave of new cases.
Still, new vaccinations have effectively stalled in Missouri, with more boosters being given daily than first or second shots. The state reported Thursday that 55.6% of Missouri residents are fully vaccinated.
COVID-19 hospitalizations are also trending down, with the state reporting 21% of total inpatient capacity and 18% of ICU capacity remaining. Those numbers are at 31% and 34% in Central Missouri, respectively. The state is reporting 2,861 patient hospitalizations. There are currently 599 patients in Missouri ICUs.
Boone County hosting multiple COVID vaccination clinics beginning later this week
The Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services is hosting multiple vaccination clinics this week and next week. These clinics will be walk-in based and no appointments are needed.
Residents can receive any dose in a series, first, second, third (moderately or severely immunocompromised individuals) or a booster dose at the following clinics.
Thursday, Feb. 10
Columbia Public Library - Friends Room
100 W. Broadway, Columbia
2 to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 12
Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services
1005 W. Worley St., Columbia
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 16
Sturgeon Youth Center
209 S. Turner St., Sturgeon
3 to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 19
Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services
1005 W. Worley St., Columbia
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Vaccines are free and do not require ID or health insurance. Anyone aged 5 or older is eligible for Pfizer (12 or older for boosters). Anyone aged 18 and older is eligible for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Parental consent forms are required for anyone under the age of 18.
Columbia/Boone County PHHS announces new COVID-19 phone number
Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services announced this week a new COVID-19 phone line.
According to the health department, patients who test positive for the virus can now call 573-874-6337 to talk with a staff member. A PHHS worker will be able to answer patient questions about the coronavirus.
If you’re a Boone County resident who recently tested positive for COVID at a lab or an at-home test, we have a new phone number you can call to ask questions! Our staff can answer questions about recommendations for isolation, quarantine for close contacts or other guidance.
— Columbia/Boone Co. Public Health & Human Services (@CoMo_HealthDept) February 8, 2022
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A spokeswoman said the health department will offer both English and Spanish speaking options. PHHS plans to have a staff member return phones calls from patients that have to leave a voicemail.
The health department still plans to call patients that test positive and live at community shelters or are homeless.
