Boone County’s COVID-19 cases skyrocket over the weekend primarily in college-aged population

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone County shattered the record for daily case totals, reporting 131 new cases on Saturday just a day after a new health order was enforced.

The new record breaking cases brings the total number of cases in the county to 2,447 cases. Of those, 620 are currently active.

According to the Columbia/Boone County health department's data the 18 to 22 age group makes up 83 of Saturday’s new record breaking cases.

The health department data states the recording breaking cases total breakdown include:

• 0 - 9 age group reported six new cases
• 10 - 19 age group reported 39 new cases
• 20 - 24 age group reported 55 new cases
• 25 - 20 age group reported five new cases
• 30 - 34 age group reported six new cases
• 35 - 39 age group reported four new cases
• 40 - 44 age group reported one new case
• 45 - 49 age group reported four new cases
• 50 - 54 age group reported one new case
• 55 - 59 age group reported two new cases
• 60 - 64 age group reported two new cases
• 65 - 69 age group reported one new case
• 70 - 74 age group reported four new cases
• 75 - 79 age group reported two new cases
• 80 and above reported zero new cases.

Scott Clardy, Columbia/Boone County Health Department's Assistant Director said schools are doing their best to control what is done on campus, but it’s what happening off campus that is effecting the case numbers.

“It's those gatherings in close proximity that's spreading the virus," Clardy said. "And we're seeing now the impact of that having occurred anywhere from five to 14 days ago.”

ABC 17 spoke with an University of Missouri student who said this dramatic increase especially ages 18 to 22 is very concerning but she’s hopeful the new health order will help soon.

“I mean it is worrying," said Leeann Nordstorn. "Because it's like anybody walking around this campus could be in fact like could be carrying or infected with COVID and we just don't know. And so it's like you have to kind of treat everybody that you've come across as somebody who could have coronavirus and that's definitely concerning.”

This peak in cases is what health officials expected to happen as students return to school and transmission of COVID-19 spreads.

Clardy believes the county will continue seeing high case numbers compared to previous totals in past months.

“I wouldn't be surprised if we kept seeing record breaking days for a while here," said Clardy. 

Clardy said its going to take time before we see the effects of the new health order, as people who've already been exposed before the order went into place are still going to come back positive.

Watch ABC17 News at 9 and 10 for the full break down.