FRIDAY UPDATES: State offers free at-home COVID-19 tests to Missouri residents

Missouri residents can now get an at-home coronavirus test that checks for presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Residents can receive the test two days after ordering it online. The test kit is good for six months and comes with easy-to-follow instructions.

Once the person uses the kit, the kit needs to be returned to a FedEx collection site within 24 hours, shipping is free. Test results are then provided via email within two days.

This test was authorized for emergency use by the FDA.

Missouri courts can return to pre-pandemic conditions

The Missouri Supreme Court has lifted mask mandates in local courthouses.

According to the announcement, proceedings in state appellate and circuit courts can operate under pre-pandemic conditions.

The court cited decreasing national and local COVID-19 cases and vaccine availability.

These changes will go into effect June 15th.

Nearly 50% of all Boone County residents have received their first coronavirus vaccine dose

The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services is reporting four new COVID-19 cases.

There are currently 49 active cases in the county.

The county now has a reported total number of COVID-19 cases of 18,525.

The county has reported the total number of cases removed from isolation is 18,360.

The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services dashboard has reported the latest five-day average as 9.6.

The health department is reporting the total number of hospitalizations in Boone County is 20.

The health department is reporting four Boone County residents are in the hospital due to the coronavirus.

The dashboard is showing nine COVID-19 patients in the ICU and three patients on a ventilator.

The State of Missouri coronavirus vaccine dashboard is reporting that 86,608 residents have received their first dose in Boone County and 73,914 Boone County residents have completed their vaccine doses.

Boone County has the largest percentage of people in Mid-Missouri that have received at least one dose of the vaccine with 48%. The second closest in the state is St. Louis County with 45.4%.

Boone County is first in the state with a reported 41% of residents that have completed their coronavirus vaccine doses. St. Charles County is second in the state with 37.4% of residents have completed the doses for vaccination.

Cole County has the second-highest first vaccination rate in Mid-Missouri with 38.3%. Montgomery and Salline County are tied for third with 34.1%.

City of Columbia hosting COVID-19 vaccine community clinics beginning next Wednesday

Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services is hosting several clinics beginning next wednesday for people to get a coronavirus vaccine.

Wednesday, June 2
Mari’s
1210 E. Prathersville Road
12 to 4 p.m.
No appointment needed
Johnson & Johnson

Thursday, June 3
PHHS Clinic
1005 W. Worley St.
Appointment only, to register follow this link.
Pfizer

Friday, June 4
PHHS Clinic
1005 W. Worley St.
Appointment only, to register follow this link.
Pfizer

Saturday, June 5
Derby Ridge Elementary School
4000 Derby Ridge Dr.
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
This is a second dose clinic but walk-ins are welcome for first doses
Moderna

Saturday, June 5
Centralia Anchor Festival Car Show
Centralia City Hall Community Room
114 S. Rollins St.
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
No appointment needed
Johnson & Johnson

Vaccines are free and do not require ID or health insurance. Anyone aged 12 or older is eligible for Pfizer. Anyone aged 18 and older is eligible for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Parental consent forms are required for anyone under the age of 18.

State increases daily vaccine distribution

As of Friday morning, the state health dashboard showed the seven-day average of vaccinations given out per day increased to 14,269.

41.4% of the state population has initiated vaccination against COVID-19 and 2,103,780 are fully vaccinated.

Missouri's seven-day COVID-19 positivity rate was at 4%.

The increase in positivity came with 427 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19. The total number of confirmed cases throughout the pandemic is 510,968.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services also recorded 214 additional probable cases of the coronavirus discovered through antigen testing, bringing the total to 87,700.

Six additional deaths were added to the state dashboard Friday. In total, 9,081 Missourians have died due to COVID-19.