WEDNESDAY UPDATES: CDC report shows increase in Missouri coronavirus case rate

Missouri's rate of new coronavirus cases jumped last week, going from 0 cases per 100,000 people to 61 in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's weekly coronavirus report.

The increase put the state in the medium coronavirus transmission category under the CDC's definition. However, most counties maintained a low transmission level last week. Howard County is one exception -- the county saw moderate amounts of coronavirus transmission last week, according to the CDC.

The report shows high virus levels across much of the Northeast as the BA.2 variant spreads there. The variant made up about 18% of Missouri's new cases last week, the CDC reported.

Boone County's transmission level remained low last week, but the county reported April's second-highest number of new daily cases on Wednesday.

The county health department reported 20 new cases, one fewer than the 21 reported on April 11. However, new daily cases have primarily stayed in the teens and single digits since the winter's omicron wave receded.

Boone County has reported 43,034 cases since the pandemic began.

Cole County reported three new cases Wednesday, bringing its total to 17,381 since the pandemic began.