COVID-19 community level increases as students prepare to head back to school

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone, Howard and Cooper counties are experiencing high COVID-19 community levels just a few weeks before students are expected to head back to school, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

MU Health Care Pediatrician Christopher Wilhelm says COVID-19 cases will likely continue to rise as kids return to class.

"What happens is during the summer everybody leaves. They go visit family, they go down to the lake, they go to Florida, wherever, and then we bring all these kids back together. So, all those diseases and germs that they picked up across the county, they bring them back, and we put them in school," Wilhelm said.

Sara Humm, the Senior planner at Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services, advises people to continue monitoring for symptoms and get tested if you have symptoms.

The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older and boosters for everyone 5 years and older, if eligible.

The Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services is offering COVID-19 vaccines Saturday at Derby Ridge Elementary School in Columbia as part of its Back-to-School Health Fair. The event is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

No appointment is necessary. Humm said the vaccines are free and do not require ID or health insurance.

A list of Boone County clinics offering COVID-19 vaccines can be found here. Cole County Clinics can be found here.

Callaway, Audrain, Monroe and Randolph counties are reporting medium community levels of the virus, according to the CDC. Moniteau and Cole counties are reporting low COVID-19 community levels.

The CDC advises community members in high levels:

• Wear a mask indoors in public
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines
• Get tested if you have symptoms
• Additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness

The CDC advises community members in medium levels:

• If you are at high risk for severe illness, you should talk to your healthcare provide about whether or not you need wear a mask or take other precautions
• Stay up to day with COVID-19 vaccines
• Get tested if you have symptoms

The CDC advises community members in low levels:

• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines
• Get tested if you have symptoms