SUNDAY UPDATES: Missouri passes 100 COVID-19 cases
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
UPDATE 8:55 P.M.: The number of COVID-19 cases in Missouri has passed 100.
The state's official count of confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 106 on Sunday night. The total was 90 before the latest update. Several cases reported by local authorities, however, were not part of that count.
In Boone County, local officials reported 17 cases, but the state count included only 10 of those cases. The state count reflected the same number of cases in Cole County that was reported by local officials -- four.
The total also omitted more than 30 cases in St. Louis County, where the count rose sharply to 55 on Sunday.
Twenty-somethings were the age group with the most cases at 26. The cases include 20 people in their 60s. So far three people have died statewide from COVID-19.
Gov. Mike Parson introduced new restrictions on public gatherings on Saturday meant to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.
UPDATE 7:40 P.M.: St. Louis County Executive Sam Page tweeted Sunday night that the county recorded 38 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday.
The large jump brought the county's total to 55.
The county recorded the increase in cases the day after county and city of St. Louis officials issued stay at home orders telling residents to only go out for essentials such as groceries.
St. Louis County said six of the cases were not travel-related.
State officials said Saturday night that 90 people had tested positive for COVID-19. Sunday's total has not been updated.
UPDATE 6:40 P.M.: St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson tweeted Sunday that 14 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the city.
That's an increase of seven over numbers the state of Missouri reported Saturday night.
Krewson said 82 people in the city are being monitored for signs of the virus and 17 test results are pending.
UPDATE 5:15 P.M.: Cole County is up to four cases of COVID-19.
The county health department listed the updated count on its website at 5 p.m. Sunday. The count was three before the update.
No other information about the case was provided. ABC 17 News has contacted the health department director seeking more information.
At least 90 cases of COVID-19 have been reported statewide, officials said late Saturday. Updated numbers are expected to be released Sunday night.
UPDATE 5 P.M.: University of Missouri Health Care said Sunday that it is expanding the testing of patients with COVID-19-like symptoms.
The organization said in a news release that it will no longer require providers to ask patients showing symptoms about travel history, previous exposure or risk factors before ordering a COVID-19 test. The change is expected to lead to more patients being tested.
MU Health and Boone Hospital Center began drive-thru testing for patients with doctors' orders last week.
MU Health also said Sunday it would further limit visitors to its hospitals to the following categories:
- One partner, spouse or coach in labor and delivery
- One parent or guardian for pediatric patients
- And for those patients nearing death
MU Health began screening visitors for COVID-19 last week but said Sunday it will start checking employees' temperatures when they come to work, as well.
Missouri officials said Sunday night that 90 people statewide have tested positive for the virus. More than 30,000 cases have been reported nationwide.
UPDATE 4 P.M.: Moniteau County released more details Sunday about a resident who has tested positive for COVID-19.
The follow-up release on Sunday said the person is an adult in their 60s with no travel history. The patient continues to be in isolation, the Moniteau County Health Department said.
The county first reported the case publicly on Saturday.
The state of Missouri's official case total stood at 90 on Sunday afternoon, but that total did not include the Moniteau case.
UPDATE 3:45 P.M.: NOTE: The governor's name has been corrected in this entry.
A Kansas City-area state representative who tested positive last week for COVID-19 released a statement Saturday saying he was hospitalized but recovering.
“Although I remain hospitalized, I am getting better, but it will be a long recovery," state Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, said in the statement. "The most important thing to me right now is for the doctors, nurses and hospitals in our state to get all of the support and supplies they need as they work to treat this illness."
“My doctors are deeply concerned that they could run out of vital supplies, especially the equipment they need to keep themselves safe while caring for patients. They also say expanded testing is needed to more quickly identify and treat those who have contracted COVID-19."
Runions represents Grandview, located in Jackson County.
Runions wrote a letter to Gov. Mike Parson expressing his concerns about medical supplies and urging action.
He also released a photo of himself recovering in the hospital.
UPDATE 2:40 P.M.: The Associated Press reports that five of the state's 90 confirmed COVID-19 cases are tied to a preschool in suburban St. Louis.
Temple Israel in Creve Coeur says four teachers and one parent have tested positive. Missouri reported a total of 90 cases as of Sunday, up from 75 on Saturday. Four people have died in the state.
People in St. Louis city and St. Louis County are now under mandatory stay-at-home orders.
For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For others, especially older people and those with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness.
UPDATE 2:05 P.M.: The Missouri Department of Conservation said Sunday that it will close its state and regional offices starting Monday.
Offices will still be staffed and visitors will need to notify the office if they need access to conduct official business, the department said.
The department closed its staffed shooting ranges, educational centers, nature centers and visitor centers last week to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Three people in Missouri have died form the disease.
UPDATE 1:45 p.m.: Boone County is reporting 17 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
At least 14 of the cases in the county are travel-related, and another had contact with a previous patient. The origin of two cases is still unknown. The number was up two from Saturday night, when officials reported 15 cases.
The last update from state officials was also Saturday night, when the number of case statewide stood at 90.
UPDATE 10:38 a.m.: BJC HealthCare and Boone Hospital Center announced they are no longer allowing visitors into their facilities beginning Monday.
Exceptions to the rule include patients who are at end-of-life, pediatric patients and patients with an appointment in an outpatient setting, among others. These visitors will need to go through screening.
ORIGINAL: There is one positive case of COVID-19 at Whiteman Air Force Base in Johnson County.
The case was confirmed yesterday and is said to involve an adult, non military member.
The press release goes on to say there are no immediate, additional
restrictions in place but some may come in the future.
