MONDAY UPDATES: Greene County COVID-19 death marks fifth in the state
EDITOR'S NOTE: An entry in this live blog has been removed because it revealed personal medical information.
UPDATE: 7:05 P.M: The Springfield-Greene County Health Department reported its first COVID-19 related death Monday night.
During a news conference, Director of Health Clay Goddard said that the patient was a woman in her eighties who was residing in an assisted living center.
He said she, along with the three other cases from the same center, have been in the hospital.
"This is a sobering reminder of what we are fighting here," Goddard said. "It will take each and every one of us fighting against this illness."
The death marks the fifth death due to COVID-19 in the state.
UPDATE 5:55 P.M.: The Missouri Department of Corrections said Monday that an inmate has tested positive for COVID-19.
The department said in a news release the inmate has been isolated since March 4 and is currently hospitalized.
"Medical and custody staff have followed all safety protocols to minimize exposure," the department said. "Staff interacting with the offender have worn personal protective equipment in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. All rooms and vehicles the offender occupied were immediately sanitized."
The male inmate was admitted to a Kansas City hospital Thursday, the department said.
"Before being hospitalized, the offender was being monitored for a suspected respiratory condition and had been isolated in a negative airflow chamber at Western Reception, Diagnostic & Correctional Center in St. Joseph since March 4," the department said.
State officials updated the total of confirmed COVID-19 cases from 106 to 183 on Monday. Four people have died from the novel coronavirus in Missouri.
UPDATE 5:05 P.M.: The city of Columbia will hold an online news conference Tuesday morning to discuss COVID-19 developments.
The city said in a news release the 10 a.m. Tuesday news conference will focus on "future actions related to the coronavirus."
Speakers will include Columbia Mayor Brian Treece, Boone County Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill, Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services Director Stephanie Browning and Columbia Chamber of Commerce President Matt McCormick.
ABC 17 News will stream video of the news conference live online.
UPDATE 4:30 P.M.: Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City says it will start drive-thru testing for COVID-19 on Tuesday.
Testing will be open only to patients who have doctors' orders. The testing site will be located on the south side of Capital Region Physicians at 1014 Madison St., according to a news release.
Capital Region encourages anyone who feels they have COVID-19-like symptoms to call their doctor. Anyone without a primary care provider can call Capital Region's COVID-19 triage line at 833-763-0444.
The test site will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Capital Region said the site was possible because of its affiliation with University of Missouri Health Care. MU Health and Boone Hospital Center began drive-thru testing in Columbia last week.
St. Mary's Hospital began testing Monday at its Health Plaza East entrance, 2505 Mission Drive. The site is open from noon to 4 p.m. and hours may vary depending on volume.
The state reported five cases of COVID-19 in Cole County on Monday. Boone County health authorities said 19 cases have been confirmed in Boone County, including one death.
Four people have now died from COVID-19 after St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson said Monday that a woman in her 30s died.
UPDATE 2:35 P.M.: St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson tweeted Monday that a city resident died from complications related to COVID-19.
The death brings the state total to at least four -- the state is reporting one death each in Jackson, Boone and St. Louis counties.
Krewson said authorities think the woman in her 30s contracted COVID-19 without traveling.
Krewson gave the update as state officials updated their confirmed number of cases to 183. The number was 106 on Sunday night. The state count does not include several cases reported by local health authorities.
UPDATE 2:05 P.M.: The state says it has confirmed 183 cases of COVID-19.
The total is up from 106 cases Sunday night. The state says only 32 of the 183 cases are related to travel.
The latest total lags behind the actual number of people in Missouri with COVID-19. Some local health departments are reporting more cases than are reflected in the state's total. For example, Boone County reported 19 cases Monday afternoon but the state's total only counts 17 cases.
The state's website says five cases have been confirmed in Cole County, up from four confirmed by county health authorities Sunday.
At least one case in Greene County also was not counted in the state total.
Three people have died in the state from COVID-19.
UPDATE 1:50 P.M.: Health officials in Boone and Greene counties confirmed new cases of COVID-19 on Monday afternoon.
The City of Columbia website shows two more cases were confirmed. It brings the total in the county to 19.
Greene County health officials say there are 17 positive cases of novel coronavirus in the county. At least seven more cases have been confirmed since Saturday.
UPDATE 12:25 P.M.: State Sen. Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, tweeted Monday that University of Missouri Health Care is working on a plan to allow lawmakers to return to the Capitol.
Legislators are on spring break this week, but work at the Capitol was halted last week when a Kansas City-area House member tested positive for COVID-19. Employees were ordered to go home and some lawmakers said they would self-quarantine after having contact with Rep. Joe Runions.
Rowden said MU Health and local public health officials are working on a plan to allow lawmakers back into the Capitol to work on supplemental budget funds to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
UPDATE 12:02 P.M: The Boone County Commission announced Monday that it won't meet in the commission chambers until further notice.
The commission is set to continue meeting in room 301 at the Boone County Government Center for the foreseeable future.
Meetings will also be teleconferenced. Residents can call 701-801-1211, then enter code 758-401-651 to join the meeting remotely.
UPDATE 11:23 A.M: The Callaway County Health Department said at least nine cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed as of Monday morning.
According to a news release, the four additional positive cases are related to William Woods University. County officials say all of the cases reported in the county are related to a student at the school.
Health officials say all of the patients are self-isolated.
The release said the university opened an emergency operation center after the first case was reported last week.
UPDATE 10:10 A.M.: A Lake Regional Medical Center patient tested positive Sunday for COVID-19, the hospital said on its Facebook page.
The patient is in isolation at the hospital to reduce the risk of exposure to others, the hospital posted on Facebook. State authorities confirmed 106 infected patients statewide as of Sunday night, but that count did not include dozens of cases reported by local health authorities.
The state count included one person in Camden County.
UPDATE 8:20 A.M.: The Missouri Cancer Associates website shows a healthcare provider with patients in Columbia and Kirksville tested positive for COVID-19.
The website said the worker wasn't showing symptoms of novel coronavirus when they interacted with patients and staff members between March 16 and March 19.
According to the message from Missouri Cancer Associates, the provider stopped meeting with patients and staff after exhibiting symptoms.
"The small number of patients and staff who interacted with this individual have been identified, notified, and are being managed in accordance with CDC guidelines."
Missouri Cancer Associates
It's unclear if the patients are being tested for COVID-19 or if they were being treated at area hospitals.
UPDATE 7:17 A.M.: The Moniteau County Health Center said Monday morning its first case of COVID-19 was not travel-related.
The letter sent out at 6:57 a.m. shows a person in their sixties with no recent travel history tested positive for novel coronavirus on Saturday.
Health officials said the person has been quarantined. They asked that county residents practice social distancing and follow health guidelines from the state and federal health agencies.
As of Monday morning, the health department has confirmed one case of COVID-19.
ORIGINAL: Governor Parson's social distancing order took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday. The order instructs people to avoid social gatherings with more than 10 people and to stand six feet away from people who are not family members.
Governor Parson announced the order during a news conference Saturday.
“I cannot emphasize enough how critical it is for all Missourians to practice social distancing," Parson said.
The governor said he wants to keep businesses, especially small businesses, open as long as possible.
Several Missouri cities, including St. Louis and Kansas City implemented stay-at-home orders which prevent people from leaving their homes except to get essential needs.
Parson did not say whether he would consider doing the same as a statewide order.
“Right now I think this is the important order of the day. I think it’s important. If for some reason this doesn’t work, then we take another action at some point," he said.
