TUESDAY UPDATES: New COVID-19 case reported in Cole County brings total to seven

UPDATE 8:25 P.M.: There are now seven cases of COVID-19 in Cole County.

The Cole County Health Department updated its website Tuesday night to reflect the new case.

The website did not provide any additional information about the case.

UPDATE 8:00 P.M.: The Randolph County Commission signed a stay-at-home order on Tuesday that will restrict what businesses can operate and where people can go.

The order mirrors that of Boone County, which defined all essential business operations that may still take place.

Randolph County's order starts tomorrow at 8 a.m. and lasts until April 24.

UPDATE 5:40 P.M.: The Boone County Recorder of Deeds Office is making special accommodations in response to a stay-at-home order that takes effect Wednesday.

The office is closed but is offering electronic recording of documents at no additional cost during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release.

The office also has a drop box placed at the courtyard entrance and outside the east doors of the Boone County Government Center. The office urges constituents to call to set up an appointment for critical needs that can only be addressed in person.

UPDATE 4:05 P.M.: Springfield and Greene County authorities have issued a stay-at-home order that will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.

The order will remain in effect through April 24.

Springfield and Greene County health authorities said in the proclamation that three people have now died in Greene County from COVID-19. The order says 18 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the county.

Columbia and Boone County leaders announced their own stay-at-home order that takes effect Wednesday.

UPDATE 3:50 P.M.: An official state website monitoring the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases says Missouri is up to 255.

The number was up from the 227 posted about an hour earlier. The number started the day at 183. The total includes five deaths. One of those was in Boone County.

The update was posted soon after Gov. Mike Parson held a daily news conference at which officials gave updates including the progress of getting personal protective equipment to medical workers and first responders.

The age group with the most cases is 20-29, with 60. Officials reported 75 cases in people age 60 and older.

Watch Paron's news conference in the player below.

UPDATE 2:50 P.M.: Missouri now has 227 cases of COVID-19.

The state updated its count Tuesday afternoon from 183. The state is only reporting three deaths, but local health authorities had reported five as of Monday night.

Boone County, where authorities issued a stay-at-home order Tuesday that will take effect Wednesday, reports 20 confirmed cases.

Gov. Mike Parson is scheduled to speak at 3 p.m. That news conference will be streamed in the player below.

UPDATE 2:13 P.M.: Jefferson City leaders said Tuesday afternoon that City Hall is set to close Wednesday until further notice.

A letter from the city shows the April 6 city council meeting will be held online. It also said utility payments can be dropped off at a lock-box outside city hall or can be paid online.

Municipal court dates between March 25 and April 1 have been canceled.

The announcement includes parks and recreation events have been canceled or postponed, JeffTran fares for some routes are suspended and the Washington Park Ice Arena is closed until April 19.

UPDATE 1:45 P.M.: Lincoln University announced Tuesday its campus will be closed from Wednesday, March 25 until April 12.

The announcement from university spokeswoman Misty Young said only essential employees will be allowed on-campus. Lincoln University police officers, library workers, residential life and facilities staff can still go to the school.

Young said the school's library will be open to students from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Young included all classes will be held remotely.

UPDATE 1:34 P.M.: The Callaway County Health Department said Tuesday it's suspending health inspections until further notice.

The health department website shows workers won't inspect restaurants or childcare facilities unless a complaint is received. It included that many county restaurants have shutdown as of Tuesday.

According to the website, workers will still inspect septic.

UPDATE 1:22 P.M.: Columbia College announced Tuesday that its spring graduation and other ceremonies were postponed.

The news release from college spokesman Sam Fleury said two commencement ceremonies were scheduled for April 25.

The announcement shows Columbia College will hold two ceremonies on Dec. 19 for students who were expected to walk at graduation.

School officials also canceled graduation ceremonies at other campuses around the country.

UPDATE 12:50 P.M.: Fulton Public Schools said in a letter to parents Tuesday that a William Woods University student-teacher in the district was quarantined for possible COVID-19 exposure but determined not to have coronavirus

The student-teacher notified the district on March 12 and the district that day asked any college students from any institution to stop working in the district, according to the letter. The district's final day of school before it shut down to help slow the spread of COVID-19 was March 17.

"At this writing, Fulton District Administrators have not been notified of any COVID-19 exposures due to William Woods Students by William Woods University officials, the Callaway County Department of Health, or the Missouri Department of Health," Fulton Superintendent Jacque Cowherd wrote in the letter.

Cole County cases rise

The number of COVID-19 cases in Cole County rose Tuesday.

The county health department's website reported five cases at the start of the day Tuesday. By early afternoon that number had risen to six. The website did not give any details about the new case.

UPDATE 11:39 A.M.: Camden County R-III Superintendent Tim Hadfield said Tuesday district parents and staff members were notified about possible exposure to COVID-19.

Hadfield said he was told by the Camden County Health Department that some students and staff members could have come into contact with someone who tested positive for novel coronavirus.

He included the health department would contact people directly who may be impacted.

Hadfield said students can still speak with school nurses by phone.

The school district is offering free meal pick-ups for students on Wednesday at Camdenton High School. Hadfield said the student needs to be with parents when the meals are picked up.

UPDATE 11:17 A.M.: Republic Services announced Tuesday changes have been made to trash and recycling collection in Jefferson City.

According to a news release, the company suspended recycling collection to Jefferson City residents until further notice. It included all bulk trash collections and spring clean-ups were also suspended.

Republic said recycling containers will be picked up, but the contents will be disposed of at the city landfill.

Loose trash bags will not be collected unless they are inside Republic carts, according to the release.

Republic said its office is closed to the public.

"Anyone needing to pay a bill may do so by going online to Republicservices.com, utilizing the Republic Services app available on your smart phone or device, or by calling us at 573-635-8805."

Republic Services

The Jefferson City Landfill is set to close on Saturdays starting on March 28.

This update was updated to show when the landfill will be closed.

UPDATE 11:08 A.M.: The Randolph County Sheriff's Office said the family member of a deputy recently tested positive for novel coronavirus.

A Facebook post from the sheriff's office shows the deputy and the family member have been in isolation since March 21.

It's unclear if the deputy will be tested for COVID-19 or if any other office employees will have to self-quarantine.

The Randolph County Health Department said Tuesday morning that it's investigating to see how many people the resident came into contact with over the last two weeks.

UPDATE 10:21 A.M.: Columbia Mayor Brian Treece and city leaders ordered all city residents to stay home until April 24.

Treece signed the order to go into effect March 25 at 8 a.m.

The order requires all residents to stay at home unless they work at an essential business, are seeking medical care, or have to get supplies and essential services.

Residents can be fined for violating the order, according to a letter from the city.

The city provided a list of essential businesses:

• Health care (doctors, dentists, nurses, hospitals, pharmacies, medical research facilities, labs, etc);
• Food and drink production and distribution (including grocery stores, markets, restaurants that offer food for carryout, liquor stores)
• Sanitation (including laundromats, dry cleaners, household and business cleaning services and supply stores)
• Transportation (including gas stations, public transit, taxis, airports, railroads and other private transportation providers)
• Financial Services (including banks, insurance providers, and professional services required to comply with legal and regulatory requirements)
• Manufacturing and distribution of supplies and materials for essential businesses (including trucking and other supply chain support functions)
• Maintenance and construction of infrastructure and households; Child care; Operations identified by the University of Missouri and individuals who have been authorized by the University to work on-site for operational continuity
• Essential Government Operations; Residential facilities (including hotels and motels)
• Media and Communications Providers (including newspapers, radio stations and television stations)
• Mailing, Shipping, and Delivery services. allowed to exercise and leave their homes for essential activities, but could be fined for violating the order.

UPDATE 10:10 A.M.: Whiteman Air Force Base canceled its air and space show because of COVID-19.

Wings Over Whiteman was scheduled for June 13 and 14. The air force base plans to hold the next air show in 2022.

According to a post on the base's website, all events at Whiteman had been suspended through May 15.

At least one person at the base has tested positive for novel coronavirus.

UPDATE 8:52 A.M.: The Cole County Health Department issued two advisories Tuesday morning.

One advisory from the health department said all travelers coming to Cole County are recommended to self-quarantine for 14 days.

The health department advised that travelers coming from outside of Mid-Missouri avoid contact with other people and monitor for novel coronavirus symptoms.

"While we recognize that this will be a hardship for returning travelers, it is important to prevent the spread of coronavirus in our community. Our community has been working diligently to put strategies in place that will help curb the transmission of illness and hopefully avoid a spike in cases. Travelers may feel fine when returning but could be carrying illness as a result of travel."

Cole County Health Department

Another advisory asked that all county residents stay at their residence to stop the spread of COVID-19. The health department said people should only go out for essential activities like operating a business or attending a governmental meeting.

It recommended all non-essential businesses limit contact with the public.

ORIGINAL: The Food Pantry in Callaway County is starting a porch pick up food drive to help meet the demand of food needed across the county.

The Food Pantry said it has an unprecedented number of families that need help getting food as the coronavirus spreads and schools are closed.

According to a release, people who would like to donate can set out items on their porch and call SERVE at 573-642-6388 to pick up the items on Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27.

"We are running out of food, and with the shelves empty in the store we cannot buy what we need locally," Executive Director Courtney Harrison said in the release. "We are looking for new suppliers, but meanwhile we really need food donations."