THURSDAY UPDATES: Columbia assisted living center confirms coronavirus case
COVID-19 case numbers might differ among state and local health authorities because of issues with reporting and address verification.
UPDATE: 10:30 P.M.: An assisted living facility in Columbia says a resident has tested positive for COVID-19.
According to Boone County health officials, Cedarhurst of Columbia is now planning to test all residents and staff for the virus. It is the county's first known case of COVID-19 in an assisted living facility.
Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services said it was made aware of the case late Thursday afternoon. Officials said more information will be released as it becomes available.
Cedarhurst of Columbia's website said it has 63 assisted living apartments and 34 memory care apartments. The facility is off of Chapel Hill Road and across from Twin Lakes Park.
According to a statement from Cedarhurst of Columbia, the resident was tested after having a low fever. The center says the resident is now quarantined in her own apartment in the community and is currently not showing symptoms.
Cedarhurst said it has invested in its own supply of tests for the virus.
"Cedarhurst’s proactive response in testing is due to partnerships secured with two private accredited laboratories in early March with two additional accredited laboratory partnerships acquired in the last ten days," the statement said.
UPDATE 5:25 P.M.: Catholic schools in the Diocese of Jefferson City said Thursday that their buildings will remain closed for the rest of the year.
Gov. Mike Parson ordered public and charter schools closed through the end of the academic year at his daily COVID-19 news conference Thursday. Those schools closed last month to slow down the spread of COVID-19 and protect staff and students.
The diocese is not bound by the order but said it would also close its school buildings and continue remote learning through the end of the school year on May 15.
UPDATE 4:55 P.M.: Two area hospitals have said they're adjusting some of their COVID-19-related services.
Capital Region Medical Center said Thursday that it is adjusting the hours of its COVID-19 triage call line. The line will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Capital Region and University of Missouri Health Care said Thursday that their drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites will be closed Sunday in observance of Easter.
Capital Region said its triage line will also be closed Sunday.
Callaway County reports no new cases
The Callaway County Health Department reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday afternoon.
The county's count is 19 cases, with 14 recovered, four active cases and one death.
State health authorities said Thursday that 3,539 cases have been reported nationwide.
UPDATE 3:10 P.M.: Gov. Mike Parson said Thursday afternoon that he ordered all public and charter schools closed until the end of the current school year.
The governor said the order was made with input from the state education department.
Parson said last week schools had to be closed through April 24 as part of the statewide stay-at-home order.
Multiple Mid-Missouri school districts decided recently to extend their closures until the start of May.
ORIGINAL: The number of COVID-19 cases in Missouri stood at 3,539 on Thursday, an increase of about 200 over the 3,328 cases reported Wednesday. The state has tallied 77 deaths from the virus, with 19 reported in the last 24 hours. More than 38,000 patients have been tested for the virus.
The virus has disproportionately killed older Missourians, with 53 of the deaths in people 60 or older.
There were 1,581 cases a week ago.
The state says 568 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized Thursday, an increase of 49 in the last 24 hours.
The state reported 78 cases in Boone County, but local authorities reported 72 cases Thursday afternoon. State and local authorities reported 35 cases in Cole County. One person has died in each county from COVID-19.
Gov. Mike Parson is set to hold his daily COVID-19 briefing at 3 p.m. The briefing can be watched in the player below.
