TUESDAY UPDATES: Two test positive for COVID-19 at Fulton State Hospital
COVID-19 case numbers might differ among state and local health authorities because of issues with reporting and address verification.
UPDATE 6 P.M.: The Missouri Department of Mental Health said Tuesday that two staff members at Fulton State Hospital tested positive over the weekend for COVID-19.
They were the second and third positive results among hospital staff, according to a state website that tracks cases in mental health facilities. Debra Walker, the department's acting deputy director, said the department got notification of the cases on Sunday.
The state says 88 workers in the Department of Mental Health have tested positive. No Fulton patients have tested positive.
Callaway County reported four new COVID-19 cases over the weekend. It's not clear if these cases are included in that total.
UPDATE 4:45 P.M.: The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Senior Services on Tuesday cautioned residents to keep their guard up after COVID-19 cases rose by 25 since May 10.
"Our actions each day have the potential to change the hard work that we as a community have been doing for the last several weeks," Mayor Brian Treece said in a news release. "We are counting on every member of our community to unite to protect one another."
Of those new cases, the department said 11 are from contact with a known COVID-19 case and another 11 were picked up locally from an unknown source. Two were contracted during travel and the cause of another is still under investigation.
The county reported 123 cases Tuesday -- the same number as Monday. Of those cases, 23 have been reported in the last 10 days. The department says 21 are active and 101 patients have recovered.
The health department says 56 percent of the cases since May 10 are in people younger than 30.
The department encouraged residents to wash their hands frequently, keep gatherings small, use face coverings where social distancing is difficult and take other measures to reduce the chance of COVID-19 transmission.
New cases over weekend in Callaway County
The Callaway County Health Department recorded four new COVID-19 cases over the holiday weekend -- the first new cases since May 1.
Health officials warned in a statement online that numbers will likely go up in the future. Large gatherings over the weekend are particularly concerning, according to the statement.
"There were instances where large parties occurred with a large number of people gathered," the department said in a news release. "We pray that this does not turn out bad for the general public."
The Cole County Health Department recorded no new cases Tuesday after logging three between Thursday and Monday. The county now has three active cases.
UPDATE 2:10 P.M.: The number of new COVID-19 cases in Missouri dropped below 150 for the first time since Thursday.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported 12,291 cases Tuesday, an increase of 124 since Monday. The last time cases increased by less than 150 was Thursday, when 108 new cases were reported.
Only one new death was reported Tuesday, bringing the total to 686.
The number 150 is significant because last week state health director Dr. Randall Williams said statewide new case numbers were down, with daily totals hovering around 140 or 150. New case have risen more than 200 twice in the last week, including a 236-case increase on Sunday.
Increases in cases have been seen in several counties, including Boone and Audrain. Boone County's cases have shot from 100 to 123 in the past 10 days. The county lifted its stay-at-home order at the same time as the state on May 4.
Audrain County added nine more cases on Tuesday. The county now has 66 cases total with 56 of them active. A week ago the county has 17 cases.
The Missouri Hospital Association reported 500 people hospitalized on Monday. The number was down 229 from the day before. Boone County hospitals are treating 12 COVID-19 patients, including seven who are in intensive care.
St. Louis County leads the state in deaths and cases.
UPDATE 12:05 P.M.: A Mexican restaurant in Mexico, Missouri said Tuesday that it is closing indefinitely after three workers tested positive for COVID-19.
Dos Arcos wrote in a post on Facebook that the employees worked in close quarters. They were put on quarantine when symptoms emerged, the restaurant said.
The restaurant said all its employees were tested and were negative for COVID-19.
"We have contacted a professional cleaning service and will have the entire restaurant cleaned and disinfected. We are also in close contact with the Health Department and are doing everything we can on our end to comply with their guidelines and protocol," the restaurant said.
The Centralia location was not affected, according to the post.
Cases in Audrain County have more than tripled over the last two weeks, with 56 active COVID-19 cases reported Monday.
UPDATE 10:55 A.M.: The Associated Press reported that leaders in Kansas City and St. Louis are urging people who partied close together at Lake of the Ozarks over the Memorial Day weekend to self-quarantine for two weeks, amid fears that the gatherings documented in social media postings will lead to a resurgence of the coronavirus.
Big crowds were reported at swimming pools, bars and restaurants at the popular central Missouri lake that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Postings showed people without masks partying and swimming together in close proximity.
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page asked the county's health department to issue a travel advisory.
Kansas City's health director said over the holiday weekend that anyone at Lake of the Ozarks who did not practice social distancing should self-quarantine.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Tuesday urged Kansans who went to the lake to do the same.
ORIGINAL: Multiple Mid-Missouri counties posted increased COVID-19 case totals on Memorial Day.
According to the Boone County health department website, six people have tested positive for COVID-19 since Sunday. It brings the county's total number of cases to 123 and 22 active cases.
The department's website said one person in the county has died from COVID-19.
The Audrain County Health Department said Monday that 10 more people have tested positive for the virus after a recent outbreak at a hog farm. Positive cases in the county have more than tripled over the past week.
A Facebook post from the health department said there 57 total cases, 56 of which were still active as of Monday.
The Cole County Health Department confirmed a new case of COVID-19 yesterday. Health department data said the additional case brought the county's total up to 57, three active cases and one virus-related death.
Cole County recently had zero active coronavirus cases but at least three people have tested positive for COVID-19 since Thursday, the health department said.
