WEDNESDAY UPDATES: Cole County sets daily COVID-19 case record
UPDATE 5:55 P.M.: Cole County shattered its record for new daily COVID-19 cases Wednesday.
The Cole County Health Department reported 38 new cases. The previous record was 26, reported Thursday.
Cole County has seen an increase in new cases starting in early July. That trend has continued in August, with 166 of the county's 457 cases reported this month alone.
One case from Friday was reassigned, bringing that day's total to 21.
Cole County's active cases grew by eight as recoveries offset some of the new cases.
County health authorities warned last week that the share of cases being picked up from unknown, local sources (known as community spread) is growing, as well.
Students contribute to Howard County increase
Positive tests of Central Methodist University students are contributing to an increase in COVID-19 cases in Howard County, the county health department reported Wednesday.
The Howard County Health Department reported three new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and again Wednesday. The department did not say how many of the cases were from positive tests in Central Methodist students.
The county of about 10,000 people now has nine active cases and 53 since the pandemic began.
Several Mid-Missouri counties recorded large jumps in cases Wednesday. Pettis was the region's leader with 28 new cases. However, recoveries more than offset the new cases, with active cases dropping by two to reach 115.
Health officials in Pettis County issued an order requiring masks last week. That order is facing a legal challenge.
Neighboring Saline County reported 11 new cases Wednesday for a total of 452. Active cases rose 11 to reach 59.
Other area counties reporting new cases include Randolph (1), Audrain (7), Callaway (5), Osage (1) and Cooper (6).
Boone County reports 16 new COVID cases
UPDATE 5 P.M.: Boone County reported 16 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, dropping into the teens for the first time since Sunday and pushing down a key metric used by Columbia Public Schools.
The new cases bring the county's total to 1,478 since the pandemic began. It was the first total in the teens since 10 cases were reported Sunday.
The county health department reported 228 active cases, an increase of seven from the day before. Another 526 close contacts of people with COVID-19 were in quarantine, according to the health department's online COVID-19 dashboard.
Daily case totals have fluctuated in Boone County but have been on a mostly upward trend starting last month. The trend had led to the tightening of restrictions meant to slow the spread of the virus, including a mask requirement in Columbia.
Wednesday's report brought down a metric being used by Columbia Public Schools to determine whether classes will take place in person. The rate of cases per 10,000 people over the last 14 days dropped by one Wednesday to reach 20.
The school district will go to all in-person classes when the academic year begins Sept. 8 if that number is below 10. If the number is between 10 and 49, students will attend classes two days per week. If the number hits 50, in-person classes will end.
The five-day rolling average of new daily cases dropped to 26.6 with Wednesday's total. The average began the month at 34.
Boone County's hospitals reported treating 25 patients with COVID-19. Five of them are on ventilators.
The hospitals reported no shortage of staff or supplies.
Missouri records highest new COVID-19 case total of August
UPDATE 2:35 P.M.: Missouri rose back above the 1,000-mark for new daily COVID-19 cases Wednesday, recording nearly 1,600 new cases.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported 1,595 new cases Wednesday to bring the state's total to 62,530. The state reported 11 new deaths to bring that total to 1,323 since the pandemic began.
Missouri's new cases had been lower over the past several days, with numbers under 1,000 for three of the past five days coming into Wednesday. The state's 1,595 new cases reported Wednesday was the highest total of August and the most since the state reported a record 2,084 cases July 30.
The rate of positive tests over the past seven days was at 11.5 percent Wednesday, down from 11.6 percent on Tuesday. The rate has been on an upward trend for several weeks, which state health officials attribute largely to more young people contracting the virus in group settings.
The growth has been reflected in several Mid-Missouri counties, as well. The state's online COVID-19 dashboard reports Cole, Maries, Miller, Cooper and Pettis counties are in the upper tier for percentage increase in cases over the last week.
The state reported 861 hospitalizations as of Sunday, the most recent day for which the figure is available. The number has fallen steadily since Aug. 3, when the state reported 966 COVID-19 hospitalizations. The state hits its high mark for hospitalizations May 5 at 984.
2 in Camden County dead from COVID-19, brings total to 8
UPDATE 11 A.M.: Two more Camden County residents have died from COVID-19, according to a post on the health department Facebook page.
The post sent out Tuesday afternoon said the additional coronavirus-related deaths bring the county's total to eight.
The health department said both people were hospitalized before they died.
It's unclear if either person had underlying health conditions.
At least 374 county residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic started, the post said.
It included 68 people had active cases and 298 others have since the recovered.
Total cases increased by 66 and active cases went up by one since the last time the health department updated its COVID-19 data, which was on Aug. 3.
Moniteau County health officials warn of possible COVID-19 exposure
ORIGINAL: The Moniteau County Health Center alerted fairgoers to possible exposure at the county fair earlier in the week.
A post from the health center's Facebook page said a person who tested positive for COVID-19 and was contagious at the fair could not identify possible contacts at the event.
"Due to us not being able to notify those who may have been exposed, Moniteau County Public Health is informing the public of this possibility of community exposure," the post said.
It included fairgoers could have been exposed to coronavirus between 6:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. on Monday and 6:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. on Tuesday.
County health workers ask anyone who was possibly exposed to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms and "limiting unnecessary public contact, adhering to social distancing, and wearing a mask when around others."
As of Tuesday, officials confirmed 175 COVID-19 cases in the county out of 2,722 tests conducted, according to the health center coronavirus website.
The website said 39 of the cases were active and 134 had recovered. It included two county residents have died from COVID-19.
It's unclear if any fairgoers have tested positive for novel coronavirus since the post was made.
The Missouri State Fair starts Thursday but many events have been canceled.
