THURSDAY UPDATES: Cole County’s new COVID-19 cases shrink after Wednesday record
UPDATE 6:25 P.M.: Cole County on Thursday reported about a third of the new COVID-19 cases that it did the day before, when the county set a new record.
The Cole County Health Department reported 13 new cases Thursday to reach 469 since the pandemic began. A case that had been reported last Friday was reassigned.
Cole County reported 38 cases Wednesday -- a new record. The county has experienced the same surge that many across the state have seen this summer, but numbers have fluctuated, with daily case totals as low as one.
Cases increased by 308 between July 12 and Wednesday.
Active cases stood at 87 on Thursday, an increase of six from the previous day.
County health officials have warned that they're seeing more cases contracted by unknown local sources, showing the spread of the novel coronavirus is increasing in the community. The county is also trying to conserve tests amid a shortage.
Several Mid-Missouri counties reported new cases Thursday. One of the biggest jumps was in Pettis County, where 13 new cases were recorded and the number of active cases rose by 10. Pettis County now has 125 active cases.
Cooper County reported 10 new cases Thursday after jumping into the top 10 statewide for the fastest percentage case growth.
Other counties reporting new cases Thursday include Osage (2), Miller (1), Randolph (5), Callaway (3), Maries (3) and Morgan (2).
Boone County officials warn of fast rise as COVID-19 cases exceed 1,500
UPDATE 4:55 P.M.: Boone County has logged more than 500 COVID-19 cases in the past three weeks, as health officials again warned Thursday about the fast spread of the novel coronavirus.
Boone County passed 1,500 cases on Thursday, ending the day with 1,503, according to the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Senior Services. The county recorded 25 new cases Thursday.
County health officials earlier in the day published a graphic showing the dates on which the county passed each 500-case mark. The health department said the graph shows the sharp increase in cases here since early July.
"We urge everyone to help slow the spread of COVID-19 by socially distancing from others, wearing a mask in public settings, washing hands regularly and disinfecting shared surfaces," the department said in social media posts.
Boone County is under a health order through Aug. 31 that includes a requirement that bar and restaurant customers remain seated unless entering or leaving the building or going to the restroom. Columbia has an ordinance in place requiring masks where social distancing is not possible.
Daily cases in Boone County have fluctuated wildly this month after hitting a record at 59 on Aug. 1. Since that time the county has logged daily totals as low as 10 and as high as 53.
The county reported 240 active cases Thursday, up from 228 on Wednesday. The number of close contacts of people with COVID-19 in quarantine dropped below 500, falling to 478.
The number of cases per 10,000 over the past 14 days was 20. Columbia Public Schools is using the metric for zip codes in the district to determine whether classes will be in-person five days a week, two days a week or if classes will only be taught online.
School starts Sept. 8.
Boone County's five-day average of new daily cases fell more than five points Thursday, landing at 21. It was the lowest in nearly a week.
The county's hospitals reported 29 patients with COVID-19 after reporting 23 on Wednesday. Thursday's total is one of the highest of the pandemic.
Hospitals reported having six patients on ventilators and no shortages of staff, supplies or beds .
Kansas City extends COVID-19 restrictions to mid-January
UPDATE 4:10 P.M.: Kansas City is extending restrictions meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus until at least Jan. 16.
Mayor Quinton Lucas announced Thursday that he is extending a state of emergency that was scheduled to expire Saturday. The order requires people to wear masks in all indoor public spaces where social distancing is not possible. Restaurants and bars will continue to be limited to 50 percent capacity.
Masks are also required at salons and gyms, where social distancing may not be possible. The order comes as COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the Kansas City region, which has averaged at least 100 confirmed cases every day for weeks.
Missouri COVID-19 positive rate nears 12 percent
UPDATE 2:45 P.M.: Missouri's rate of positive COVID-19 tests neared 12 percent Thursday as the state reported more than 1,200 new cases.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported 1,267 new cases Thursday, bringing the state's total to 63,797 since the pandemic began.
The state reported two new deaths for a total of 1,325.
The rate of positive tests over the last seven days rose to 11.8 percent Thursday, up 0.3 percent from the day before.
The state has now released its weekly regional hospital information, which shows the central Missouri region well below the average of cases per 100,000 people statewide. The reproductive rate of the novel coronavirus in central Missouri is less than 1. Health officials say a rate less than 1 is a good sign in the fight against the virus.
The data is current as of Saturday.
The report shows the region's hospitals have 14 percent of their inpatient capacity available, which is unchanged since last week's report. The report says 38 percent of intensive care beds in the region are available.
According to the report, 75 percent of the region's ventilators are available.
Hospitalizations statewide had been on an upward trajectory earlier this summer but are now staying relatively stable. The state reported 882 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Monday, the most recent figure available.
The record is 984 on May 5, according to the state's online COVID-19 dashboard.
The state has experienced a sustained surge in cases this summer that has pushed the positive rate up along with the number of overall cases. Many Mid-Missouri counties have experienced similar increases.
Cooper County has now vaulted into the top 10 counties in the state for percentage increase in cases over seven days. Meanwhile, Boone County remains in the top 10 jurisdictions statewide for total cases.
Missouri unemployment claims fall below 10,000
Missouri unemployment claims over the last week fell below 10,000 for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
According to data on the state labor department website, 8,984 Missourians filed for jobless benefits for the week ending on Aug. 8. It also marks the lowest volume of initial claims since mid-March.
Unemployment claims fell by 1,845 from the week before.
Initial jobless claims have fallen for the last two weeks after the claims went up in the last week of July, the website said.
US unemployment claims fell below 1 million for the first time in about five months on Thursday.
