FRIDAY UPDATES: New cases push COVID-19 rate tracked by Columbia Public Schools higher
UPDATE 4:55 P.M.: A rate used by Columbia Public Schools went higher Friday, pushing the district further above the threshold for considering online-only classes.
CPS is tracking the number of cases over 14 days per 10,000 people in its boundaries to determine how classes will begin Sept. 8. A rate at 50 or higher means the district will lean toward online-only education.
As of Friday, the district's plan remained hybrid instruction, with students in classrooms two days per week. However, the school board will make the final decision at a special meeting Monday afternoon.
Boone County's 81 new COVID-19 cases Friday pushed the CPS rate to 55.3. The rate broke 50 for the first time Thursday -- the second straight day the county reported more than 80 new cases.
The rate rose past 30 for the first time one week ago.
Boone County records third straight day of 80-plus COVID-19 cases
UPDATE 4:30 P.M.: Boone County saw its third straight day of new COVID-19 cases over 80 on Friday.
The county health department reported 81 new cases Friday for a total of 2,316. The county logged 83 cases Thursday and a record 87 on Wednesday.
The number of active cases rose by 41 to reach 543 and another 965 people were in quarantine because they've been exposed to the novel coronavirus.
Boone County officials, including Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Stephanie Browning, held a news conference Friday morning to unveil a new health order amid the continued fast rise in cases.
The county has logged 352 new cases this week alone, and the University of Missouri reported Friday 306 active cases among students living in Boone County.
Among other restrictions, the new orders for Columbia and Boone County require bars and restaurants that serve alcohol to close at 10 p.m. Officials say it's a way to reduce chances for young people to gather.
Of the 81 cases reported Friday, 52 were in people between 18 and 22 years old, according to the health department's online COVID-19 dashboard.
At the news conference, Browning said the positivity rate -- a measurement of the people tested for COVID-19 over the last seven days who were positive -- reached 44.6 percent for the week that ended Thursday. The rate was 10.6 percent the week before.
The 44.6 percent rate is by far the highest of the pandemic. The next-highest rate was 15.8 percent in early July.
Friday's report continued to push higher the five-day average of daily cases, which rose to 70.4. That number was 34 on Aug. 1.
Hospitalizations also hit a new record high in Boone County on Friday at 46. The health department says 15 of those patients are in ICUs and five are on ventilators.
The surge in cases on Thursday pushed a measurement used by Columbia Public Schools into the online-only class range. That number will likely increase Friday. However, the district said Friday that if school started today, students would attend class five days a week.
Keeping school buildings locked when school starts Sept. 8 is a decision the Columbia Board of Education is yet to make. It will take action on how the school year will start at a special meeting Monday afternoon.
Mexico and Centralia high schools cancel Friday night football game after player tests positive for COVID-19
UPDATE 4:02 P.M.: Administrators at Mexico High School and Centralia High School decided to cancel a football game Friday night after a player tested positive for COVID-19.
A release from the Centralia R-VI School District said a player on the Mexico team tested positive.
The game was scheduled to be the season opener for Centralia.
"While the outcome of tonight is disappointing for all of us involved, both schools encourage all our student-athletes to continue to persevere and be optimistic as we navigate these circumstances together," the release said.
The release said no future games will be canceled at this time.
ABC 17 SportsZone Football Friday kicks off this week. The Friday night game of the week is between the Rockbridge Bruins and Staley Falcons.
You can watch the game live on KZOU, kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Missouri COVID-19 hospitalizations hit highest level since pandemic started
UPDATE 2:40 P.M.: Missouri COVID-19 hospitalizations hit the highest level on Friday since the COVID-19 pademic started.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services COVID-19 dashboard said COVID-19 hospitalizations increased to 1,007, up from 902 reported on Thursday. The health department's dashboard reflects a three-day delay in reporting.
A report from the Missouri Hospital Association said more than 40 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in the central region of that state and that it's expected to increase. The report covers the week that ended on Saturday.
COVID-19 cases across the state surpassed 80,000 on Friday after adding more than 1,400 new cases over the last 24 hours.
A tweet from the state health department sent out at 2 p.m. said statewide cases topped out at 80,992 after an increase of 1,418.
It included Missouri added 14 new coronavirus-related deaths bringing the total to 1,464.
The seven-day positivity rate increased to 12.3% from 12.1% on Thursday. The health department's COVID-19 dashboard said 954,633 have been tested since the pandemic started.
Department data said 8.4% of all tests have come back positive.
As of Friday, state health officials said COVID-19 cases among the 20-24 age range accounted for 9,748 cases, more than any other age range.
Howard County was included in the state's list for counties with the largest seven-day percent increase in cases. The dashboard said cases increased by 33% from 83 last week to 110 on Friday.
University of Missouri reports 78 more active cases over two days
UPDATE 12:55 P.M.: The University of Missouri updated its number of students in Boone County with active COVID-19 infections Friday.
MU reported 78 additional positive cases since Wednesday for a total of 306, according to a university website set up to provide updates on the number. Another 70 students have recovered from the novel coronavirus, the site says.
The 306 active infections are equal to about 1 percent of the student body.
Health officials in Boone County and on the state level have said more infections in young people are helping to drive a large surge in COVID-19 cases this summer. Boone County reported 83 new cases Thursday, with 59 of them between the ages of 18 and 22.
The county health department reports 801 of its 2,235 confirmed cases are in that age group.
Columbia Board of Education to take action on school year Monday
UPDATE 12 P.M.: The Columbia Board of Education will hold a special meeting Monday to discuss plans for returning to school.
The school year is set to begin Sept. 8.
The meeting comes after a key number the district uses to determine whether classes will take place in person or online crossed a major threshold Thursday.
The district is tracking the number of cases per 10,000 people in its boundaries over 14 days. A number over 50 means the district will lean toward online-only instruction.
The number reached 52.1 on Thursday after several days of elevated case totals reported by the Boone County Health Department. The county set a record for daily cases Wednesday with 87 and reported 83 on Thursday.
The number was 34.2 a week ago. If the rate is between 10 and 49 the district will lean toward students attending classes two days per week. If the number goes below 10 and stays there for several weeks, students would attend school five days a week.
The board will meet at 4:30 p.m. Monday.
"The Board will determine what, if anything it takes action on based on the discussion that takes place during the meeting," CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said in a media advisory. "The board will be provided an overview of where we are as a district and the current timelines being utilized in decision making."
Despite the number going higher than 50 on Thursday, Baumstark said Friday that the district remains in the "hybrid in-person learning mode" under which students are in school buildings twice a week.
"We want to be transparent with our patrons that positive cases in our community could change the in-person learning mode," Baumstark wrote. "It’s important for the board to meet to discuss where we are and take action if necessary."
Montgomery County Health Department warns of possible COVID-19 exposure
ORIGINAL: Montgomery County residents were asked to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms after a possible exposure earlier this week.
A Facebook post from the Montgomery County Health Department said residents who visited the Loutre Market deli between the hours of 1:30-8 p.m. between Sunday and Wednesday may have been exposed to coronavirus.
The health department release said people should monitor themselves for fevers, flu-like symptoms, loss of taste or smell and shortness of breath.
The market has taken measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 and continue serving customers, the post said.
A post from the market said the deli will have limited hours over the next 10 days because most of the deli staff was quarantined.
Anyone who develops coronavirus symptoms is asked to call their health provider.
