WEDNESDAY UPDATES: Southern Boone County high schooler tests positive for COVID-19; 31 students in quarantine
UPDATE 7:02 P.M.: Southern Boone County R-I School District Superintendent Christopher Felmlee sent a letter home to parents today about a positive novel coronavirus case at the high school.
According to Superintendent Felmlee, 30 high school and one elementary school student will need to quarantine after a contact tracing investigation.
The 14-day quarantine period starts on the last day the person was within close contact with the person who tested positive for COVID.
In the letter, the superintendent says the district will continue to provide in-seat instruction for Preschool through twelfth grades. The administration will continue to monitor the situation and keep our school community informed of concerns and changes.
Randolph County Health Department reports possible exposure to congregation at North Park Baptist Church in Moberly
UPDATE 4:50 P.M.: The Randolph County Health Department is notifying the congregation of North Park Baptist Church in Moberly of possible exposure of COVID-19 last Sunday.
Staff at the health department are reaching out to known direct contacts. If you attended services last Sunday you need to monitor yourself for symptoms.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, please contact your healthcare provider:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Number of Boone County residents in coronavirus quarantine rises sharply
UPDATE 4:30 P.M.: The number of Boone County residents in quarantine because they were exposed to the novel coronavirus jumped by 126 on Wednesday.
The jump brings the number of people in quarantine who have not tested positive for COVID-19 to 1,284. The number increased by 50 on Tuesday.
The Columbia/Boone County Health Department reported 53 new cases Wednesday, extending a streak of days with fewer than 100 new cases to 18.
The county has now reported 4,423 cases since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March. Of those, 352 are active -- a drop of seven compared to Tuesday.
Boone County's hospitals reported 51 patients with COVID-19 on Wednesday, unchanged from the day before, according to the department's online COVID-19 hub. However, the number of patients in intensive care and on ventilators each grew by one and stood at 23 and 15, respectively.
The streak of fewer daily cases has helped push a number tracked by Columbia Public Schools to below the level at which online-only classes are recommended. New cases in the district per 10,000 people over the last 14 days hit 49 on Wednesday.
Online-only classes are recommended at 50.
CPS Superintendent Peter Stiepleman told ABC 17 News in a live interview on air Wednesday that the number dropping below that level won't automatically trigger a return to classrooms. However, the district is exploring ways to bring the youngest students back first.
Governor, first lady test positive for COVID-19
Gov. Mike Parson's office said Wednesday that he and first lady Teresa Parson have tested positive for COVID-19 after showing mild symptoms.
Watch a news conference about their cases with the state health director in the player below.
Missouri reports record number of COVID-19 deaths, citing processing backlog
ORIGINAL: The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported a record number of deaths related to COVID-19 on Wednesday.
However, the department said the total was inflated by old deaths that are just now being added to the state total.
The department reported 83 deaths on Wednesday, surpassing the single-day high of 77 reported Sept. 5. In each case, the state said a processing backlog led to artificially high totals not reflective of the current state of the pandemic.
Some of the deaths reported this week occurred in as early as April, the agency said.
Mid-Missouri health agencies have reported several deaths over the past two weeks. On Monday, Audrain, Saline and Pettis counties each added to their death totals. Pettis County has now seen 16 COVID-19-related deaths -- the most in Mid-Missouri.
The state reported 1,580 new cases Wednesday for a total of 116,946 since the pandemic began in March. The state has now recorded 1,947 deaths related to the pandemic.
The state's seven-day positivity rate dropped a tenth of a point to 11.4%. The rate has been slowly dropping over recent days. Health officials say a 10% rate indicates increased spread of the novel coronavirus.
New cases have gone down in many urban areas, including Columbia, but more are now being seen in rural areas, according to a White House report released this week. The state health department shows fast growth over the past two weeks in Morgan, Miller and Camden counties in Mid-Missouri.
The department reported on its online COVID-19 dashboard that 989 Missourians were hospitalized as of Sunday, the most recent figure available. It's the second straight day that the number was below 1,000 after hitting a record of 1,064 last Wednesday.
