WEDNESDAY UPDATES: Key metric continues to drop for CPS to consider hybrid learning
UPDATE 8:10 P.M.: The 14-day case rate for Columbia Public Schools continues its downward trend.
According to the school district, there are about 38 cases per 10,000 people who live within its boundaries.
That's down nearly eight cases from the number reported a week ago.
The 14-day rate needed to fall below 50 cases for CPS to consider a switch in learning models.
Board of Education members are expected to recommend a move to hybrid learning at their meeting on Oct. 12.
Boone County reports 23 patients in ICU, 9 on a ventilator
UPDATE 5:20 P.M.: Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services is reporting 43 new COVID-19 cases.
According to the dashboard, there are 335 active cases and 4,750 total cases.
The department is reporting 68 total hospitalizations, and 13 of those are Boone County residents in their Facebook update.
23 patients are currently in the ICU, and 9 patients are on a ventilator.
Boone County recorded 43 new COVID-19 cases today, September 30. There have been 4,750 total cases in the county, with 335 of those being currently active. /1 pic.twitter.com/iNIvfeLh3O
— Columbia/Boone Co. Public Health & Human Services (@CoMo_HealthDept) September 30, 2020
Randolph County reporting one new COVID-19 related death; Cooper County going to once a week data reporting
UPDATE 4:55 P.M.: Randolph County has updated their daily numbers to include one new novel coronavirus related death.
According to the Facebook post, the county had a 17 new case increase from 298 to 315.
The county did report eight people were released from quarantine.
Nine people remain hospitalized in the county.
Cooper County is also going to once a week data reporting.
MU Health Care, School of Medicine announce first COVID-19 employee death
UPDATE 4:35 P.M.: University of Missouri Health Care and the MU School of Medicine on Wednesday announced the first death of an employee from COVID-19.
MU Health and School of Medicine leaders broke the news in an email to employees Wednesday, according to a news release. The person who died from complications of novel coronavirus worked in a non-clinical job and did not have interaction with the public or patients, the release said.
The individual did not return to work after reporting not feeling well and testing positive for the virus, according to the release.
“We are sharing this information because we want to be transparent with our employees and with the community and patients we serve; however, we are limiting the details we share in order to respect our colleague’s privacy and that of their loved ones,” MU Health CEO Jonathan Curtright said in the release.
Mid-Missouri counties have reported upticks in deaths in recent weeks. Boone County reported three additional deaths Tuesday that occurred over a 10-day period this month.
Missouri reported 45 deaths from COVID-19 between Sept. 21 and Sunday, good for the fifth-most of any state during that period, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
COVID-19 hospitalizations hit highs in Missouri, locally
UPDATE 3:30 P.M.: The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported 1,351 new cases of coronavirus infection Wednesday.
The newly reported cases bring the state's total since the pandemic began to 126,113. The state reported 32 more deaths for a total of 2,118.
Missouri is among the top states for new cases and deaths over the last seven days. Meanwhile, hospitalizations continue to show an upward trend as well, according to data posted on the state's COVID-19 online dashboard.
The dashboard shows Missouri at No. 7 among the states for new cases in the past seven days and No. 5 for new deaths. However, state data show the number of new cases also decreased from the week before.
The state positivity rate over the last week is 13.6%. The rate measures the percentage of people tested for COVID-19 who get a positive result. Health officials say rates of 10% indicate widespread transmission of the novel coronavirus.
Seven-day trends are working on a three-day data delay.
Hospitalizations are trending upward statewide, with the seven-day average of COVID-19 hospitalizations hitting a record 1,139 on Tuesday. The state dashboard also shows intensive care bed vacancy shrinking.
Hospitalizations in the state's central region also hit their highest point Tuesday, with 102 hospitalizations for COVID-19 in the region.
Columbia Public Schools to go over re-opening plan
ORIGINAL: District leaders with Columbia Public Schools are expected to go over its reopening plan next week, according to an email sent out Wednesday afternoon.
The release from CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said the Columbia Board of Education will meet Tuesday for a special session at 4:30 p.m. and go over plans to bring students back for in-person learning.
The email said the meeting comes ahead of an October 12th meeting where the school board is expected to make a formal recommendation to reopen schools.
As of Tuesday, the district's 14-day rolling COVID-19 rate was 40.9. The rate has been under 50, the threshold when CPS can enter its hybrid learning option, every day since Sept. 21.
"We’re continuing to monitor the numbers and are extremely encouraged by the downward trend we’re seeing," Baumstark said.
