MONDAY UPDATES: Local health department urges residents for a modified Thanksgiving
UPDATE 9:05 P.M.: Audrain County Health Department is urging residents to take extra precautions this Thanksgiving holiday.
“The Audrain County Health Department (ACHD) is urging county residents to do everything possible to stop the spread and reduce the rise of COVID-19 cases in the county,” stated ACHD Administrator/CEO Craig Brace. “Informal gatherings among friends and families are contributing to the high number of COVID cases in our county. Keep your loved ones safe by minimizing contact with people you do not live with.”
Brace is asking resident to adapt Thanksgiving traditions by celebrating, not congregating.
If you plan on getting together, Brace suggests the following ways to limit your exposure:
- Limit your exposure as much as possible in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.
- Gather only with those in your household, if possible.
- Refrain from close contact like hugging and kissing with individuals outside your immediate household.
- Wear masks over your nose and mouth when you are not eating.
- Have one person serve the food to stop the spread of germs on frequently touched surfaces.
- Stay home as much as possible. Limit your outings to only necessary trips.
- Use curbside pickup instead of eating indoors.
- Wash your hands frequently, with soap, for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Stay home if you or anyone in your home is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
JEFFTRAN buses resume service except two routes
UPDATE 6:30 P.M.: Officials with JEFFTRAN report the buses will resume service on Tuesday; Handiwheels are expected to operate as usual.
Most routes will return normally. However, the following routes will be combined between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:20 pm due to staff shortages:
- High St. East (Green) combined with High St. West (Gold) Route
- Business 50 East (Red) combined with Southwest (Blue) Route
The combined routes will see scheduled pickup every 80 minutes instead of 40 minutes.
Moniteau County reports COVID-19 death; Cole County reports weekend case numbers
UPDATE 6:10 P.M.: Cole County Health Department is has reduced the information on their dashboard removing active cases in the county and recoveries.
According to the dashboard, there have been 4,657 cases across the county.
Over the weekend the county reported, 101 cases Saturday, 62 new cases on Sunday and 86 cases on Monday.
Moniteau County Health Center is reporting their 15th COVID-19 death in the county.
The health center is reporting 71 new total cases bringing the overall to 1,195 since March.
The county has recently had a drop in active cases from 243 to 166.
The number of recoveries has gone up 147 to 1,104.
Maries County reports new COVID-19 related death since Nov. 12
UPDATE 5:52 P.M.: Phelps-Maries County Health Department is reporting one new COVID-19 related death in Maries County.
According to the health department, there were 67 new total cases from last Thursday to Monday. The county also has three new active cases, with a total 67 access cases today.
The department reports 63 new recoveries.
Chariton County reports 3 new COVID-19 deaths; Fayette School District moves to virtual learning
UPDATE 5:03 P.M.: Chariton County Health Center is reporting three COVID-19 related deaths since last Friday. The county reported the first two COVID-19 deaths last Friday.
The county is reporting 19 new positive cases of COVID-19 bringing the county to 132 active cases.
The county has a reported 216 cases recovered.
Fayette R-III moves to virtual learning
In Fayette, the school district is reporting that all buildings will go virtual beginning Tuesday.
On Sunday, the district reported the elementary school would be going virtual after a large number of staff and students were required to quarantine due to close contact.
On Monday, the district learned after contact tracing for middle school and high school the number of students in quarantine will drop attendance percentages below 80% for both buildings.
Distanced learning will now continue through Nov. 24, with students returning to Yellow Level onsite instruction on Dec. 1.
The district will continue to provide meals for all students.
Boone County Positivity rate reaches 31%
UPDATE 4:35 P.M.: The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services positivity rate is off the charts in today's updated dashboard.
According to the dashboard, the positivity rate has been above 30 for the last two weeks. For Oct. 30 to Nov. 5, the rate was 31.3%. For Nov. 6 through Nov. 12, the rate was 31.0%.
The previous high was the Aug. 28 to Sept. 3 perioud when it hit 25.1%.
The health department is reporting 146 new COVID-19 cases Monday.
The number of active cases is now 1,211.
Since the pandemic started in March, the health department has recorded 8,462 COVID-19 cases.
The county has a reported 7,232 cases removed from isolation.
The county has reported a 140 five-day average, a drop for the second straight day after a Saturday increase to 161.
The department is also reporting 158 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, an increase of five from last Friday.
Currently there are 44 COVID-19 patients in the ICU.
According to the numbers posted on the department's COVID-19 dashboard, 39 of the 153 patients are from Boone County.
The department reports 21 patients on ventilators.
The hospital status is still currently in the 'yellow' zone.
Earlier the department also reported the 19th death in the county.
Free COVID-19 testing continues across Missouri
UPDATE 4:10 P.M.: The State of Missouri will continue to host community testing events across the state this week.
The only thing you need to do is have Missouri residency; individuals do not have to live in the county in which they are tested, and they do not have to be experiencing symptoms.
Any Missouri residents who wish to be tested will receive a self-administered nasal swab to check for an active COVID-19 infection at the specified sites in each region at no cost to the individual.
Registration is now open for upcoming community testing events scheduled between Nov. 17-21 in Montgomery and other counties.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) continues free COVID-19 surge testing in Columbia on Monday at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
During the week of Nov. 22, these testing opportunities will be available Monday-Wednesday only, and the full schedule will resume again on Nov. 30.
Testing at these locations is available to individuals 5 years and older – including those experiencing symptoms; those who believe they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 coronavirus; and anyone who is worried about possibly having the virus.
Missourians can register for these events currently scheduled at health.mo.gov/communitytest and also continue to check back for future opportunities to be tested at an event nearby.
Mexico Public Schools limits spectators at district events
UPDATE 2:35 P.M.: Mexico Public Schools moved up its threshold for exposure to COVID-19 Monday morning.
A social media post said the district is now under the 'red level' indicating more than 200 new coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents over the last two weeks, as well as, COVID-19 positivity rates exceeding 10%.
The post included spectators will not be allowed to attend school-related events for this week and that district officials will livestream upcoming activities.
District leaders moved classes online last week. Students are expected to return to in-person learning as early as Nov. 30.
Boone County reports 19th coronavirus death
UPDATE 12:10 P.M.: Another Boone County resident with the novel coronavirus has died, the local health department said Monday.
The COVID-19-related death was the first reported in the county in 11 days. The health department said in a statement posted to social media that the person who died was older than 80.
Coronavirus cases have surged in Boone County in recent weeks, echoing the state of the pandemic nationwide. Boone County recorded 245 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend, according to the health department's online COVID-19 hub.
Boone County's hospitals are treating 153 patients with coronavirus, with 45 of those in intensive care and 20 of them on ventilators. The patient load has led hospitals to take steps to compensate such as postponing some procedures and limiting visitors.
Deaths have increased along with the surge in cases around Mid-Missouri. Camden County, with a population of about 45,000, has reported more than twice the deaths that Boone County has. Camden leads Mid-Missouri with 37 deaths.
State Senate on hold until after Thanksgiving because of coronavirus cases
UPDATE 10:50 P.M.: Missouri's Senate majority leader says the legislative body will delay its special session work until after Thanksgiving because of positive coronavirus tests.
"Due to a number of positive COVID-19 cases among members and staff, the Missouri Senate will postpone action related to the special session until after the Thanksgiving holiday," state Sen. Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, wrote on his Twitter account.
Gov. Mike Parson called the special session for lawmakers to authorize $1.3 billion in federal CARES Act funding. The House has passed the legislation to authorize that spending but the Senate is yet to vote on the proposal.
Rowden did not say how many members or staff have tested positive. He said the move will protest members, staff and the public.
Boone County reports 245 new coronavirus cases over the weekend
UPDATE 10:34 A.M.: Boone County health officials reported 245 new COVID-19 in the county from over the weekend.
The Columbia/Boone County health department said 180 new cases were reported on Saturday and 65 more on Sunday.
The health department announced recently it's no longer reporting new coronavirus numbers on weekends. Monday's update will be sent out at 5 p.m., officials said.
A tweet from the health department said there 8,316 total coronavirus cases since the pandemic started and 1,135 actives.
The county's dashboard said 153 people were hospitalized in Boone County, the amount has not changed since Friday.
2,500+ Missourians with COVID-19 in statewide hospitals
Missouri state health officials say 2,525 residents positive for coronavirus are in the hospital.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said 63 more people were hospitalized because of the virus from the day before.
The health department's COVID-19 dashboard said 559 were in ICU beds. Hospitals say 33% of ICU bed capacity is still available.
Missouri is nearing a quarter of a million coronavirus cases after an increase of 3,718 from the day before.
The department reported 12 more people have died from COVID-19 since Sunday.
The state's seven-day coronavirus positivity rate was up to 44%, the dashboard said.
