TUESDAY UPDATES: Cole County reports 22 COVID-19 related deaths, Audrain County reports one related death
Cole County Health Department is reported 22 new COVID-19 related deaths.
According to their dashboard, four deaths were related to residents in the community. The department is reporting 18 deaths from residents in long term care facilities.
Along with today's update, there are also 57 new cases today. That brings the total number of cases to 5,696.
In Audrain County, the health department is reporting one new COVID-19 related death. That brings the total number of deaths to 14.
The county also reported 10 new total cases.
The number of active cases dropped from 164 to 137.
Boone County COVID-19 five-day average drops to lowest since Nov. 4
The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services reports 79 new active cases. That brings the total number of cases to 10,334.
Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services Dec. 1 dashboard is reporting 703 active cases, a decrease of 26 from Monday and 408 since the weekend.
The county has reported an additional 104 new cases removed from isolation today bringing the total cases to 9,603.
Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services Nov. 30 dashboard has reported a two case decrease to a 100 five-day average. This average is the lowest since Nov. 4 when the average was reported as 91.
The positivity rate currently sits at 27.2% a drop from Nov. 13 to Nov. 19 rate of 28.4%.
The health department is reporting the total hospitalizations in Boone County to be 157, a four case drop from Monday.
The number of Boone County residents hospitalized has dropped from 39 to 34.
The dashboard currently reports there is a one case drop to 43 COVID-19 patients in the ICU.
The department reports 14 patients on ventilators.
The hospital status is still currently in the 'yellow' zone.
University of Missouri announces winter commencement plans
The University of Missouri is planning a virtual December Commencement.
The university is hosting the online event beginning at 10 a.m. on Dec. 18. The university plans to host college/school specific celebrations beginning at 10:30 and lasting till 4 p.m.
Family, friends, MU alumni and university supporters are invited to join the school for different ways to congratulate this year's fall graduates.
To participate, just visit commencement.missouri.edu to discover ways to celebrate the day.
In addition to the virtual event, the university will host an in-person commencement celebration on campus at a later date.
Boone County records 28th coronavirus death
Boone County has recorded its 28th COVID-19 related death on Tuesday.
A tweet from the Columbia/Boone County health department said the resident was in the 70-74 age range.
It's the second such announcement from the health department in as many days. Health officials said on Monday a resident in the 55-59 age range also died from the virus.
Health department assistant director Scott Clardy said Monday health officials have reported a 30% increase in cases among several age ranges including 70-74.
The county has seen an uptick in deaths -- 15 of which have been reported since Oct. 12.
Missouri adds 2,900+ new cases, positivity rate increases
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported 2,929 new coronavirus cases Tuesday morning.
The additional positive cases brought the state to 302,691 since the pandemic started. Tuesday's case increase fell just below the 3,000 mark -- the dashboard said Missouri has reported an average of 2,817 new cases every day over the last week that ended on Saturday.
Missouri also added 177 new deaths in the last 24 hours. Health officials reported 134 of the deaths in a release sent out late Monday night.
Health data said Missouri's seven-day COVID-19 positivity rate went up half a percent since Monday topping out at 20.5% Tuesday morning.
The rate is far lower than in weeks past, it topped out at 25.5% on Nov. 11, according to health data.
The dashboard said the state was 13th in the US for new COVID-19 deaths in the last seven day -- 60 -- and 15th for new COVID-19 cases over the same period -- 19,716.
Fulton mask mandate goes into effect
As of Tuesday morning, the city of Fulton is under a 90-day mask mandate that aldermen approved last week.
Anyone older than 8 is required to wear a mask in public. Those with medical conditions are exempt from the mandate.
People and businesses are subject to a $100 fine if found not wearing a mask when they should be, according to the ordinance.
Fulton police will enforce the order, however, the Callaway County Health Department will not have any authority in terms of enforcement.
The health department said 2,354 county residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic started. Health officials say 687 of those were active and that 1,655 have recovered.
Columbia and Boone County are under health orders as well. The Boone County Commission approved the mandate last week after local leaders said they wanted rules in place. Columbia's order has been in place for months.
