WEDNESDAY UPDATES: Boone County reports second death in two days; 935 active coronavirus cases

The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services is reporting a coronavirus-related death. That brings the total to 121 deaths. The individual was in the 50-54 age group and died June 26.

The health department reported 120 new COVID-19 cases.

There are currently 935 active cases in the county, an increase of 86 from Tuesday. The county now has a reported total number of COVID-19 cases of 21,325. The 935 active cases is the highest reported since the weekend update on Jan. 11. when 936 were reported.

Boone County ranks eighth in the state with the most coronavirus cases in total volume in the past week. Cases are down 6.8% on the week. The county has a 13.4% positive test rate, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The health department's hospital status remains in yellow, with 110 COVID-19 patients in Boone County hospitals and 22 of them being Boone County residents.

The Missouri coronavirus vaccine dashboard is reporting that 97,075 residents have received their first dose in Boone County and 85,356 Boone County residents have completed their vaccine doses. Boone County has the largest percentage of county residents in Mid-Missouri that have received at least one dose of the vaccine with 53.8%. The second closest county in the state is St. Louis County with 52.4%.

Boone County is first in the state with a reported 47.3% of residents that have completed their coronavirus vaccine doses. St. Louis County is the second county in the state with 45.8% of residents have completed the doses for vaccination.

Cole County has the second-highest first vaccination rate in Mid-Missouri with 45.5%. Montgomery County is third with 40.6%.

Cole County reports 142 new COVID-19 cases; 128th coronavirus-related death

The Cole County Health Department reported 142 new coronavirus cases.

According to the dashboard update, there have been 142 new cases in the county, bringing the total to 9,536 resident cases and a total of 280 cases for long-term care facility residents. That brings a total of 9,816 total cases in the county.

The county reported one new death in the county bringing the total to 128 coronavirus-related deaths since the pandemic started.

Cole County ranks ninth in the state for counties with the most coronavirus cases per capita in the past week. Cases are up .9% on the week. The county has an 19.5% positive test rate, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The Missouri coronavirus vaccine dashboard reports about 39.5% of the county's population have been fully vaccinated.

St. Louis health leaders warn of COVID-19 increase in kids

ST. LOUIS (AP)

St. Louis area health leaders are warning that hospitals in the region are admitting more young patients with COVID-19.

Spring Schmidt, deputy director of the St. Louis County health department, said Wednesday about one in five current COVID-19 patients are people under the age of 19, including those under 12 who are not yet eligible for the vaccine.

On Tuesday, Dr. Clay Dunagan, of the St. Louis Metropolitan Task Force, said the number of children with COVID-19 in the task force's hospitals increased from 13 children last week to 20 this week, and some are in intensive care.

Masks to be required in all Columbia City buildings beginning Monday

Beginning Monday, the Columbia City Manager’s Office will require masks in all City buildings.

City officials cite the growing number of positive COVID-19 cases in Boone County and the increased transmissibility of the Delta variant on the mask requirements.

Public Health and Human Services issued a public health advisory on July 7 which recommends taking the following steps:

• Wear a mask while visiting indoor public places, no matter your vaccination status. Masks can be removed while eating or drinking.
• Get vaccinated as soon as possible. Parents are encouraged to take their children aged 12 or older to get vaccinated. The Pfizer vaccine is approved for people 12 and older. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are approved for people 18 and older. Parental consent forms are required for anyone under the age of 18.
• Stay home when you are sick. Get tested if you have symptoms, even if you think you only have a cold or allergies.
• Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet when around people who may not be fully vaccinated. While people aged 12 and older are eligible for vaccination, that doesn’t mean everyone is. While in large groups or at events, don’t assume everyone around you is vaccinated.
• Wash your hands often and for at least 20 seconds.
• Talk to your friends and family about the importance of getting the vaccine. For parents of children younger than 12 who can’t be vaccinated, the best way to protect your child is to make sure the adults around them are vaccinated.

As a reminder, COVID-19 vaccines are proven to significantly reduce the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death if someone tests positive for COVID-19.

State reports more than 3,600 new COVID-19 cases

The state health dashboard showed a total of 577,809 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Missouri Wednesday morning, an increase of 3,684 from Tuesday's total.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services also recorded 804 probable cases of the virus, bringing the total throughout the pandemic to 112,057.

Health officials also recorded 22 more deaths. In total, 9,777 Missourians have died from COVID-19.

The seven-day COVID-19 positivity rate also increased slightly. As of Wednesday morning, the statewide positivity rate was at 15%.

As of the latest verified data, 2,083 patients were being treated for COVID-19 in Missouri hospitals on Sunday, a slight increase from Saturday.

All of Missouri now under substantial or high transmission of COVID-19

According to the latest State Profile Report, all Missouri counties are now under substantial or high transmission of COVID-19, compared to two months ago when most of the state was under moderate transmission.

The report shows a 14% increase in new cases from the previous week, a 25% increase in hospitalizations, and a 28% increase in new COVID-19 deaths.

Currently, 110 counties in Missouri are in the high transmission level, meaning there are more than 110 cases per 100,000 residents in a seven-day period. This includes all counties in Mid-Missouri.

Only five counties in the Show-Me State are under then substantial level, which the CDC defines as areas with 50 cases per 100,000 residents in a seven-day period.

This comes after the CDC announced guidelines that masks should be worn anywhere under substantial or high transmission, which now accounts for all of Missouri.

According to the state's vaccine dashboard, 48.4% of Missourians have have had at least one dose of the vaccine and 41.5% have completed vaccination.