FRIDAY UPDATES: Boone County reports nearly 100 new coronavirus cases; omicron variant found in western Missouri sewage

Boone County reported 92 new coronavirus cases Friday, pushing the number of active cases to nearly 600.

However, the daily average of new cases continued its two-week decline.

The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services has now logged 27,753 cases during the pandemic. The county death total remained unchanged Friday at 182. Active cases jumped by 31 to settle at 597.

The daily average of new cases has fallen from 71.4 on Dec. 3 to 53 on Friday, despite continued reports of elevated case numbers statewide. Meanwhile, Columbia Public Schools continues to report hundreds of students out of classes because of sickness or exposure affecting nearly every building in the district. CPS reported 50 active student cases Friday and 301 students in quarantine because of exposure.

Starting Jan. 4, exposed students will no longer have to quarantine. Only those who test positive or have symptoms will quarantine after the school board voted this week to change COVID-19 protocols amid legal threats from the attorney general's office.

The University of Missouri reported 20 active student cases Friday.

COVID-19 hospitalizations fell from 97 to 90 on Friday. Hospitals are still limiting some transfers and procedures, according to the county COVID-19 dashboard.

About 55% of Boone County residents are fully vaccinated.

Cole County reported 16 new cases Friday for a total of 12,264 since the pandemic started. The county reported no new deaths.

State finds omicron in western Missouri sewage systems

Researchers have detected signs of the new omicron variant in sewage systems in St. Joseph and Jackson County, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said Friday.

The variant's presence was identified in samples collected Dec. 7 in St. Joseph and Dec. 8 in the Little Blue Valley Sewer District Atherton/Middle Big Creek system in Jackson County. In each case, 2% of viral strands were associated with the new variant, the department said in a news release.

"This measurement is not a direct estimate of the percent of COVID-19 positive human cases in the area that are caused by the Omicron variant. Rather, it is only an indication that the Omicron variant virus is likely present among the population in these sewershed areas," the department said.

The state, with help from University of Missouri researchers, has been monitoring sewer systems for viral loads for much of the pandemic.

Omicron has been designated as a "variant of concern" because of its apparent ability to spread more quickly through the population than the now-dominant delta variant.

New coronavirus cases nearly double daily average in Missouri

New, confirmed coronavirus cases reported Friday are nearly double the daily average in Missouri.

The Missouri Department of Health and Human Resources added 2,332 new confirmed cases to its coronavirus dashboard. The daily average of new cases -- which does not account for elevated numbers posted the past three days -- is 1,980.

The state reported another 793 new, probable cases, bringing the pandemic total to 179,501. The daily average is 676.

Confirmed deaths increased by 16 to reach 12,834. Probable deaths decreased one to fall to 2,896.

Missouri's rate of positive tests ticked up to 12.7%.

Statewide hospitalizations are continuing to go up amid the fall wave of cases. Total hospitalizations and COVID-19 patients in intensive care have risen sharply since the beginning of the month, approximately doubling in that time. The state reported 17% hospital bed capacity statewide and 15% intensive care capacity.

Experts continue to push for vaccination as the best way to fight the virus, especially amid reports of the emergence of the more-contagious omicron variant. However, the percentage of fully vaccinated Missourians has stalled at just under 53% and most shots given out this fall have been boosters given to people who are already fully vaccinated.

Boone County has one of the highest vaccination rates in the state at about 55%. In Cole County, 49% of residents are fully vaccinated.

Miller and Cole County are among the top 40 counties in the state for most new cases per capita.

The increase in case numbers comes as more schools -- including Columbia Public Schools -- are dropping their mask mandates and quarantine protocols amid legal threats from the attorney general's office.