FRIDAY UPDATES: Boone County’s positivity rate drops below 20%; reports 74 new coronavirus cases

The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services reported 74 new coronavirus cases were added to the information hub for Wednesday. The county now delays reporting cases by two days.

According to the dashboard, over 48% of cases are 29-year-old or younger with the largest age group being 20 to 24.

The county has reported 42,104 since the pandemic began.

The health department is reporting 104 COVID-19 patients in Boone County hospitals and the healthcare system capacity is yellow. Of the 104 patients, 16 are in intensive care and 10 are on ventilators.

Boone County ranks seventh in the state with the most coronavirus cases in total volume in the past week and is 41st when sorted by cases per 100,000. Cases are down 70.8% when comparing last week to the prior week. The county has a 16.6% positivity test rate, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).

The Columbia Public Schools reports active coronavirus and quarantine cases to their website daily. They updated it with new information from Wednesday.

The district reported a 86.9 14-day rate for Wednesday.

CPS reports 18 district facilities (nine elementary schools, four middle schools, two high schools and three other district-wide facilities) currently have staff out because of COVID-19.

The district is reporting 21 coronavirus cases in staff across the district. The breakdown in staff shows eight staff members at an elementary school, seven staff members at middle schools, four staff members at high schools and two staff members at district-wide facilities who have tested positive for COVID-19. Three staff members at elementary school have to quarantine due to being in close contact.

The district reports 14 district facilities to have students currently out due to the coronavirus. The district is reporting seven of the elementary schools, three middle schools, three high schools and one district-wide facility are affected.

There are 19 students that have tested positive for COVID-19. The district is reporting four students in elementary, three students in middle school, 11 students in high school and one students in district-wide facilities have tested positive for the coronavirus.

There are 12 students who are required to quarantine due to the coronavirus. The district reports four elementary students are currently quarantining, seven students in middle school and one student in high school.

'Cole County reports 19 new coronavirus cases

The Cole County Health Department reported 19 new coronavirus cases on Friday.

According to the dashboard update, there are 16,763 residential cases and 327 long-term care facility resident cases. That is 17,090 total cases in the county since March 2020.

Cole County has reported 182 coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began.

Cole County ranks 42nd in the state for counties with the most coronavirus cases per 100,000 in the past week. Cases are down 66.2% when comparing last week to the prior week. The county has reported a 18.3% positivity test rate, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The Missouri coronavirus vaccine dashboard reports about 55.2% of the county have initiated their first dose of the vaccine and 51.1% of the county's population have been fully vaccinated.

The Jefferson City School District reported no new coronavirus cases in students or staff on Thursday.

The district is reporting two active cases in students and two active cases in staff.

MU Health Care adjusts COVID-19 test site hours

MU Health Care announced Friday plans to adjust the hours at its COVID-19 test site.

Starting Monday, the test site at 404 N. Keene St., inside the east entrance of Women's Hospital, will open from 8 a.m. until noon seven days a week.

According to the health care provider, the COVID-19 test site hours were adjusted due to a decrease in the demand for testing.

MU Health Care offers testing for patients who have been exposed to COVID-19, are showing symptoms of the virus, or for patients that need to travel.

No appointment is required, but patients will need to wear a face mask and bring proof of insurance if insured.

The COVID-19 test will not cost patients. MU Health Care expects to share the results of the test within 48 hours.