Mid-Missouri COVID-19 cases remain low, but steadily increase
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services released new data Friday showing coronavirus cases in Missouri are increasing but remain in the low transmission category. Mid-Missouri counties are all in the low transmission category, and only three counties in the state are in the medium transmission category.
The BA.2 variant remains by far the most prominent in Missouri. The other variants making the rounds are omicron and BA.2.12.1, but at much lower levels.
Daily case totals have also been increasing in Boone County this month, though they're staying well below the peaks of the omicron surge over the winter. COVID-19 hospitalizations remain low and no coronavirus patients were on ventilators as of Thursday.
Eligibility for booster vaccines is widening, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending some people hold off on getting another booster. Children 12 and older can now get boosters, and anyone 12 or older who is immunocompromised can get two booster shots.
The CDC asks people to consider waiting before getting a second booster and consider how likely they are to get severely sick. The CDC also encourages anyone who contracted COVID in the past three months to consider holding off on another booster.
The agency's reasoning for waiting is that a booster may be more critical come fall, when many experts expect a surge of cases.
Federal regulators also recommended this week that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine be given to children ages 5 to 11.
