MONDAY UPDATE: Boone County logs nearly 160 new cases
Boone County tallied nearly 160 new cases of coronavirus between Thursday and Saturday, the health department reported Monday.
The county logged 62 new cases Thursday, 65 Friday and 32 on Saturday, the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services said Monday. The county delays releasing positive test numbers to ensure accuracy.
New coronavirus cases have increased locally and nationwide this summer, with experts sounding the alarm about the new BA.5 subvariant of omicron. The new strain is believed to be more transmissible than other strains and is responsible for a greater share of new infections.
The July 11 COVID-19 data update includes 48,177 positive cases recorded in Boone County since the beginning of the pandemic. A total of:
— Columbia/Boone Co. Public Health & Human Services (@CoMo_HealthDept) July 11, 2022
• 62 positive tests were recorded on July 7
• 65 positive tests were recorded on July 8
• 32 positive tests were recorded on July 9
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The weekly case rate in Boone County has dropped after peaking at more than 270 in late June. The rate was 220 as of Saturday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified Boone County as having a high level of virus transmissions and recommends wearing masks indoors. However, the numbers remain far below those seen during the omicron wave earlier this year.
Thirty-four people are being treated for coronavirus in Boone County hospitals, which have resumed normal operations after limiting some transfers and procedures last week.