Missouri cases, hospitalizations, unemployment claims rise

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri reported a jump of more than 1,500 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and hospitalizations of confirmed and suspected cases reached the highest number since the pandemic began.

The state health department on Thursday said Missouri confirmed 1,505 more cases and 23 more deaths, for totals of 137,156 cases and 2,259 deaths since the pandemic started.

State health data shows 1,344 Missourians were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 on Wednesday.

The seven-day average for hospitalizations was 1,204, also a new high since the pandemic began.

And the state labor department reported initial unemployment claims rose last week, after falling steadily in the previous three weeks.