COVID cases rising nationally but Missouri levels hard to pinpoint
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missouri might have one of the highest levels of the virus that causes COVID-19, according to federal officials.
However, only one site statewide monitors for the virus and reports its data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Missouri is one of the top handful of states for the amount of coronavirus in wastewater based on sampling from just one site in Jefferson County, south of St. Louis. The CDC now monitors for the virus in wastewater because it's more accurate than reporting case numbers because not all COVID-19 patients seek medical attention.
The numbers are based on monitoring of the week that ended Dec. 7.
Boone County has also experienced an uptick in cases since Thanksgiving.
COVID positives across the country are up 0.9% as of Dec 7. In Boone County, positive cases have seen a 56% increase, with 50 positive tests the week ending Dec. 7, according to the Columbia/Boone County Health Department.
The flu appears to be dropping locally after a spike last month.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported 425 cases of influenza statewide for the week ending Dec. 7. Boone County saw a jump in flu positives right before Thanksgiving with 34 reported cases, but that number dropped to 15 in the week that ended Nov. 30, according to BCHD data.
