KSMU Coronavirus Coverage

  O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — The rapidly rising number of confirmed new coronavirus cases is prompting facial-covering requirements in several areas of Missouri.

The state health department on Thursday announced 795 new cases of COVID-19. That was the most in a single day since the pandemic began, topping the 773 confirmed new cases reported Tuesday.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri is once again reporting its highest daily increase in confirmed coronavirus cases. State health department data show another 795 cases were reported Thursday. That brings the total confirmed cases of the virus in the state to 25,999. The record for new cases reported in a single day was last broken Tuesday, when 773 cases of coronavirus were reported. Another five deaths have been reported, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related fatalities in the state to 1,051.

The City of Neosho will not have restrictions on gatherings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Neosho City Council voted against an ordinance that, in part, would have prohibited gatherings of 16 or more unless a letter or approval was obtained first from the Newton County Health Department.  The council also voted to repeal the existing ordinance, which means the city currently has no restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Starting Friday, July 10, you’ll have to wear a mask to enter an indoor facility operated by the City of Nixa.  Those who don’t have a mask will have one provided to them, according to the city.

The rule doesn’t apply to the outdoors; anyone participating in a sports program or exercising indoors at the X Center; anyone under 12; those with health conditions, which make wearing a mask unadvisable; those who are hearing impaired or communicating with someone who is hearing impaired and the restroom facilities at The X Center pool, according to a statement from the City of Nixa.

Another person has died in Taney County from COVID-19.  That makes a total of three deaths from the illness in Taney County.  The person who died was a woman in her 80s, according to a news release. 

The director of the Taney County Health Department, Lisa Marshall, said community members need to take social responsibility to slow the spread of COVID-19.  That includes wearing face coverings, following social distancing guidelines, washing their hands and staying home if they’re sick.

Missouri welcome centers on both sides of I-44 at Conway are closed after an employee with the company that cleans the centers tested positive for COVID-19.

DBi, which is contracted to clean rest areas and welcome centers in the state, notified the Missouri Department of Transportation Thursday of the positive test.  Both eastbound and westbound facilities were immediately closed to the public, according to MODOT in a news release.

The center are being cleaned following CDC guidance, MODOT officials said. 

There were 34 new cases of COVID-19 in Greene County Thursday bringing the total number of cases to 440.  And the Springfield-Greene County Health Department says there have been some potential community exposures from two people with the illness.

Before being diagnosed they visited six locations in Springfield, most while infectious and symptomatic and not masked:

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department is notifying the public of potential community exposures from four people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 .

Before they were diagnosed they visited these locations:

The Taney County Health Department (TCHD) is reporting 111 cases of COVID-19 in Taney County.  There have been 2 deaths, 45 have recovered, and there are 63 active cases.

And the health department is warning the public of some potential community exposures to the illness.  Prior to being diagnosed, a person with COVID-19 was at Maurices at Tanger Mall in Branson on Tuesday, June 30, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Wednesday, July 1, from noon to 8 p.m. and on Thursday, July 2, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Anyone who was at Maurices at those times should monitor for symptoms.

Another person has died from COVID-19 in Greene County.  The death, announced Wednesday by the Springfield-Greene County Health Department is the county’s ninth from the illness.  The woman was in her 80s and was not associated with a long-term care facility, according to the health department.  She had no risk factors other than her age.

It’s been three months since a Greene County resident died from COVID-19.  The last notification of a COVID-19 related death was April 9. 

At a marathon special City Council meeting where nearly two dozen residents testified, Joplin City Council voted to make masks mandatory in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. 

 Community members passionately argued for and against the mandate before Council voted to pass the ordinance 6-3 .   

Joplin City Council will once again consider an ordinance requiring citizens to wear face masks at a special meeting Wednesday night, July 8, at 6 p.m.  The council voted down a face mask ordinance on June 24 by a vote of five to four.

But during their regular meeting Monday, members decided to reconsider after getting an update on the coronavirus from the assistant director of the Joplin Health Department.