Missouri reports 178 new cases of coronavirus, at least 24 total deaths statewide
Missouri health officials reported 178 new cases of COVID-19 Saturday, bringing the statewide total to at least 2,291.
The increase represents an 8.4% increase in positive cases of the new coronavirus, down from a 15% increase seen on Friday.
According to state data at least 24 people in the state have died from the virus. The count does not include a third death in Jackson County and second in Kansas City reported Friday.
Of 24,747 residents tested for the virus, about 9% tested positive, according to data released Saturday.
About half the cases reported by the Missouri health department were found in St. Louis City and St. Louis County.
According to state data at least 135 cases have been confirmed in Jackson County and at least 172 have been confirmed in Kansas City.
In Jackson County, a Lee’s Summit School District employee tested positive for the virus, a district spokeswoman confirmed in an email Saturday.
The person was connected to the district’s Nutrition Services meal program, the district said in an email to students and families. The district, however, does not believe there is a risk of contamination to food or food packaging because the individual’s involvement in the program is limited.
Anyone who was in contact with the employee was asked to self isolate for 14 days, the email said.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced a stay-at-home order Friday that will go into effect on Monday. The announcement came after Parson spent weeks resisting calls for that order.
“There comes a time when we have to make major sacrifices in our lives. Many of us make sacrifices each and every day, but now more than ever, we must all make sacrifices,” Parson said at a press conference Friday.
Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade released a statement Saturday morning, criticizing the order for not being strict enough.
“It is so riddled with exemptions that it differs little from the weak and ineffective social distancing directive the administration previously issued, and it formally punts responsibility for imposing stricter measures to local officials,” the statement said. “Until the Parson administration takes the strong action the situation requires, COVID-19 will continue to spread in Missouri at an alarming rate.”
Nationwide, the virus has infected more than 300,000 people and killed more than 8,100 according to a database maintained by Johns Hopkins University.
The Star’s Jason Hancock contributed to this report.
This story was originally published April 4, 2020 at 2:55 PM.
