City of Columbia coronavirus (COVID-19) update - no new positive cases, recommendation for children wearing masks, City facilities reopening - Friday, May 15 at 5 p.m.

(COLUMBIA, MO) -  
Friday, May 15 summary
The number of positive cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Boone County is currently 100 with 94 who have been released from isolation at the time of publishing. There are no new cases from the previous update. Friday's Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services Facebook Live video discussed changes to the 2020 Census and local elections due to COVID-19. View the video on their Facebook page. Below is information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about guidance for children wearing masks. Also below is information about some City facilities reopening on Monday, May 18.

Cases in Boone County

Total positive cases	Active	Released from isolation	Deaths
100	5	94	1

*Numbers current as of May 15 at 5 p.m.

Ages:
<15: 2 case
15-24: 30 cases
25-44: 37 cases
45-64: 25 cases
65+: 6 cases

Transmission:
Travel-related: 28 cases
Contact to a confirmed case: 41 cases
Community transmission: 30 cases
Unknown: 1 case

Health message
The CDC recommends that everyone 2 years and older wear a cloth face covering that covers their nose and mouth when they are out in the community. The CDC states that cloth face coverings should not be put on babies or children younger than 2 because of the danger of suffocation. Children younger than 2 years of age are listed as an exception as well as anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance.

Changes to City services
The City will start to slowly reopen City facilities beginning the week of May 18, to allow access to the public, with some modifications. Signs have been placed on the doors of City facilities to advise members of the public to not enter the building if symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath are present. The City’s custodial staff has continued to increase cleaning and disinfecting common areas.

City Hall
Beginning Monday, May 18, the first floor of City Hall will be open to the public. Plexiglas has been installed in places where a barrier is needed between staff and members of the public. 

Members of the public and guests will need to enter City Hall from the front doors of the keyhole lobby. The City will now require members of the public and guests to check-in at the information desk in the lobby of City Hall and get a visitors badge. Visitors can do business on the first floor, such as visiting Utility Customer Service and the cashier’s window. If visitors have a pre-scheduled appointment with an employee, the customer service representative working at the information desk will call the employee to notify them that their guest has arrived. The employee will meet the guest in the lobby of City Hall and escort them to the location of the meeting. Guests in City Hall will be escorted at all times. For residents and guests who visit City Hall and request to meet with a staff member or representative from a specific division without an appointment, the staff member or division will be called by the customer service representative at the information desk to determine if the staff member can meet with the guest or an appointment for a later date needs to be made.

Social distancing markers have been placed to assist the public. 

Howard Building
Beginning Monday, May 18 in the Howard Building, Human Resources offices will be locked and business can be done by appointment and documents can be sent electronically. 

Columbia Municipal Court will begin operations with social distancing. Court hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day, including lunch, two windows will be open for payments and court business as needed. Social distancing markers have been placed to assist the public. A new court schedule has been made to have more dockets at staggered times to allow for social distancing requirements; for example, a 9 a.m. arraignment now is three dockets at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. instead of one. The full schedule can be viewed here: CoMo.gov/Court/Court-Schedule.

The probation office has been successful in reducing docket sizes by accepting community service work, programs and payments remotely. This will continue to allow residents to be accountable, but to have the option to not appear in court.

The court will continue to accept both payments and written guilty pleas remotely.

Payments can be processed online at trafficpayment.com, by phone 1.800.444.1187 or via mail at 600 E. Broadway, Columbia MO, 65201.

Written guilty pleas are accepted via email at [email protected] or by fax at 573.874.7531. Forms are located here: CoMo.gov/Court/Court-Forms.

Gentry Building
Parks and Recreation Administration in the Gentry Building will be open to the public but Risk Management will be by appointment only at this time.  


Official information from the City of Columbia and Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) can be found at CoMo.gov/Coronavirus. The City will also be utilizing City and PHHS official social media accounts to post updates. They can be found at @CoMoGov on Facebook and Twitter and @CoMoHealthDept on Facebook and @CoMo_HealthDept on Twitter.