City of Columbia coronavirus (COVID-19) update - new positive cases, importance of contact tracing - Tuesday, June 23 at 5 p.m.

(COLUMBIA, MO) -  
Tuesday, June 23 summary
The number of positive cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Boone County is currently 287 with 212 who have been released from isolation at the time of publishing. There are 10 new cases from the previous press release update and the number released from isolation has increased by 7. There are currently 73 active cases. Below is information about the process of contact tracing and why it’s important.

Cases in Boone County

Total positive cases	Active	Released from isolation	Deaths
287	73	212	2

*Numbers current as of June 23 at 5 p.m.

Ages:
<15: 26 cases (1 additional case)
15-24: 87 cases (4 additional cases)
25-44: 93 cases (3 additional cases)
45-64: 57 cases (1 additional case)
65+: 24 cases (1 additional case)

Transmission:
Travel-related: 34 cases
Contact to a confirmed case: 151 cases (3 additional cases)
Community transmission: 87 cases (1 additional case, 4 cases moved from the unknown category)
Unknown/pending investigation: 15 cases (6 additional cases)

Health message
Contact tracing and self-quarantining of people with COVID-19 and close contacts are critical to help slow transmission of COVID-19 in our community.

When a person in Boone County has a positive test for COVID-19, their health care provider informs Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS). Investigators from PHHS interview the individual to find out how they may have been exposed to the virus and make sure the person remains isolated from others.

The investigator works with the individual to make a list of everyone they may have had close contact with when they were contagious. A close contact is defined as face-to-face interaction within less than 6 feet of the individual for more than 15 minutes. People can be contagious as early as 2 days before their symptoms begin. PHHS will not notify or release any personal information about an individual to their workplace or school unless it is necessary to do so to protect the individual’s health or the health of others.

All close contacts of the case are required to stay home and avoid interactions with other people for up to 14 days. PHHS will stay in touch with close contacts to monitor them for fever, cough, shortness of breath or other symptoms of COVID-19. Even if an individual does not develop symptoms, PHHS recommends that close contacts be tested at both day 5 and day 14 of the quarantine period.

Public health professionals ask that residents do the following to help in the process:

• Answer the phone when PHHS calls.
• Be mindful of who you interact with so that you lower the risk of exposure for you and your loved ones.
• Follow PHHS and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.
• Notify your health care provider if you become ill.
• Notify those with whom you have had close contact with recently if you become ill.

Changes to City services
No additional changes 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.