Public Health Alert: Possible public exposure of coronavirus

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) is alerting Boone County residents that they may have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 if they were at  Room 38, 38 N. Eighth Street, any time Monday, June 22, Tuesday, June 23, Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25. People who were at the establishment that day(s) are advised to monitor for symptoms consistent with the virus, as they may have been in close contact with someone who was infectious at that time.

Those symptoms include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea 

Only those with symptoms or close contact to a known COVID-19 case need to quarantine. Please contact your health care provider and get tested if you develop symptoms. After being tested, remain at home away from others while awaiting results. If you test positive, you will be asked to quarantine for 14 days. 

Testing is available through physician's order. For more information on local testing sites, visit: 

• Regional testing sites: https://www.como.gov/health/novel-coronavirus-2019-covid-19/
• Missouri testing sites: https://health.mo.gov/…/novel-coronavirus/mobile-testing.php for listings of a site near you.

In order to protect the health of Boone County residents, PHHS is issuing this release in an effort to inform those who may have been exposed to the virus and to prevent further spread. The possible exposure resulted from crowded conditions and an inability to identify all possible close contacts. Further information will not be released in order to maintain the integrity of the ongoing epidemiological investigation.