White House Coronavirus Taskforce places Missouri in red zone for COVID-19

Missouri is in the red zone for COVID-19, according to the latest report from the White House Coronavirus Taskforce. This means there are 101 or more new cases per 100,00 population. In part because of increased testing, the rate is the seventh-highest in the nation. In the past week, Missouri had 485 new cases per 100,000 population, compared to a national average of 294 per 100,000.

“The spread in Missouri is exponential and unyielding, with hospitalizations increasing week over week,” the red zone report said. “Increases from the past two weeks correlate with Halloween and related activities. With Thanksgiving and upcoming holidays, Missourians must understand the COVID-19 situation statewide.

READ: Covid rates include other factors

“With all counties in the red zone and over 50 percent of nursing homes with at least one positive staff member, mitigation and messaging need to be further strengthened as other states have done. Effective practices to decrease transmission in public spaces include limiting restaurant indoor capacity to less than 25 percent and limiting bar hours until cases and test positivity decrease to the yellow zone.”

You can protect yourself and others.
Watch Your Distance (from others, to maintain social distance).
Wear A Mask.
Wash Your Hands.

Those three W steps can help protect from COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/gtiau1o4t4

— Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (@HealthyLivingMo) November 17, 2020

Missouri has seen an increase both in new cases as testing increases but also test positivity in St. Louis County, Jackson County and St. Girardeau County have seen the highest number of new cases over the past three weeks, although 98 percent of Missouri counties report having moderate or high levels of community transmission.

On average, 296 patients with confirmed COVID-19 and 250 patients with suspected COVID-19 were reported as newly admitted each day to hospitals in Missouri from November 7-13. An average of greater than 95 percent of hospitals reported either new confirmed or new suspected COVID patients each day during this period.

–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice