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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">P.O. BOX 6015 COLUMBIA, MO 65205</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">March 31, 2020</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Steven Sapp
<br />Director of Community Relations
<br />City of Columbia
<br />Steven.Sapp@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">City of Columbia coronavirus (COVID-19) update - new positive cases, social distancing while using parks and trails - Tuesday, March 31 at 5 p.m.</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <br /><strong>Tuesday, March 31 summary</strong><br />The number of positive cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Boone County is currently 66 with 23 who have recovered at the time of publishing. Tuesday’s Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) Facebook Live video topic focused on the power of positivity during the pandemic. View the video on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CoMoHealthDept">Facebook</a> page. Below is information from PHHS about social services and Columbia Parks and Recreation about using the parks and trails while practicing social distancing.<br /><br /><strong>Cases in Boone County</strong><br />
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<td style="width: 10px; height: 40px; text-align: center;">Total positive cases</td>
<td style="width: 10px; height: 40px; text-align: center;">Active</td>
<td style="width: 10px; height: 40px; text-align: center;">Recovered</td>
<td style="width: 41.4px; height: 40px; text-align: center;">Deaths</td>
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<td style="width: 10px; height: 34.4px; text-align: center;">66</td>
<td style="width: 10px; height: 34.4px; text-align: center;">42</td>
<td style="width: 10px; height: 34.4px; text-align: center;">23</td>
<td style="width: 41.4px; height: 34.4px; text-align: center;">1</td>
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*Numbers current as of March 31 at 5 p.m.<br /><br />Ages:<br />15-24: 18 cases<br />25-44: 26 cases<br />45-64: 19 cases<br />65+: 3 cases<br /><br />Transmission:<br />Travel-related: 27 cases<br />Contact to a confirmed case: 18 cases<br />Community transmission: 17 cases<br />Pending investigation: 4 cases<br /><br /><strong>Health message</strong><br />During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services would like to remind residents that they are available to help with Medicaid for pregnant women, Show Me Health Babies, answering questions and providing pregnancy support.<br /><br />Please call the PHHS Social Services Division at 573.817.6430 and leave a voicemail. Callers will receive a call back from a social service specialist who can help with applying for Medicaid, provide education and support, make referrals to other resources and help answer questions.<br /><br />The PHHS WIC Program will be contacting families by
telephone over the next couple of weeks for those with upcoming appointments. If the family has had a change in phone number or address please call 573.874.7384.<br /><br /><strong>Changes to City services</strong><br />Going forward, the case number count on CoMo.gov/Coronavirus will be updated by 5 p.m. daily.<br /><br /><em>Parks and Recreation</em><br />Columbia Parks and Recreation reminds park and trail users to maintain a 6-foot radius from others when exercising on trails or in parks. This is in accordance with social distancing requirements set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).<br /><br />Under the City of Columbia’s Stay at Home Order 2020-03, public parks and open recreation areas are encouraged to remain open so that residents can fulfill their need for physical activity and recreation. However, Parks and Recreation staff resources do not allow active enforcement of social distancing requirements. Park and trail users are asked to &qu
ot;be smart, do your part," and adhere to these guidelines when visiting parks and trails during the City’s Stay at Home Order:<br /><br />· Do not use parks or trails if you are exhibiting symptoms related to COVID-19.<br />· Prepare for your trip by using home restroom facilities, packing a water bottle, etc. before you leave your house.<br />· Follow CDC’s guidance on personal hygiene prior to and while on trails, including washing hands and coughing/sneezing into your elbow.<br />· Observe at all times CDC’s minimum recommended physical distancing of 6 feet from other people. Practice it and know what it looks like. Keep it as you walk, bike or hike. Walk behind or farther ahead. Avoid walking side by side. Walk single file when passing and approaching oth
er trail users.<br />· Step completely off the trail to allow other trail users to safely pass. When chatting with other trail users, stand on the same side of the trail adhering to social distancing guidelines.<br />· Warn others as you pass by calling out "on your left" or ringing a bike bell.<br />· Follow social distancing guidelines in parking lots and pinch points (access trails, bridges and intersections). Avoid lingering on trail bridges and in parking lots.<br />· Be aware of high touch points like handles, gates and pet waste bag dispensers.<br />· Practice "pack it in, pack it out" standards related to all waste products. Bring pet waste bags from home. Leaving no trash behind helps protect park staff an
d other park and trail users.<br />· Go out early or later in the day to avoid crowds.<br />· Exercise an extreme level of social and personal responsibility when visiting parks and trails.<br /><br /><br />Official information from the City of Columbia and Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) can be found at <a href="https://www.como.gov/coronavirus/">CoMo.gov/Coronavirus</a>. The City will also be utilizing City and PHHS official social media accounts to post updates. They can be found at @CoMoGov on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CoMoGov/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/CoMoGov">Twitter</a> and @CoMoHealthDept on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CoMoHealthDept">Facebook</a> and @CoMo_HealthDept on <a href="https://twitter.com/CoMo_HealthDept">Twitter</a>.</div>
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