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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;">May 15, 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 - no new positive cases, recommendation for children wearing masks, City facilities reopening - Friday, May 15 at 5 p.m.</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <br /><strong>Friday, May 15 summary</strong><br />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 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CoMoHealthDept">Facebook page</a>. 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.<br /><br /><strong>Cases in Boone County</strong><br />
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<td style="width: 79px; text-align: center;">Total positive cases</td>
<td style="width: 39px; text-align: center;">Active</td>
<td style="width: 96.4px; text-align: center;">Released from isolation</td>
<td style="width: 44.6px; text-align: center;">Deaths</td>
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<td style="width: 79px; text-align: center;">100</td>
<td style="width: 39px; text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="width: 96.4px; text-align: center;">94</td>
<td style="width: 44.6px; text-align: center;">1</td>
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*Numbers current as of May 15 at 5 p.m.<br /><br />Ages:<br /><15: 2 case<br />15-24: 30 cases<br />25-44: 37 cases<br />45-64: 25 cases<br />65+: 6 cases<br /><br />Transmission:<br />Travel-related: 28 cases<br />Contact to a confirmed case: 41 cases<br />Community transmission: 30 cases<br />Unknown: 1 case<br /><br /><strong>Health message</strong><br />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.<br /><br /><strong>Changes to City services</strong><br />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.<br /><br /><em>City Hall</em><br />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. <br /><br />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 appoint
ment 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.<br /><br />Social distancing markers have been placed to assist the public. <br /><br /><em>Howard Building</em><br />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. <br /
><br />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: <a href="http://www.CoMo.gov/Court/Court-Schedule">CoMo.gov/Court/Court-Schedule</a>.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />The court will continue to accept both payments and written guilty pleas remotely.<br /><br />Payment
s can be processed online at <a href="http://www.trafficpayment.com">trafficpayment.com</a>, by phone 1.800.444.1187 or via mail at 600 E. Broadway, Columbia MO, 65201.<br /><br />Written guilty pleas are accepted via email at MunicipalCourt@CoMo.gov or by fax at 573.874.7531. Forms are located here: <a href="http://www.CoMo.gov/Court/Court-Forms">CoMo.gov/Court/Court-Forms</a>.<br /><br /><em>Gentry Building</em><br />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. <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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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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