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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">1005 W. Worley St. <br />Columbia, MO 65203</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;">June 1, 2020</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Lucio Bitoy IV
<br />Community Relations Specialist
<br />Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services
<br />573.874.7632
<br />Lucio.Bitoy@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%;">Status update of COVID-19 in Boone County as of June 1, 2020</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;">Boone County has recorded 28 new cases between May 26 and June 1. The case breakdown is as follows: </p>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">21 of the cases are due to contact with a known case. The cases that are due to contact with a known case include exposure to a case living in the same household.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">5 are due to community transmission (not due to contact with a known case or travel). </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">2 are still under investigation. </span></li>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">61% of the cases in this time period were known due to testing direct contacts of a positive case. PHHS recommends direct contacts be tested at days 5 and 14 after exposure. Doing this has allowed PHHS to detect possible exposure much quicker and isolate those individuals faster to prevent further spread of the virus. It is important for individuals to be intentional about who they come into contact with to help slow the spread of COVID-19, as well as ease the burden of contact tracing and health care services available in Boone County. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among the new cases are residents who work at or frequent popular establishments in our area. While some of the businesses associated with these cases have chosen to make the cases public, we as a health department have not. This is done in order to protect the privacy of the patient, as well as their direct contacts. The public will be notified if PHHS determines that the case cannot identify and provide contact information on people who may have been within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"As we continue to slowly reopen Boone County and our residents begin to move around the county more, the risk of exposure increases for everyone," said Stephanie Browning. "We encourage all individuals to act as if everyone they encounter has been exposed to COVID-19 and to protect themselves accordingly." </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Protests and civil demonstrations are taking place around the country and locally. We urge everyone participating in these events to follow the safety guidelines below, especially those who may be at higher risk of contracting COVID-19: </span></p>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Avoid close contact with others by social distancing from individuals outside of your household. This includes not coming within 6 feet of someone who does not live in your home for more than 15 minutes. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wear a cloth face covering at demonstrations in which social distancing is difficult to maintain. Face coverings may protect others if you are transmitting the virus, but they are not a substitute for maintaining distance. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Be aware that contact tracing after events like this is difficult to do. Therefore, if there is an outbreak of coronavirus after the event, those who participated may need to quarantine for up to 14 days. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol often and avoid touching your face. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stay home if you are sick. </span></li>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you have not followed these guidelines for any reason, you may be more likely to transmit the virus to others. We urge you to refrain from interacting with vulnerable people, especially older family members and friends, if you have not practiced social distancing.</span></p></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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