MISSOURI, USA — The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported more than 2,000 new coronavirus cases Thursday for the first time.
On Thursday, the department reported a cumulative total of 48,834 cases and 1,233 deaths, an increase of 2,084 cases and 13 deaths. It was the third day in a row the state broke a single-day record for new COVID-19 cases and the 10th day in a row of at least 1,000 new cases.
In a tweet, the department said today's record increase and the record high numbers of the last 10 days were "because our data entry staff has worked diligently to clear the backlog and today’s update will be the last with additional cases."
The department said Friday's update will be only cases confirmed in the last 24 hours, but also said future reports will be affected by backlogs until they can be cleared.
The department reported 14,234 new polymerase chain reaction — or PCR — tests Thursday, bringing the total in the state to 675,133. Over the previous 10 days, the seven-day average of new cases has increased steadily while the seven-day average of new polymerase chain reaction — or PCR — tests has remained mostly flat. This has resulted in an increasing positivity rate. On Thursday, the positivity rate increased from 7.07% to 7.23%.
St. Louis County reported two new deaths and a record 530 new cases Thursday, bringing the totals in the county 648 deaths and 12,548 cases. The county dashboard said 4,642 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, bringing the county's positivity rate to 7.56%, up from 7.45% on Wednesday.
The number of new COVID-19 patients remained dipped below 40 Thursday, and most of the other numbers tracked by the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force decreased or remained consistent.
- New hospital admissions (data lagged two days) decreased – from 44 yesterday to 38 today. *
- The seven-day moving average of hospital admissions (data lagged two days) remained the same at 38 today.
- The seven-day moving average of hospitalizations decreased – from 244 yesterday to 243 today. *
- Inpatient confirmed COVID positive hospitalizations decreased - from 248 yesterday to 238 today.
- Inpatient suspected COVID positive hospitalizations decreased – from 95 yesterday to 78 today.
- The number of confirmed COVID positive patients in the ICUs remained the same at 61 today.
- The number of confirmed COVID positive patients on ventilators decreased – from 28 for the last five days to 27 today.
- Across the system hospitals, 49 COVID-19 patients were discharged yesterday, bringing the cumulative number of COVID-19 patients discharged to 3,838.
*These numbers have been updated to reflect the true number of daily admissions. There was a delay in reporting some test results leading to the increase in reported hospital admissions. This, in turn, affected the seven-day moving average of admissions.
Statewide hospitalizations increased slightly Thursday, from 797 to 813.
The Missouri Hospital Association said it is still working to clarify some discrepancies with the United States Department of Health and Senior Services.
"Due to variation in the interpretation of the definition of suspected COVID-19 patients, there may be slight discrepancies in the reporting of this measure," a note in the Missouri DHSS dashboard said. "The Missouri Hospital Association (MHA) has sought clarification from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and are awaiting formally documented clarification, which will be shared with DHSS."
