Cole County confirms 11 active COVID cases

This 2020 electron microscope image made available by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the spherical particles of the new coronavirus, colorized blue, from the first U.S. case of COVID-19. Antibody blood tests for the coronavirus could play a key role in deciding whether millions of Americans can safely return to work and school. But public health officials warn that the current “Wild West” of unregulated tests is creating confusion that could ultimately slow the path to recovery. (Hannah A. Bullock, Azaibi Tamin/CDC via AP)
This 2020 electron microscope image made available by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the spherical particles of the new coronavirus, colorized blue, from the first U.S. case of COVID-19. Antibody blood tests for the coronavirus could play a key role in deciding whether millions of Americans can safely return to work and school. But public health officials warn that the current “Wild West” of unregulated tests is creating confusion that could ultimately slow the path to recovery. (Hannah A. Bullock, Azaibi Tamin/CDC via AP)

Cole County is reporting double-digit active COVID-19 cases for the first time in several weeks.

As of Monday, the county has 11 confirmed active cases of COVID-19. Of the 74 total cases confirmed in the county, 61 patients have recovered and two have died.

In most of the newest cases, people who tested positive for the virus contracted it through community spread, said Chezney Schulte, Cole County communicable disease health coordinator. That means they had no known exposure to another positive case and were not exposed through travel.

"I think in some ways we've seen some more positive cases due to more testing taking place," Schulte said. "As we do more testing, we will have more positive cases. But the rate of those testing positive is what we keep an eye on. Since the beginning, the positivity rate has been at about 1 percent, and it continues to stay at that level."

The Cole County Health Department has started publicizing the number of negative tests reported in the county. As of Monday, 6,661 negative tests have been reported in Cole County.

Cole County residents with the newest cases have reported mild symptoms and have been self-quarantining and cooperating with quarantine requirements, Schulte said.

A free community COVID-19 testing event is scheduled July 7-9 at the former county health department building, 1616 Industrial Drive, Jefferson City. Schulte said they hope to test people who haven't yet been tested for COVID-19 because they hadn't gotten a doctor's order to do so.

Those who want to be tested for COVID-19 during the event may register at health.mo.gov/communitytest or call the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services COVID-19 Hotline at 877-435-8411.