UCM Will Publish Known COVID-19 Case Numbers Starting Next Week

The University of Central Missouri announced on their Facebook page Thursday that the University will start publishing "the number of known active COVID-19 cases among UCM students and university employees at ucmo.edu/coronavirus, with the first publishing to occur no later than Friday, Sept.11. The information will be published weekly on Fridays by 2:00PM CDT.

Additionally, Governor Mike Parson says 7,000 college age students have tested positive for the cornavirus since colleges and universities opened for the fall semester spiking COVID-19 case rates in communities home to Missouri's institutions of higher education.

KMOV4 reports that Parson says none of the college age students infected have become seriously ill, but that they can spread the illness to more vulnerable people like the elderly.

“I know there is a lot of concern right now regarding college students, but I want to assure you that our colleges and our universities have plans in place and are taking all steps necessary to keep their students and communities as safe as possible,” Parson said, according to KMOV4.

The University of Missouri says they have 551 active student cases of COVID-19 with 280 students recovered. Three faculty members have also tested positive and recovered, and there have been 18 staff cases of COVID-19 with seven recovered.

The University of Central Missouri says as of Wednesday September 2, they have 42 students with active COVID-19 cases and four employees with active COVID-19 cases. Information on coronavirus cases at the University of Missouri can be found here. And information on coronavirus cases at the University of Central Missouri will be available here starting Friday September 11.