UPDATE 12 P.M.: Multiple cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at a University of Missouri fraternity, according to a statement from international fraternity leadership.

The news release from Phi Delta Theta said multiple members have tested positive for COVID-19 recently. It did not include how many cases of novel coronavirus had been confirmed.

The fraternity said it will work with the Columbia/Boone County health department to address the situation.

Masks have been provided for the fraternity members, the release said. Health information and signs have also been sent to the chapter.

It included officials have recommended members follow university and local health guidelines.

Randolph County Health warns of COVID-19 exposure at Eagles hall

UPDATE 11:10 A.M.: The Randolph County Health Department issued a warning Monday about a possible COVID-19 exposure last week at the Moberly Eagles hall.

The department said in a news release that a person who was positive for COVID-19 visited the Fraternal Order of the Eagles from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. The department asks that anyone in the building at that time monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms through Sept. 1.

Randolph County reported 111 cases as of Friday, up 20 compared to last Monday. The department has yet to report weekend case numbers.

One Randolph County resident has died from COVID-19 complications and three were hospitalized as of Friday.

Boone County reports sixth COVID-19 death

UPDATE 10:45 A.M.: A sixth person in Boone County has died of COVID-19.

The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services on Monday reported the death in a person in the age 80 or older group. The health department didn’t release other information, in line with standard practice when public health agencies report COVID-19 deaths.

Some Mid-Missouri counties have reported more deaths than Boone — Saline has reported nine deaths and Camden has reported eight.

The latest death comes as Boone County is experiencing a major surge in cases powered largely by new COVID-19 positives in the 20-24 age group. The surge has also coincided with thousands of college students coming to town for classes, which began Monday at the University of Missouri.

Boone County reported 119 new cases over the weekend after hitting a record for daily cases with 81 on Friday.

The spike has caused the county’s five-day rolling average of new daily cases to shoot up to 64.6. That number was at 28.2 a week ago.

Boone County has now reported 1,964 cases since the pandemic began. Of those, 399 were active as of Sunday.

Jefferson City School District delays start of elementary virtual learning

The Jefferson City School District confirmed it pushed back the start of virtual learning by a week because of a staffing shortage with the online program.

The announcement sent out to parents over the weekend only effects elementary students. Online learning for those students now starts next Monday.

JC Schools spokeswoman Ryan Burns said in an email Monday morning the virtual learning platform the district is using, Launch, had a higher than expected enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year.

“Launch is actively working to assign elementary teachers to students, and
you will hear from your student’s homeroom teacher as soon as they are
assigned,” Burns said.

She added the district apologized for the inconvenience and that the move was in the best interest of students.

The spokeswoman included Launch has several guides for parents and students on how to get started ahead of next week.

Virtual education for grades 6-12 began as planned, Burns said.

Students who opted to learn in-school returned to school Monday morning.