Today’s update discusses:

• MU preparing for students’ return to campus
• Sturgeon School District revising its reopening plans
• MSSU reporting students testing positive
• Abbreviated state fair occurring
• Cole County Health Department urging residents to follow health guidelines
• Federal COVID-19 task force head visiting the state

EDUCATION

• The University of Missouri (MU) released COVID-19 policies this week as it prepares for students to return to campus for in-person learning next week. The policies include a limit on the number of people attending events, both on and off campus. In addition, the school will be requiring face coverings for all indoor events and any outdoor events where social distancing cannot be maintained. MU will also be implementing reporting procedures for students who test positive for COVID-19, along with a symptom-tracking app.
• The Sturgeon School District (in Boone County) has revised its reopening plan. The revisions include face mask requirements in specific instances and when social distancing is not possible.
• On Tuesday, Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) reported that seven students returning to campus dorms tested positive for COVID-19. According to the school, rooms are available for students who need to be in isolation or quarantine following a positive test or exposure. In addition, the school has ensured students that anyone impacted by the virus will be contacted by faculty members and advisors so they won’t miss out on classwork. It has also set up a website for information and announcements regarding virus prevention.

ECONOMY

• As previously updated, the Missouri State Fair is currently underway and ends August 23. Things do look a little different this year, though, as the pandemic continues. This year’s fair focuses only on the Youth Livestock Show.

HEALTH

• The Cole County Health Department issued a news release this week stating that the county’s rising COVID-19 cases have been linked to residents refusing to follow health guidelines. According to the news release, 72% of positive cases in the county “can be traced back to travel and/or contact to a known case.” The release urges residents to take more responsibility and follow health guidelines (such as adhering to social distancing requirements, wearing a face covering, and maintaining good hygiene).
• A previous update reported that as the state’s COVID-19 cases continued to climb, the federal government labeled Missouri a red zone state. Dr. Deborah Birx, the head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, came to Missouri this week and met with Governor Parson and other Missouri officials. Dr. Birx encouraged everyone to follow health guidelines and stated that if Missourians want to see a decrease in the spread of COVID-19 cases, they should wear masks and stop getting together, although she stopped short of suggesting that a statewide mask mandate was necessary.