On its first day of classes, the University of Missouri has 159 active student virus cases

COLUMBIA — On its first day of classes, the University of Missouri has reported 159 active cases of coronavirus.

The university began receiving data from the public health department approximately one week after student move-in. Since Aug. 19th, a total of 168 student cases have been reported in Boone County. Nine of these cases are no longer active. This brings the university's total active cases to 159.

The 159 active student cases make up 0.5% of the student body. The university noted that these are all student cases reported within Boone County.

For this reason, the university's case numbers are technically incomplete due to the fact that students, staff and faculty can seek testing from a variety of medical providers in and outside of the county. Those who test positive outside the county, are not included in the 159 active cases.

The university said information reported in other counties, and the identities of those who test positive, are confidential. In Boone County, health officials are tracking the number of MU students who test positive in the county and the University said it will be sharing those figures on its website weekly.

This information is based on cases tested and confirmed at the MU Student Health Center and other testing locations in Boone County, as identified by the Columbia/Boone County Public Health Department and shared with the university.

No such data is available to distinguish between MU staff and faculty cases versus cases within the greater Boone County population.

MU is also requesting all students, faculty and staff report individual positive cases to the university so instructors and supervisors can be made aware to ensure resources, information and arrangements to work or learn from home can be made, if the person is able. MU said the information provided will be kept confidential.