COLUMBIA – Since Boone County moved to the next reopening step Tuesday, the county has seen an increase in active COVID-19 cases.
According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website, the second-oldest age group with COVID-19 cases in Missouri is young adults ages 25-29. The third largest group are young adults ages 20-24.
Boone County currently has 97 active cases. The influx of COVID numbers prompted Mayor Brian Treece to ask the city manager to draft an ordinance that requires masks in all public settings.
Today I asked the City Manager to write an ordinance to require masks in all public settings. With the increase in coronavirus cases, this is a responsible and simple public health initiative to curb the spread of COVID-19, protect public health, and keep our economy open.
– Brian Treece (@BNTreece) June 26, 2020
Spencer Quist is a 22-year-old student at the University of Missouri. She explained how most of the members of her group of friends, including her, tested positive for COVID-19.
“This was not in our plans to contract coronavirus,” said Quist. “But we did it, and we’re dealing with it.”
Quist is among the third-largest group of cases in Missouri, with more than 1,600 cases of people ages 20-24. He said he believes the increase is due to the departure of more young adults as the state reopens.
“More and more young people are becoming more reckless because we are the age group that really won’t be affected,” Quist said. “If someone our age gets it, we feel sick for about four days, but if someone older gets it, then their life is in danger. It’s not really about us.”
Quist is currently quarantined at home for the next 14 days.
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