Missouri announced its first death related to COVID-19 on Wednesday.Gov. Mike Parson made the announcement at a 3:30 p.m. briefing Wednesday. Parson said the death was a person in the Columbia area.Columbia Mayor Brian Treece said health officials were notified the person in Boone County, Missouri, tested positive Tuesday for COVID-19 and was a travel-related case.Treece on Wednesday said the person's family placed a 911 call Wednesday morning, and the person was transported to University Hospital in Columbia, where the patient died. Six emergency responders who were involved in the case are being quarantined in Boone County, he said.“This is serious,” said Dr. Stevan Whitt, chief medical officer of MU Health Care. “This is reinforcement that COVID-19 is really here, and we really need to do our part in taking care of our sick and needy people.”Concerns about the coronavirus have prompted Missouri's governor to push back local elections for two months, forced the closure of one of the state's most iconic landmarks, and led state lawmakers to scramble to make sure the state has enough money to respond."We mourn the loss of one of our community members," Treece said. "I thank our health care providers and first responders who had planned for this -- to be prepared, but not panicked. We are in this together. And we will get through this together."As of Wednesday night, Missouri had 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19.Kansas announced its first COVID-19 related death late last week. Gov. Laura Kelly said the patient was a man in his 70s in Wyandotte County who lived in a long-term care facility. The governor said he had underlying health issues and was receiving care at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, when he died.

Missouri announced its first death related to COVID-19 on Wednesday.




Gov. Mike Parson made the announcement at a 3:30 p.m. briefing Wednesday. Parson said the death was a person in the Columbia area.

Columbia Mayor Brian Treece said health officials were notified the person in Boone County, Missouri, tested positive Tuesday for COVID-19 and was a travel-related case.



Treece on Wednesday said the person's family placed a 911 call Wednesday morning, and the person was transported to University Hospital in Columbia, where the patient died. Six emergency responders who were involved in the case are being quarantined in Boone County, he said.

“This is serious,” said Dr. Stevan Whitt, chief medical officer of MU Health Care. “This is reinforcement that COVID-19 is really here, and we really need to do our part in taking care of our sick and needy people.”

Concerns about the coronavirus have prompted Missouri's governor to push back local elections for two months, forced the closure of one of the state's most iconic landmarks, and led state lawmakers to scramble to make sure the state has enough money to respond.

"We mourn the loss of one of our community members," Treece said. "I thank our health care providers and first responders who had planned for this -- to be prepared, but not panicked. We are in this together. And we will get through this together."

As of Wednesday night, Missouri had 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Kansas announced its first COVID-19 related death late last week. Gov. Laura Kelly said the patient was a man in his 70s in Wyandotte County who lived in a long-term care facility. The governor said he had underlying health issues and was receiving care at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, when he died.