First Missouri COVID-19 death reported

Last edited 12:17 p.m., March 19, 2020

Government officials late Wednesday afternoon announced the first COVID-19 death in Missouri.

The patient, who tested positive for travel-related coronavirus on March 17, died in Columbia, according to a news release from the city of Columbia.

"We mourn the loss of one of our community members, and I thank our health care providers and first responders who planned for this ... to be prepared and not panic," Columbia Mayor Brian Treece said at a news conference. "We are in this together, and we'll get through this together."

The patient's family this morning called 911 to report a medical emergency, and emergency responders used pandemic procedures in place to make contact with the patient. The individual was transported to University of Missouri Health Care, where they died.

The six emergency responders are being quarantined in Boone County, according to the release.

Gov. Mike Parson announced the death via Facebook.

"COVID-19 is serious, and together we can stop the spread," he said.

Six cases have been confirmed in Greene County, as well as two in Christian County. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show 10,442 cases and 150 deaths nationwide as of this morning.