Missouri records 16 cases of coronavirus

A sign informs visitors that the Saint Louis Zoo is temporarily closed to the public to protect against the spread of coronavirus Monday, March 16, 2020, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man in his 40s who recently traveled abroad is the 16th person in Missouri to test positive for the coronavirus, health officials said.

The man is doing well and is in isolation at his home, while his family is in quarantine, Jackson County health officials announced late Tuesday. It was the second case in the county that includes Kansas City.

Missouri health officials have reported cases of COVID-19 in Boone, Cass, Cole, Greene, Henry, Jackson and St. Louis counties, as well as one case in the city of St. Louis.

The virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, for most people, but severe illness is more likely in the elderly and people with existing health problems. Worldwide, COVID-19 has killed over 7,800 people so far, while more than 80,000 have recovered.

In a statement to The Kansas City Star, Cerner spokeswoman Misti Preston said the company asked anyone who had contact with the individual to self quarantine and closed its sprawling campus in south Kansas City for deep cleaning.

Cerner, a health care technology company, has 14,000 employees on campuses in the Kansas City region.

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