State death toll approaches 100

The number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Missouri neared 100 Friday while the number of confirmed cases in Missouri approached 4,000.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Friday afternoon, there are 3,799 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Missouri with 96 deaths. According to the state numbers, there have been approximately 40,480 people tested.

Locally, Scott County Health Department reports 14 confirmed cases with five recovering or recovered while New Madrid County has 6 positive cases. Mississippi County still has yet to have a confirmed case.

Cape Girardeau County has 26 cases, Dunklin County has 12, Butler County has 10, Stoddard County has 9, Pemiscot has 4 and Bollinger has 3 cases.

The state death toll increased 19 from Thursday to Friday with three of those deaths being between the ages of 40-49. According to the state health department, 37 of the deaths have been over 80 and 25 deaths have been between the ages of 70-79. Nineteen deaths have been between the ages of 60-69 and 10 between 50-59. Only one death has been reported from an individual under the age of 40.

Locally Cape County still has the only confirmed death.

The state health department reports of the deaths, 40% have been white, 25% black with 31% unknown at this time.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.