COVID-19 spread in Kansas, Missouri college counties outpaced state rates in August
As COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly in both Kansas and Missouri, new cases in counties with large universities rose faster than the statewide rate in August as classes restarted.
Both Douglas and Riley counties in Kansas, home to the University of Kansas and Kansas State University, saw their number of coronavirus cases increase by nearly 88% and 72% respectively over the past month.
And Boone County, home to the University of Missouri in Columbia, saw its number of new cases more than double: by 112.5%.
In both Kansas and Missouri, the demographic groups comprised of those who are traditionally college aged lead all other age groups in the number of positive cases.
COVID-19 cases take off in Kansas
At the beginning of August, Kansas had 28,999 people who had tested positive for COVID-19. The number of cases grew to 42,350, or 46%, according to data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Of those who have tested positive for the coronavirus in Kansas to date, roughly 1 in 5 are college age. The 18-24 age group has accounted for 8,572 positive tests. Representing 20.1% of cases statewide, that age group leads all others in positive results.
The next closest age group is made up of 24-34 year olds, which has had 7,970 people test positive, or 18.7% of Kansas’ overall positive tests.
Riley County saw the number of cases climb from 436 at the beginning of August to 749 by Monday, an increase of nearly 72%.
During August, the county saw the number of new cases among college age group jump from 25 per 100,000 the week of Aug. 3 to 659.5 per 100,000 last week.
By comparison, the county overall saw the number of new cases jump from 22 per 100,000 the week of Aug. 2 to 226 per 100,000 last week.
Meanwhile, Douglas County went from 681 cases at the beginning of August to 1,277 by Monday, an increase of nearly 88%.
Last Friday, KU reported 474 positive cases from 21,719 tests of faculty, staff, and students for a positive rate of 2.18%. In Greek life, 270 positive results have been reported out of 2,698 tests, a positive rate of 10.01%. All students were required to get tested ahead of the start of classes last week.
During August, the county saw the number of new cases among the college age group jump from 49.5 per 100,000 the week of Aug. 3 to 614.6 per 100,000 the week of Aug. 16. Last week, it decreased to 349.7 per 100,000.
By comparison, the county overall saw the number of new cases jump from 44 per 100,000 the week of Aug. 3 to 183 per 100,000 the week of Aug. 16. Last week, it decreased to 115 per 100,000.
Statewide, the number of new cases for that age group went from 149.2 per 100,000 the week of Aug. 2 to 311.4 per 100,000 for the week beginning Aug. 23.
When it came to the two-week positive test rate, Kansas’ climbed slightly from 7.89% for the week beginning Aug. 2 to 9.02% the week of Aug. 23. That rate for those who are college-aged jumped from 7.97% to 20.61%.
Douglas County saw its positive test rate jump from 3.72% the week of Aug. 2 to 7.31% the week of Aug. 23. That rate among the college-aged went from 3.47% to 10.22% during the same period.
In Riley County, the positive test rate jumped from 3.04% the week of Aug. 2 to 17.67% the week of Aug. 23. That rate among the college-aged rose from 2.35% to 25.51% during that same period.
Last Friday, health officials in Manhattan listed four K-State sororities as the source of new coronavirus outbreaks.
Missouri’s cases escalate
At the beginning of August, Missouri had 51,258 people who had tested positive for COVID-19. The number of cases grew to 84,697, or 65.2% by the end of the month, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Missouri started the month with a 9.8% seven-day positive test rate. On Monday, that rate was 12.6%.
As of Monday, 10,465 people aged 20-24 have tested positive for the disease in Missouri. That’s about 12.4% of all Missourians who had tested positive. Those between the ages of 10-19 and 25-29 years old are the next highest groups at 8,622 and 8,271 respectively.
In Boone County, the number of COVID-19 cases more than doubled from 1,230 on Aug. 1 to 2,614 on Monday. That’s an increase of 112.5%. As of Sunday, college-aged people accounted for 830, or about 32.8% of the county’s positive cases.
From Aug. 1-30, the 20-24 age group accounted for 531, or 40%, of the county’s new cases. The same age group produced 299 positive tests from March 13-July 31.
The county’s positivity rate has jumped from 9.7% at the beginning of the month to 44.6% last week, prompting officials to order bars and restaurants to stop serving alcohol at 9 p.m. and entertainment venues to close at 10 p.m.
Mizzou reported 415 active student cases as of Monday. That’s an increase from Friday, when 306 cases were reported and Aug. 24, when classes started and MU reported 159 cases. On Thursday, the school suspended all in-person activities at Greek chapter houses on and off campus.
This story was originally published August 31, 2020 at 4:46 PM with the headline "COVID-19 spread in Kansas, Missouri college counties outpaced state rates in August."
