The Moniteau County Health Center on confirmed Friday evening the county's first death due to coronavirus.
The individual was a resident in their 90s who first tested positive for COVID-19 on April 21. Moniteau County Health Center Administrator Andrea Kincaid said no additional information about the individual would be released.
In a release, the Health Center encouraged residents to take preventive actions to prevent the spread of all respiratory viruses, including avoiding close contact with people who are sick, avoiding touching one's eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands, and washing one's hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
In the release, the Health Center encouraged anyone who believes he or she may have been exposed to COVID-19 and has developed a fever and other symptoms, especially older adults and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions who may be at higher risk for more serious complications, to call a health care provider for medical advice before showing up at a health care facility.
As of Friday evening, the Health Center reports there are seven active cases of COVID-19 in Moniteau County. To date, 46 individuals have recovered from the virus.