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A William Woods University student has tested presumptive positive for COVID-19, university officials announced Friday.
The individual, who is an undergraduate student, underwent drive-thru testing at University of Missouri Health Care in Columbia and is currently in isolation.
Officials declined to to give further information about the student.
The William Woods campus in Fulton is officially closed - though about 300 students were still on campus Friday. On recommendations from the state and county health departments, William Woods has decided that it is not necessary to screen all students before they leave campus. Any student who has not had direct contact with someone who has tested positive and is not experiencing symptoms is free to go home.
"Before they depart, we want to ensure, again to the greatest extent possible, that our students do not leave campus, go home to their hometowns and potentially infect family members or other acquaintances when they do leave," WWU spokesperson John Fougere said.
The university is currently working on alternate accommodations for anyone who cannot go home, such as international students.
Officials are working to identify everyone the student has had contact with while contagious - upon identification individuals are moving into quarantine.
In response to the development, Callaway County and every incorporated city in the county has issued state of emergency declarations, a move that will allow access to state and federal funding as communities address COVID-19.
"We feel like we are well prepared to deal with such a pandemic," Callaway County Presiding Commissioner Gary Jungermann said at a news conference Friday afternoon.
At the news conference, Kent Wood of the Callaway County Health Department urged people to take several precautions:
Wash your often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth and face with unwashed hands.
Stay home if you are sick.
Cough or sneeze into your elbow.
Clean and disinfect surfaces frequently.
Anyone who suspects they have the disease should call the Missouri COVID-19 24-hour hotline at 1-877-435-8411. Before seeking medical attention, alert the health care facility you plan to visit so preparations can be made to protect health care workers and other patients.
Jungermann asked people to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people - a recommendation that has also been made by the federal government.
"We have planned and have exercised pandemic exercises for years," Wood said. "This is not anything new - we're not reinventing the wheel, but we're actually putting it to use now."
As of 9:05 a.m. Friday, there were 47 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Missouri, including one death in Boone County.
The uncertain situation situation caused by COVID-19 has caused a series of rapid changes to the Fulton university's plans - only Thursday university officials asked students to begin making arrangements to leave campus housing. Classes went online-only a week ago, but students were allowed to remain in dorms.
"Obviously this instance of a presumptive positive test changed things and expedited that process," Fougere said.
Earlier this week, Fulton Public Schools, the New Bloomfield R-3 School District, North Callaway R-1 School District and South Callaway R-2 School District all announced temporary closures.
This article was updated at 2:40 p.m. March 20, 2020, with additional information.