Columbia announces new order on crowd sizes, bar closing times

With just over 300 University of Missouri students infected with the coronavirus and cases spiking in the surrounding community, Columbia’s city health director has announced a new order that limits crowd sizes and requires bars to close early.

Stephanie Browning, Health Director for Columbia/Boone County, cited a county test positivity rate of just over 44% last week.

That compares with a rate of about 11% before students returned to the University of Missouri for the fall semester.

Effective Friday, public gatherings must be limited to no more than 20 people, with some exceptions.

Bars and restaurants in Columbia must cut off alcohol sales at 9 p.m. and close no later than 10 p.m.