Two COVID-19 deaths reported in Missouri, nearly 300 new cases

The state of Missouri recorded two COVID-19 deaths during a 24-hour period and added another 300 cases, according to statistics released Friday afternoon by the Department of Health and Senior Services.

The deaths bring the state's total to 948, while there have been 17,201 coronavirus cases.

Area case totals, according to the state statistics are as follows:

Barton County 15

Jasper County 157 

Joplin 39

McDonald County 132

Newton County 123

Those numbers, in some cases, have already been updated by local health departments.

St. Louis County leads the state with 543 deaths, followed by the City of St. Louis with 148, St. Charles County 69, Kansas City 30, Jackson County 22, Jefferson County 19, Franklin County 18 and Scott County 10.