Missouri reported eight new COVID-19 deaths and 273 more cases on Friday, May 1. The state has now reported 337 deaths and 7,835 total cases since the onset of the pandemic.
The state reported that approximately 82,152 people had been tested as of April 30. With approximately 6.17 million people in the state, 1.3% of the population had been tested. Of those reported tested, 9.5% have tested positive. Of those who tested positive, 4.3% have died.
According to the state, 39% of the deaths and 31% of these positive cases were black people, though blacks form only 11.8% of the state’s population, according to the U.S. Census.
On April 23, the state rolled out its expanded testing strategy in Buchanon County, a county that is 88.5% white and has meat production facilities.