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Missouri Continues To Track COVID-19 Spread and Vaccinations

Lindsey Grojean/KRCU

>>>Updated: June 28th, 2022 at 5:13 p.m.


The most recent Missouri COVID-19 information can be found here.

How to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings when around people outside of their household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.  
 
The cloth face coverings recommended in the Order are not surgical masks or respirators. Cloth face coverings should NOT be worn by children under the age of 3 or anyone who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

If any symptoms develop that are consistent with COVID-19, those individuals are asked to self-isolate immediately and contact a primary care physician to determine the need for testing.
 

Vaccine Information

Those who have already received the first Moderna Vaccine, should plan for a 28 day waiting period between the first and second shot, as stated in a recent press release by the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center. 
 
The announcement also mentions that those who are receiving the second shot will be contacted by email or phone for their first appointment and instructed on the scheduling process. 

These locations have provided COVID-19 vaccine wait lists and information: Saint Francis Hospital: sign-up list; Southeast Hospital: sign-up list; Broadway Pharmacy: sign-up list; Butler County Health Department: sign-up list; St. Francois County: information on vaccine.

On Tues. Dec. 15, the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center announced the approval to receive the Moderna COVID vaccine and have placed their order with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). 

In a press release, SoutheastHEALTH Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Matt Janzow, MD, said that the hospital was chosen as a pre-positioning site for the vaccine because of the wide geographic area which Southeast serves, which includes its central location in southeast Missouri and "[their] ongoing commitment to the good health of our community."
 
Janzow commented that "[they were] honored to be a part of this historic development in the fight against COVID-19."
 
Vaccinations for employees began during the week of Dec. 15th. SoutheastHEALTH expects to initially receive 2,925 doses of the Pfizer brand vaccine, which is a two-dose series given 21 days apart.
 
The announcement also stated that four other hospitals in Missouri were also named as pre-positioning sites. Those sites are at Barnes-Jewish in St. Louis, Mercy in Springfield, SSM St. Mary's in Jefferson City and Truman in Kansas City.

The Cape Girardeau County Health Center says it will follow the Missouri Vaccination 3-Phase plan and work with their local partners to vaccinate any Missouri resident who would like to receive the vaccine as quickly as possible. 

Missouri residents can now receive a 3rd dose, or 'booster-shot' of their chosen COVID-19 vaccine if they are 65+ years or older, immune-compromised, or have waited 8 months between their second dose.

More information about the COVID vaccine and the Missouri distribution plan can be found here.

On Friday, August 28th Gov. Parson terminated Executive Order 20-02 ending the State of Emergency that had been in effect since March 13, 2020, announcing the new Executive Order 21-09.

On Dec. 31, 2021 Gov. Parson issued a statement that Missouri's COVID-19 related State of Emergency will expire and not be renewed in the new year.

"Over the last 22 months, we have coordinated with local, state, and private partners to mitigate COVID-19 and work towards returning to normalcy,” said Parson. “We all now know how to best fight and prevent serious illness from this virus. The State stands ready to provide assistance and response, but there is no longer a need for a state of emergency,”

Parson explained Missourians can work together as a collective to reduce the spread with available treatment opportunities.

“We encourage all Missourians to consider COVID-19 vaccination and to stay diligent, but we can work together to fight COVID-19 while living our normal lives. It is time to take this final step and move forward as a state."

Executive Order 21-09, which represents a more targeted State of Emergency declaration that acknowledges the continued needs of Missouri's health care system. While Missouri's economy has improved, the health care system is still experiencing strain due to current staffing shortages being exacerbated by COVID-19.

Executive Order 21-09 invokes the Governor's emergency powers to activate the Missouri National Guard for continued mission support in recovery operations, if needed. The order also keeps in place provisions related to remote notary services and telehealth, and it allows state agencies to request waiver of certain statutory and regulatory requirements that would otherwise hinder the state's response to ongoing COVID-19 challenges.

Credit MO DHSS; Center For Disease Control
CDC COVID-19 Case Definitions

You can read the entire Public Health Warning for the State of Missouri here.

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