The Biden administration has taken the first steps in the regulatory process to eliminate the domestic gag rule, which forced more than 900 reproductive-health clinics nationwide to leave the Title X family-planning program and lose major amounts of funding. Rachel Fey, vice president for policy and strategic partnerships at the contraceptive-access advocacy group Power to Decide, said the […]
Tag: disease control
Missouri spending bill would offer money for mortgage help, utility bills
(Missouri Independent) – Help may be coming for Missouri homeowners behind on their mortgage payments because of COVID-19 income losses. The Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday added $150 million in federal mortgage assistance funds to the supplemental spending bill for the current fiscal year, one of several new sections using money from pandemic relief bills passed by Congress […]
Trenton R-9 School District announces mask mandate has been rescinded
The Superintendent of Trenton R-9 School District, Michael Stegman, announced that effective today, April 16, 2021, Trenton R-IX Schools has rescinded the mask mandate used during the COVID-19 outbreak. Masks are now optional, and social distancing is still encouraged at school, events, and gatherings. School officials are asking staff and students to stay meticulous in fighting COVID-19. […]
Pause for Johnson & Johnson vaccine extended at least a week as federal health panel wrestles with next steps
(Missouri Independent) – Use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 shot will remain paused for at least a week after a federal vaccine advisory panel said Wednesday that it had too little data on a rare but serious blood-clotting condition reported in at least six women. That means states and federally run vaccine sites will […]
Area COVID-19 clinics likely to see vaccine supplies “tighten up” due to pause in Johnson & Johnson vaccine
A pause in the administration of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will affect area vaccinations. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a joint statement recommending the pause out of caution after six cases of reported blood clots in female patients. Grundy County Health Department Administrator Elizabeth […]
Missouri veterans homes open for new admissions
The Missouri Veterans Commission announces all seven Veteran Homes are taking applications for new admissions. The homes are located in Cameron, Cape Girardeau, Mexico, Mount Vernon, St. James, St. Louis, and Warrensburg. At full capacity, the homes have a total of 1,238 beds that provide long-term skilled nursing care. “We are excited to be taking […]
Missouri residents asked to mail ticks to university for new study on distribution of tick species
Most people who have ventured through Missouri woods, fields, yards, and other outdoor environments have encountered ticks. These small, creepy crawlers climb on and cling to clothes and skin in search of a blood meal. Some tick species and the bacterial pathogens they carry can also cause illnesses in people. The Missouri Department of Conservation […]
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports state’s first confirmed case of South African variant
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is reporting the first identification in a Missouri resident of the COVID-19 variant, B.1.351, which was first identified in South Africa in December 2020 and began being reported in the United States in late January. The B.1.351 variant was identified in a sample from an adult living […]
Teen vaping on the rise in Chillicothe, even found among fourth-grade school students
Chillicothe Police School Resource Officer Eric Menconi says he has talked with law enforcement officers, school officials, and health professionals about everyday issues children face. About 70% of the conversations occurred because of incidents in which a student was found using alcohol, tobacco products, or other illicit drugs. He notes the most common problem is […]
Mask declaration order in Chillicothe set to expire
Based upon The Livingston County Health Center’s calculation of positivity rate and other risk criteria, authorities in Chillicothe feel it is safe to end the mask declaration. According to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, face masks or face coverings are still strongly recommended in public places where social distancing cannot be maintained to […]
Grundy County Health Department reminds residents that COVID-19 vaccinations for Phase 1B Tier 3 opens March 15
The Grundy County Health Department reports no new COVID-19 cases since its March 8th report, keeping the total at 1,057. Active cases dropped by one to one. Eight hundred 16 have been confirmed, and 241 are probable. Forty COVID-19-related deaths have been reported for Grundy County. The health department reports the Department of Health and […]
Missouri adds county-level antigen test data to online public health dashboard
On its online public health dashboard, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) began posting county-level data showing “probable” COVID-19 cases detected by antigen testing. Last fall, DHSS began reporting statewide numbers of reported negative and positive antigen tests. DHSS will follow the guidance of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) […]
Missouri sees decline in number of COVID-19 cases in last seven day period
On Sunday morning, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported an additional 291 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state, which is less than the daily average of 327 new cases in the seven-day period ending on Thursday. There have been 8,161 deaths in Missouri attributed to COVID-19, including 18 in the seven-day period […]
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issues order for Janssen COVID-19 vaccine administration
Dr. Randall Williams, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services signed the standing order for Janssen Biotech, Inc. COVID-19 vaccine administration after a review of preliminary recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “We are incredibly appreciative to be receiving additional vaccines in Missouri, and we remain committed […]
Governor Parson announces timeline for activation of Phase 1B -Tier 3 of COVID-19 vaccine plan
Governor Mike Parson announced that Phase 1B – Tier 3 of the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Plan will be activated on Monday, March 15, 2021. “Missouri has had a vaccine plan since October, and this has not changed. We have been very disciplined in following our plan,” Governor Parson said. “With vaccine supply steadily increasing, we […]
Putnam County Health Department reports 15 new cases of COVID-19
The Putnam County Health Department reports 15 additional cases of COVID-19 since its last update on February 5th, which brings the total to 479. One person is being actively monitored by public health. Thirteen individuals have died from complications associated with COVID-19. The Putnam County Health Department reports it will not receive vaccine this week […]
COVID-19 mass vaccination events for February 15 – 19th canceled due to weather
Just one day after announcing locations for this week’s mass COVID vaccination event, Governor Mike Parson announced that all COVID-19 mass vaccination events in partnership with the Missouri National Guard, Department of Health and Senior Services, and State Emergency Management Agency scheduled for February 15-19, 2021, are being canceled in the interest of safety due […]
Grundy County Health Department extends mask mandate for an additional 60 days
The Grundy County Health Department and Health Officer Elizabeth Gibson have extended the public health order requiring masks for 60 days beginning February 12th. The order originally went into effect on December 11th to limit or prevent the spread of COVID-19. The order says persons at least 10 years old in Grundy County are required […]
Federal Retail Pharmacy Program to begin vaccinations in Missouri on Friday
Following the recent White House announcement regarding the launch of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 vaccine administration, Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services has learned that federal partners have selected 102 retail pharmacies to join Missouri in the effort to efficiently make vaccine available to any eligible Missourian. “We welcome the opportunity […]