Cole and Cooper counties will host mass coronavirus vaccination clinics this week and next.
Jefferson City will host a clinic Friday for people who attended the city’s first mass vaccination clinic to get their second doses. The clinic will be held at The Linc.
The Isle of Capri Casino in Boonville will host a clinic March 1 and 2 for people to get their first shots. The Missouri National Guard and State Emergency Management Agency are working with local officials to put on the clinic, the Cooper County Public Health Center said in a news release.
Missouri is vaccinating people in Tiers 1 and 2 of Phase 1B, which include first responders, medical workers, people with certain health problems and those over age 65.
To get an appointment go to Missouri’s coronavirus vaccine navigator website.
Missouri records second-lowest coronavirus case rate over last week
Missouri reported the second-lowest rate of new coronavirus infections over the past week compared to its population, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Missouri reported 8.7 cases per 100,000 people in the last week. The only other state with a lower rate was Hawaii at 2.7. The national average is 19.9 cases per 100,000.
Gov. Mike Parson touted the low numbers Monday in a Twitter thread.
GREAT NEWS: According to @CDCgov, Missouri is 2nd in the U.S. for COVID-19 Average Daily Case Rate in the last seven days.
See the data: https://t.co/yOsNxzUZJY pic.twitter.com/kcK0FldMuf
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) February 22, 2021
“The spread is slowing here in Missouri thanks to our citizens continuing to practice preventative measures. This, combined with the vaccine, is how we will win the COVID-19 battle,” Parson said, echoing statements he has made in his weekly coronavirus briefings in recent weeks.
Cases in Missouri have been on a steady decline since late November, at the height of the state’s fall surge. The seven-day new case average peaked at nearly 5,000 in mid-November, according to CDC data. That number was down to 536 on Saturday.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported 351 new coronavirus cases Monday and no new deaths. The state has now reported 475,348 cases and 7,715 deaths. Over the weekend Missouri passed a milestone of 1 million coronavirus vaccine shots administered, with more than 700,000 Missourians receiving their first dose of vaccine.
State officials have said 3 million Missourians are in the current vaccination tier.
Hospitalizations keep falling, with about 1,200 Missourians hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Thursday, the last day for which reliable data is available.
That number reached more than 2,800 during peaks in November, December and January.
Lake Regional updates visitor policies
Lake Regional Health System has relaxed its visitor restrictions amid a sustained decline in new coronavirus cases.
The company said Monday that patients who are not being treated for COVID-19 will now be allowed two visitors each. All clinic and cancer center patients will be limited to one support person to maintain social distance in waiting rooms, Lake Regional said in a news release.
Masks are still required. A full list of requirements is available on Lake Regional’s website.