The city of Joplin named a new health on Monday at its bi-weekly COVID-19 update. K R P S’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.   

Ryan Talken is Joplin’s new health Director. On Monday, the announcement was made by the Assistant City Manager and former Director of the Joplin Health Department, Dan Pekarek. Talken has spent the last 18 years with the city’s health department serving in various roles, including overseeing the cities’ COVID-19 response. Talken speaking on Monday. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve. Dan’s been a great, great role model; he’s been a great teacher over the years. He’s got some mighty large shoes that are left to fill” As of Monday afternoon, the city has 160 active cases, with 47 patients hospitalized at Joplin area hospitals, 9 of those Joplin residents. Yesterday, the city also reported its 25th COVID-19 related fatality, a 69-year old man who health officials say that the coronavirus was a significant factor in his death.