As the 4th of July approaches, the number of Covid 19 cases continues to increase in Joplin. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

A year ago, the Joplin Health Department reported 52 cases of Covid-19. Today that number has nearly doubled to 101 as of Monday afternoon. According to the Covid-19 dashboard at All Things Missouri dot org, the city has experienced an over 62% increase in the number of new cases in the past two-weeks. Last week, Freeman hospital in Joplin reopened their Covid-19 ICU ward due to the increase of patients.

And Monday, patients at Mercy hospitals in Joplin and Springfield can now only have 1 visitor per day, from 8 am until 6 pm. Experts believe the region’s low vaccination rate and presence of COVID-19 variants are to blame for this recent increase. According to the hospitals, the policy will be in effect for the foreseeable future. Vaccines are available at Mercy Joplin for everyone age 12 and up. Appointments can be scheduled at Mercy dot net, and walk-ins are available Wednesdays and Fridays.