Encouraging news regarding COVID-19 in Southwest Missouri from Joplin Health Director Ryan Talken at Monday night’s city council meeting. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

Talken called Covid numbers in the city relatively flat. Two weeks ago at the previous city council meeting, Talken reported 50 active cases in the city, Monday he reported 49. A week over week decrease of roughly 13%, in addition, Talken reported 23 total hospitalizations due to Covid, that’s a reduction of 6 from two weeks ago.

Talken says that even though cases are headed in the right direction he doesn’t expect them to reach zero in the near future. “I think it’s pretty safe to say that we probably won’t see Covid cases go down to a zero level anytime soon. We’re probably going to have some, some background level of cases.” Joplin continues to lead Missouri in the percentage of residents receiving a first dose and completing their first two Covid inoculations. For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro