The number of COVID 19 patients at Freeman Health System in Joplin continues to be at a manageable level. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

This time last year Missouri was nearing its 200,000th positive case of COVID-19 according to the state Department of Health and four of the top ten counties for positivity rate of the disease were in Southwest Missouri. On Wednesday, the department recorded over 711,000 total COVID cases but thanks to the wide availability of vaccines Freeman Health System President and CEO Paula Baker says cases levels continue to be manageable. “I’m very happy to report that as of right now we have 13 patients hospitalized for COVID. So those numbers are definitely leveling out. And that’s due in large part to all the positive measures that you’re taking. Getting the vaccine, getting the booster.”

At Freeman’s previous COVID-19 briefing two weeks ago, Baker announced the hospital system had 15 COVID patients. Joplin continues to lead Missouri in the percentage of residents receiving their first and second COVID vaccines. For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro.