As Thanksgiving approaches and COVID is still on many of our minds. The number of patients at one hospital in Joplin remains stable ahead of the holiday season. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

Just over one-year ago on November 19, 2020 the Joplin City passed a mask mandate that was in effect until the end of February this year. At the time, the city’s health department reported 291 active cases. That was months prior to any COVID-19 vaccines being available.

As of Monday, Freeman Health System in Joplin reported a total of 14 COVID patients, seven in the ICU, another seven in the medical COVID step down unit and two on ventilators. Between 80 and 90% of all patients that are seen with COVID at Freeman are unvaccinated. The hospital system is also reporting 6 COVID related deaths since the first of the month. The total number of COVID deaths at Freeman since the pandemic is now at 330. All three doses of COVID vaccines remain widely available in Missouri. To find a free clinic near you, visit vaccine417.com. For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro