Later this morning officials with Freeman Health System in Joplin will hold their press conference since the announcement of the Omicron coronavirus variant of the coronavirus. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro

Head of Freeman COVID-19 services Dr. Robert McNabb will speak this morning at 11, alongside Freeman President and CEO Paula Baker. Before the Thanksgiving holiday and the announcement of the new variant cases had been stable at Freeman and had been averaging about 15 total COVID cases for about the last month.

To date, the new Omicron coronavirus variant has been detected in at least 12 countries, including Canada. According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Omicron has the molecular characteristics of being highly transmissible. Vaccination continues to be recommended as the best protection against COVID-19. Booster shots are available and suggested to boost the immune system. Monoclonal antibody therapy has also proven to help patients fight COVID-19 and prevent the need for hospitalization. According to the latest data at All Things Missouri.org cases in Joplin are up nearly 33% over the past two weeks. For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro