Since the announcement of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus last week, countries around the world have imposed travel bans from at least eight African countries. According to a report by Reuters Wednesday, the US government requested the names of passengers who recently flew out of those counties and the WHO confirmed the variant has been detected in at least 24 counties.

At a Wednesday press briefing, the Head of COVID Service at Freeman Health System Dr. Robert McNab reminded the community that doctors are in a much better position today to fight the virus than just one year ago. “We have better treatments. I think we have better availability of specialty care. More ventilators. More reverse isolation rooms. More access to protective equipment. We have a very robust supply of testing and medications.” Prior to the Thanksgiving holiday officials at Freeman reported a total of 15 COIVD-19 patients between their two facilities in Joplin and Neosho. Yesterday they reported the number of patients had risen to 20.