Doniphan County health officials are seeing a recent spike in the number of positive COVID-19 cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Doniphan County reports 56 active cases.&nbsp;

County Health Director Sheryl Pierce says that the spike has been about the same on a week-to- week basis, but she also reminds everyone, those numbers are fluid as well, with people coming out of isolation from testing positive.&nbsp;

"We continue to spike with our numbers with COVID positives, each day, I know over the weekend we probably worked up 10 to 12 over the weekend, everyday we're probably getting that&nbsp;amount&nbsp;of positives," Pierce tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "What you need to understand is, with those numbers we have people coming off of isolation everyday also."&nbsp;

Pierce says with the new five and five rule recommended by the CDC, which is five days in isolation and five days of masking up, the&nbsp;departments&nbsp;goal is to keep people educated about what they should be doing.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"With the new five and five CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, where it's the five days of isolation and then five days of masking up, we just really want to educate the public that you're still infectious for 10 days," Pierce says.&nbsp;

Pierce says they are only releasing people on the sixth day if they are symptom free and have no fever without the help of fever reducers, such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen.&nbsp;

Pierce says as the county sees this spike, the health departments message is the same as it has been for months now.&nbsp;

"Same old thing," Pierce says. "Get vaccinated, get what we're calling fully vaccinated, whatever status you are on your vaccination series, make sure you're keeping it current, like if you need that booster and it's been six months since your Moderna or Pfizer, then get the booster, and actually with Pfizer now it's five months."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pierce says there have been no issues with&nbsp;distributing&nbsp;the vaccine as the health department continues hosting vaccine clinics every Wednesday, and also says as more individual doses become available the health department will explore giving the shot other days of the week.&nbsp;

By MATT PIKE&nbsp;St. Joseph Post&nbsp;Doniphan County health officials are seeing a recent spike in the number of positive COVID-19 cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;Doniphan County reports 56 active cases.&nbsp;County Health Director Sheryl Pierce says that the spike has been about the same on a week-to- week basis, but she also reminds everyone, those numbers are fluid as well, with people coming out of isolation from testing positive.&nbsp;"We continue to spike with our numbers with COVID positives, each day, I know over the weekend we probably worked up 10 to 12 over the weekend, everyday we're probably getting that&nbsp;amount&nbsp;of positives," Pierce tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "What you need to understand is, with those numbers we have people coming off of isolation everyday also."&nbsp;Pierce says with the new five and five rule recommended by the CDC, which is five days in isolation and five days of masking up, the&nbsp;departments&nbsp;goal is to keep people educated about what they should be doing.&nbsp;&nbsp;"With the new five and five CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, where it's the five days of isolation and then five days of masking up, we just really want to educate the public that you're still infectious for 10 days," Pierce says.&nbsp;Pierce says they are only releasing people on the sixth day if they are symptom free and have no fever without the help of fever reducers, such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen.&nbsp;Pierce says as the county sees this spike, the health departments message is the same as it has been for months now.&nbsp;"Same old thing," Pierce says. "Get vaccinated, get what we're calling fully vaccinated, whatever status you are on your vaccination series, make sure you're keeping it current, like if you need that booster and it's been six months since your Moderna or Pfizer, then get the booster, and actually with Pfizer now it's five months."&nbsp;&nbsp;Pierce says there have been no issues with&nbsp;distributing&nbsp;the vaccine as the health department continues hosting vaccine clinics every Wednesday, and also says as more individual doses become available the health department will explore giving the shot other days of the week.&nbsp;

Doniphan County COVID numbers spiking; Health officials urging people to get vaccinated

St. Joseph Health officials report 448 new cases of COVID-19 in Buchanan County in the latest report as well as two new deaths. 

There were 80 new cases reported on Tuesday, 204 on Wednesday and 164 Thursday. The department reports the death of a woman in her 70's and a man in his 90's.

Mosaic Life Care reports it is treating 70 COVID-19 patients system wide with 65 in St. Joseph and five in Maryville

St. Joseph Health officials report 448 new cases of COVID-19 in Buchanan County in the latest report as well as two new deaths. There were 80 new cases reported on Tuesday, 204 on Wednesday and 164 Thursday. The department reports the death of a woman in her 70's and a man in his 90's.Mosaic Life Care reports it is treating 70 COVID-19 patients system wide with 65 in St. Joseph and five in Maryville

COVID-19 cases continue to rise locally; Mosaic reports 70 hospitalizations system-wide

We have seen a rise in COVID-19 cases locally along with an
increase in the positivity rate.

The St. Joseph Health Department reports 259 new coronavirus cases
since issuing its last report on Thursday. The Buchanan County positivity rate
has increased near three percent to just under 14%.

Northwest Missouri remains a COVID hotspot.

Mosaic Life Care reports it is treating 62 total COVID-19
patients in its system; 57 in St. Joseph and five in Maryville.

Andrew County reports 100 active COVID-19 cases.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostWe have seen a rise in COVID-19 cases locally along with an
increase in the positivity rate.The St. Joseph Health Department reports 259 new coronavirus cases
since issuing its last report on Thursday. The Buchanan County positivity rate
has increased near three percent to just under 14%.Northwest Missouri remains a COVID hotspot.Mosaic Life Care reports it is treating 62 total COVID-19
patients in its system; 57 in St. Joseph and five in Maryville.Andrew County reports 100 active COVID-19 cases.

Rise in COVID-19 cases locally; increase in Buchanan County positivity rate

Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating 62 COVID-19 patients in its system.

Mosaic
reports that as of Monday morning it is treating 57 COVID patients at the St.
Joseph hospital with five being treated in Maryville.

The
St. Joseph Health Department reported 269 new coronavirus cases on Thursday,
the last official report issued prior to the New Year’s Day holiday weekend.
The department also reported the death of a man in his 80s. The department
recorded 78 new cases on Tuesday, 91 on Wednesday, and 100 on Thursday.

Andrew
County reports 65 active COVID-19 cases. Doniphan County reports 50 active
cases.

Buchanan
County has recorded 18,137 total COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began,
resulting in a total of 239 deaths. Slightly more than 34,000 county residents
have had their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, 39% of the county
population.

Andrew
County has recorded 3,713 total COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began and 45
deaths from the virus. Doniphan County reports a total of 1,720 cases and 29
deaths.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMosaic
Life Care reports it is treating 62 COVID-19 patients in its system.Mosaic
reports that as of Monday morning it is treating 57 COVID patients at the St.
Joseph hospital with five being treated in Maryville.The
St. Joseph Health Department reported 269 new coronavirus cases on Thursday,
the last official report issued prior to the New Year’s Day holiday weekend.
The department also reported the death of a man in his 80s. The department
recorded 78 new cases on Tuesday, 91 on Wednesday, and 100 on Thursday.Andrew
County reports 65 active COVID-19 cases. Doniphan County reports 50 active
cases.Buchanan
County has recorded 18,137 total COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began,
resulting in a total of 239 deaths. Slightly more than 34,000 county residents
have had their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, 39% of the county
population.Andrew
County has recorded 3,713 total COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began and 45
deaths from the virus. Doniphan County reports a total of 1,720 cases and 29
deaths.

Mosaic Life Care reports 62 COVID-19 patients system-wide

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas was much larger to end 2021 than on New Year's Day a year ago.

On January 1, 2021, the Kansas Department of Health reported an increase of 5,312 cases of COVID to a total of 227,745 statewide. Coronavirus deaths were reported at 2,879 an increase of 138.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

This year, due to the holiday, the KDHE released no new numbers on New Year's Eve Friday. On Wednesday, the state reported an increase of 7,083 COVID cases for a total of 519,544. The state reported 37 additional COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday for a total of 7,001 since the beginning of the pandemic.

As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection&nbsp;(e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;

Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas was much larger to end 2021 than on New Year's Day a year ago.On January 1, 2021, the Kansas Department of Health reported an increase of 5,312 cases of COVID to a total of 227,745 statewide. Coronavirus deaths were reported at 2,879 an increase of 138.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609526207240.png" alt="Friday Jan. 1, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday Jan. 1, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.This year, due to the holiday, the KDHE released no new numbers on New Year's Eve Friday. On Wednesday, the state reported an increase of 7,083 COVID cases for a total of 519,544. The state reported 37 additional COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday for a total of 7,001 since the beginning of the pandemic.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640805043111.png" alt="Wednesday Dec. 29, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Dec. 29, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection&nbsp;(e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

KDHE: Comparing COVID numbers from New Year's Day 2021

St. Joseph Health officials
report 212 more COVID-19 cases in Buchanan County since last issuing an
official report.

The St. Joseph Health
Department last reported numbers on Wednesday, prior to the Christmas break. The
current report doesn’t break down cases by each day. It does report northwest
Missouri continues to be considered a COVID-19 Hotspot.

The positivity rate in
Buchanan County has dropped slightly to 10.57%.

Mosaic Life Care is treating
78 COVID patients system wide - 71 in St. Joseph, four in Maryville, and three in
Albany.

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph Health officials
report 212 more COVID-19 cases in Buchanan County since last issuing an
official report.The St. Joseph Health
Department last reported numbers on Wednesday, prior to the Christmas break. The
current report doesn’t break down cases by each day. It does report northwest
Missouri continues to be considered a COVID-19 Hotspot.The positivity rate in
Buchanan County has dropped slightly to 10.57%.Mosaic Life Care is treating
78 COVID patients system wide - 71 in St. Joseph, four in Maryville, and three in
Albany.

200+ new cases of COVID-19 in St. Joseph since prior to Christmas

Northwest
Missouri continues to be reported as a hot spot for COVID-19, according to
statistics released by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The
St. Joseph Health Department reports 139 new coronavirus cases since Monday
with one death, a woman in her 80s. Buchanan County has recorded 238 deaths
since the pandemic began.

The
department issued a report early. It will be closed both today and
tomorrow in observance of the Christmas holiday.

St.
Joseph health officials report 60 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday and 79 on
Wednesday. The Buchanan County coronavirus positivity rate remains at 10.9%.
Slightly more than 39,000 Buchanan County residents have received at least one
shot of the coronavirus vaccine or 39% of the population.

Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating 66 COVID-19 patients in its system; 59 in St.
Joseph, five in Maryville, and two in Albany.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostNorthwest
Missouri continues to be reported as a hot spot for COVID-19, according to
statistics released by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.The
St. Joseph Health Department reports 139 new coronavirus cases since Monday
with one death, a woman in her 80s. Buchanan County has recorded 238 deaths
since the pandemic began.The
department issued a report early. It will be closed both today and
tomorrow in observance of the Christmas holiday.St.
Joseph health officials report 60 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday and 79 on
Wednesday. The Buchanan County coronavirus positivity rate remains at 10.9%.
Slightly more than 39,000 Buchanan County residents have received at least one
shot of the coronavirus vaccine or 39% of the population.Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating 66 COVID-19 patients in its system; 59 in St.
Joseph, five in Maryville, and two in Albany.

St. Joseph reports 139 new COVID cases; NW MO remains a hot spot

Mosaic Life Care reports the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is
present in this area.

It isn’t known yet how widespread this latest variant is.

Mosaic Chief Medical Officer Dr. Davin Turner says the state
discovered traces of the Omicron variant in wastewater samples earlier this
month. Turner says much isn’t known about the Omicron variant, except that it
is easily transmissible.

“However, the severity of illness may not be as great as it is
with Delta,” Turner tells reporters during a news briefing at the St. Joseph
hospital. “However, any one of these variants of COVID, certainly those that
are immunocompromised or at extreme of age, these are very deadly viruses and
that’s what we continue to see.”

Turner says while information about Omicron is limited, one
thing is known for sure.

“One, it’s very transmissible. That we know. It doubles its
penetration every two to three days is what’s being reported,” Turner says. “I
think that’s good data. How ill the patients become is really the biggest
unknown.”

Turner says Mosaic has made a request to the state to send
samples to determine if patients have become infected with the Omicron variant.
At present, the information received comes from the Missouri Department of
Health and Senior Services. The department has been working with the Missouri
Department of Natural Resources and the University of Missouri – Columbia to
test wastewater in Missouri cities. Samples collected on December 8th
from the St. Joseph wastewater treatment plan discovered 2% of the COVID-19
viral strands identified as having mutations associated with Omicron.

Coronavirus vaccinations, especially
the booster available to those who received the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, seem
to be effective against this latest strain says Turner. 

Mosaic had about 320 area residents show
up for its vaccine clinic held at East Hills mall on Monday. Most came for a
booster shot, some came for their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna, with a few
coming for their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Mosaic does report that as of Wednesday it is treating 66
COVID-19 patients in its system; 59 in St. Joseph, five in Maryville, and two
in Albany. Another 16 coronavirus patients have been hospitalized for more than
21 days.

In the midst of battling in the coronavirus pandemic, Mosaic does
report a rise in cases of flu. Turner reports flu cases have been rising in
this region.

“So, it’s very important that everyone take precautions
against the flu,” Turner says. “We had 87 positive cases last week. A few weeks
ago, we were at eight. We went up into the 20s. Now we’re in the 80s. So, flu
is going to be very prominent. Right now, it’s predominantly Influenza A.”

Turner says the widespread use of masks a year ago kept flu
cases in check.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640204415380.jpeg" alt="Mosaic Life Care Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Davin Turner, answers questions during a news conference in St. Joseph/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Mosaic Life Care Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Davin Turner, answers questions during a news conference in St. Joseph/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMosaic Life Care reports the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is
present in this area.It isn’t known yet how widespread this latest variant is.Mosaic Chief Medical Officer Dr. Davin Turner says the state
discovered traces of the Omicron variant in wastewater samples earlier this
month. Turner says much isn’t known about the Omicron variant, except that it
is easily transmissible.“However, the severity of illness may not be as great as it is
with Delta,” Turner tells reporters during a news briefing at the St. Joseph
hospital. “However, any one of these variants of COVID, certainly those that
are immunocompromised or at extreme of age, these are very deadly viruses and
that’s what we continue to see.”Turner says while information about Omicron is limited, one
thing is known for sure.“One, it’s very transmissible. That we know. It doubles its
penetration every two to three days is what’s being reported,” Turner says. “I
think that’s good data. How ill the patients become is really the biggest
unknown.”Turner says Mosaic has made a request to the state to send
samples to determine if patients have become infected with the Omicron variant.
At present, the information received comes from the Missouri Department of
Health and Senior Services. The department has been working with the Missouri
Department of Natural Resources and the University of Missouri – Columbia to
test wastewater in Missouri cities. Samples collected on December 8th
from the St. Joseph wastewater treatment plan discovered 2% of the COVID-19
viral strands identified as having mutations associated with Omicron.Coronavirus vaccinations, especially
the booster available to those who received the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, seem
to be effective against this latest strain says Turner. Mosaic had about 320 area residents show
up for its vaccine clinic held at East Hills mall on Monday. Most came for a
booster shot, some came for their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna, with a few
coming for their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.Mosaic does report that as of Wednesday it is treating 66
COVID-19 patients in its system; 59 in St. Joseph, five in Maryville, and two
in Albany. Another 16 coronavirus patients have been hospitalized for more than
21 days.In the midst of battling in the coronavirus pandemic, Mosaic does
report a rise in cases of flu. Turner reports flu cases have been rising in
this region.“So, it’s very important that everyone take precautions
against the flu,” Turner says. “We had 87 positive cases last week. A few weeks
ago, we were at eight. We went up into the 20s. Now we’re in the 80s. So, flu
is going to be very prominent. Right now, it’s predominantly Influenza A.”Turner says the widespread use of masks a year ago kept flu
cases in check.

Mosaic reports Omicron variant has arrived here

St. Joseph health officials report four new COVID-19 related deaths in Buchanan County just since Monday. The deaths were a man in his 30s and three women - one in her 60s, one in her 80s and one in her 90s.

That brings the Buchanan County virus death toll up to 234 since the pandemic began.

In addition, another 202 cases were reported in the county just since Monday - 74 on Tuesday, 76 on Wednesday and 52 Thursday. Mosaic Life Care has also seen an uptick in COVID hospitalizations.

Mosaic is treating 75 COVID patients - 66 in St. Joseph, six in Maryville and three in Albany.

The St. Joseph Health Department has reported 1030 cases in Buchanan County so far in December - that exceeds the 1004 cases reported in the entire month of November.

Elsewhere, Atchison County, Missouri's 47 percent positivity rate over the last seven days ranks No. 1 among all counties in the state. Holt County's 35 percent positivity rate over the last week is third highest. 

Gentry County has a new-case rate of 578 per 100,000 people over the last week. That rate is the highest in the state currently.

By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph health officials report four new COVID-19 related deaths in Buchanan County just since Monday. The deaths were a man in his 30s and three women - one in her 60s, one in her 80s and one in her 90s.That brings the Buchanan County virus death toll up to 234 since the pandemic began.In addition, another 202 cases were reported in the county just since Monday - 74 on Tuesday, 76 on Wednesday and 52 Thursday. Mosaic Life Care has also seen an uptick in COVID hospitalizations.Mosaic is treating 75 COVID patients - 66 in St. Joseph, six in Maryville and three in Albany.The St. Joseph Health Department has reported 1030 cases in Buchanan County so far in December - that exceeds the 1004 cases reported in the entire month of November.Elsewhere, Atchison County, Missouri's 47 percent positivity rate over the last seven days ranks No. 1 among all counties in the state. Holt County's 35 percent positivity rate over the last week is third highest. Gentry County has a new-case rate of 578 per 100,000 people over the last week. That rate is the highest in the state currently.

St. Joseph Health Department reports four COVID-related deaths since Monday

St.
Joseph health officials report 213 new COVID-19 cases since last issuing a
report on Thursday, with one additional coronavirus-related death.

The
St. Joseph Health Department reports a man in his 70’s died from COVID-19.

The
Buchanan County coronavirus positivity rate has fallen, down 1.52% to 13.03%.

The
department reports 73 new cases on Friday and 140 cumulatively from Saturday
through Monday. Those numbers push the total cases in Buchanan County since the
pandemic began above 17,000; now at 17,138. Buchanan County has also
recorded a total of 230 deaths.

Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating a total of 79 COVID-19 patients as of Tuesday morning; 68 in St.
Joseph, seven in Maryville, and four in Albany.

Mosaic will be providing COVID-19 vaccinations at the Community Vaccine Site (the former Gordman's) Monday between 8 a.m. and noon, both the
initial COVID-19 vaccination or the booster for Pfizer and Moderna. You can sign up at
<a href="https://www.mymlc.com/vaccine">mymlc.com/vaccine</a>.

This article has been updated with Mosaic Tuesday morning numbers.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt.
Joseph health officials report 213 new COVID-19 cases since last issuing a
report on Thursday, with one additional coronavirus-related death.The
St. Joseph Health Department reports a man in his 70’s died from COVID-19.The
Buchanan County coronavirus positivity rate has fallen, down 1.52% to 13.03%.The
department reports 73 new cases on Friday and 140 cumulatively from Saturday
through Monday. Those numbers push the total cases in Buchanan County since the
pandemic began above 17,000; now at 17,138. Buchanan County has also
recorded a total of 230 deaths.Hospitalizations have jumped.Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating a total of 79 COVID-19 patients as of Tuesday morning; 68 in St.
Joseph, seven in Maryville, and four in Albany.Mosaic will be providing COVID-19 vaccinations at the Community Vaccine Site (the former Gordman's) Monday between 8 a.m. and noon, both the
initial COVID-19 vaccination or the booster for Pfizer and Moderna. You can sign up at
<a href="https://www.mymlc.com/vaccine">mymlc.com/vaccine</a>.This article has been updated with Mosaic Tuesday morning numbers.

Total Buchanan County COVID-19 cases top 17,000 since pandemic began

St.
Joseph health officials report an additional coronavirus-related death as well
as 231 new COVID-19 cases since last issuing an official report on Monday.

The
St. Joseph Health Department says a woman in her 90’s died of COVID-19, raising
the Buchanan County death toll since the pandemic began to 229.

The
health department reports 79 new cases on Tuesday, 82 on Wednesday, and 70 on
Thursday.

The
Buchanan County positivity rate is 14.55%.

Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating 57 COVID-19 patients in its system; 48 in St.
Joseph, seven in Maryville, and two in Albany.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt.
Joseph health officials report an additional coronavirus-related death as well
as 231 new COVID-19 cases since last issuing an official report on Monday.The
St. Joseph Health Department says a woman in her 90’s died of COVID-19, raising
the Buchanan County death toll since the pandemic began to 229.The
health department reports 79 new cases on Tuesday, 82 on Wednesday, and 70 on
Thursday.The
Buchanan County positivity rate is 14.55%.Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating 57 COVID-19 patients in its system; 48 in St.
Joseph, seven in Maryville, and two in Albany.

St. Joseph records 231 new COVID-19 cases, one additional death

As winter weather settles in and flu season approaches, St. Joseph health officials are closely watching for the potential of more flu cases than last year, as well as the possible arrival of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

St. Joseph Health Department spokesperson Stephanie Malita says the number of flu cases locally, so far, aren't jumping off the page, but the peak of flu season typically won't happen until February or March.

"So, getting that flu vaccine now is going to help protect you from flu during the holiday season," Malita said.

Flu activity during the 2020-21 season was very low nationwide, likely due to COVID-19 prevention measures. In the first eight weeks of surveillance for this flu season, however, Missouri has reported 853 positive influenza cases already.

There were only 1,795 total flu cases reported in Missouri last season.

"We feel like last year, the flu cases were so non-existent, because so many people wore masks," says Debra Bradley, director of the St. Joseph Health Department. "They socially distanced, they stayed home, they washed their hands. So, if people would continue to do that, then that would also have a positive impact on the number of flu cases."

Area health officials are also preparing for the arrival of the new COVID-19 Omicron variant, which was confirmed in the St. Louis area in the first week of December - the first known case in Missouri.

At least 19 states and 50 countries have reported Omicron so far. While it hasn't been discovered in northwest Missouri yet, Bradley says they're watching for it carefully.

"It really is still too early to make any big decisions based on it," Bradley noted. "But, it's looking like the Omicron variant is a little bit more contagious."

Early indications from South Africa suggest the severity of Omicron may not be as bad, as hospitalizations there have not risen dramatically. However, the local area continues to deal with rising cases of the Delta variant.

From Dec. 2-6, the St. Joseph Health Department reported 253 new COVID-19 cases in Buchanan County. The positivity rate in the county jumped 4.73 percentage points since last week. The positivity rate now stands at 14.55%.

In total, COVID cases in Buchanan County from October to November increased by 252%. The 515 cases reported through the first week of December is over half of the 1,004 cases reported in all of November.

Mosaic Life Care has also reported a sizable increase in COVID hospitalizations. As of Wednesday, Mosaic is treating 50 COVID patients in its system - 45 in St. Joseph, three in Maryville and two in Albany.

"It's probably going to continue to go up over the next few weeks," Bradley said of the local COVID numbers, "because of the continued holidays. We have a lot of holidays in December, and people are just gathering together."

Malita says whether it's COVID, the flu, or some other respiratory illness where the symptoms can overlap, the prevention measures remain the same.

"Washing hands is always key," she said. "Maintaining that physical distance, especially when you're out in public around those you don't typically spend time with. Wear a mask. If you're not feeling well, stay home."

Bradley emphasizes the best defense against the flu and COVID-19 is vaccination. Flu vaccines are available for those as young as six months. 

The first doses of the COVID vaccines are available for anyone older than five, and the booster shots for those 18 and older who have been vaccinated against COVID for at least six months.

"We just want people to have a safe and happy holiday," Bradley said, "and the best way to do that would be to get vaccinated."

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostAs winter weather settles in and flu season approaches, St. Joseph health officials are closely watching for the potential of more flu cases than last year, as well as the possible arrival of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.St. Joseph Health Department spokesperson Stephanie Malita says the number of flu cases locally, so far, aren't jumping off the page, but the peak of flu season typically won't happen until February or March."So, getting that flu vaccine now is going to help protect you from flu during the holiday season," Malita said.Flu activity during the 2020-21 season was very low nationwide, likely due to COVID-19 prevention measures. In the first eight weeks of surveillance for this flu season, however, Missouri has reported 853 positive influenza cases already.There were only 1,795 total flu cases reported in Missouri last season."We feel like last year, the flu cases were so non-existent, because so many people wore masks," says Debra Bradley, director of the St. Joseph Health Department. "They socially distanced, they stayed home, they washed their hands. So, if people would continue to do that, then that would also have a positive impact on the number of flu cases."Area health officials are also preparing for the arrival of the new COVID-19 Omicron variant, which was confirmed in the St. Louis area in the first week of December - the first known case in Missouri.At least 19 states and 50 countries have reported Omicron so far. While it hasn't been discovered in northwest Missouri yet, Bradley says they're watching for it carefully."It really is still too early to make any big decisions based on it," Bradley noted. "But, it's looking like the Omicron variant is a little bit more contagious."Early indications from South Africa suggest the severity of Omicron may not be as bad, as hospitalizations there have not risen dramatically. However, the local area continues to deal with rising cases of the Delta variant.From Dec. 2-6, the St. Joseph Health Department reported 253 new COVID-19 cases in Buchanan County. The positivity rate in the county jumped 4.73 percentage points since last week. The positivity rate now stands at 14.55%.In total, COVID cases in Buchanan County from October to November increased by 252%. The 515 cases reported through the first week of December is over half of the 1,004 cases reported in all of November.Mosaic Life Care has also reported a sizable increase in COVID hospitalizations. As of Wednesday, Mosaic is treating 50 COVID patients in its system - 45 in St. Joseph, three in Maryville and two in Albany."It's probably going to continue to go up over the next few weeks," Bradley said of the local COVID numbers, "because of the continued holidays. We have a lot of holidays in December, and people are just gathering together."Malita says whether it's COVID, the flu, or some other respiratory illness where the symptoms can overlap, the prevention measures remain the same."Washing hands is always key," she said. "Maintaining that physical distance, especially when you're out in public around those you don't typically spend time with. Wear a mask. If you're not feeling well, stay home."Bradley emphasizes the best defense against the flu and COVID-19 is vaccination. Flu vaccines are available for those as young as six months. The first doses of the COVID vaccines are available for anyone older than five, and the booster shots for those 18 and older who have been vaccinated against COVID for at least six months."We just want people to have a safe and happy holiday," Bradley said, "and the best way to do that would be to get vaccinated."<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FStJosephHealthDepartment%2Fposts%2F302609405204533&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="419" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph health officials watching for Omicron, higher flu case numbers

St.
Joseph health officials report three additional coronavirus-related deaths,
more than 250 new cases, and a spike in the Buchanan County positivity rate.

The
St. Joseph Health Department reports a woman in her 70’s as well as a man and a
woman in their 60’s have died after contracting COVID-19. Buchanan County has
recorded 228 deaths since the pandemic began. The health department, in its
first official report since last Thursday, reports 253 new COVID-19 cases; 92
on Friday and 161 cumulatively from the weekend and Monday.

The
Buchanan County positivity rate has jumped 4.73% to 14.55% in a week.

Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating 48 COVID-19 patients in its system with 39
being treated at the St. Joseph hospital and nine being treated in Maryville.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt.
Joseph health officials report three additional coronavirus-related deaths,
more than 250 new cases, and a spike in the Buchanan County positivity rate.The
St. Joseph Health Department reports a woman in her 70’s as well as a man and a
woman in their 60’s have died after contracting COVID-19. Buchanan County has
recorded 228 deaths since the pandemic began. The health department, in its
first official report since last Thursday, reports 253 new COVID-19 cases; 92
on Friday and 161 cumulatively from the weekend and Monday.The
Buchanan County positivity rate has jumped 4.73% to 14.55% in a week.Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating 48 COVID-19 patients in its system with 39
being treated at the St. Joseph hospital and nine being treated in Maryville.

St. Joseph records 3 more COVID-19 deaths as positivity rate spikes

St.
Joseph health officials report 101 new cases of the coronavirus with Mosaic
Life Care reporting COVID-19 hospitalizations in its system have topped 40.

The
St. Joseph Health Department reports 55 new cases on Tuesday and 46 Wednesday.
The department released its official report early, due to City Hall being closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving
holiday.

The
department also reported another coronavirus-related death, a man in his 60s.

The
cumulative total of COVID-19 cases in Buchanan County since the pandemic began
has topped 16,000; now at 16,013. Buchanan County has recorded a total of 225
deaths.

The
county coronavirus positivity rate stands at 10.68%.

Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating 44 COVID-19 patients in its system as of Thursday morning; 38 in St.
Joseph and six in Maryville.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt.
Joseph health officials report 101 new cases of the coronavirus with Mosaic
Life Care reporting COVID-19 hospitalizations in its system have topped 40.The
St. Joseph Health Department reports 55 new cases on Tuesday and 46 Wednesday.
The department released its official report early, due to City Hall being closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving
holiday.The
department also reported another coronavirus-related death, a man in his 60s.The
cumulative total of COVID-19 cases in Buchanan County since the pandemic began
has topped 16,000; now at 16,013. Buchanan County has recorded a total of 225
deaths.The
county coronavirus positivity rate stands at 10.68%.Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating 44 COVID-19 patients in its system as of Thursday morning; 38 in St.
Joseph and six in Maryville.

St. Joseph reports 100+ new COVID-19 cases; hospitalizations top 40

St. Joseph health officials report 123 new cases of the coronavirus
since last reporting on Thursday.

The St. Joseph Health Department reports 39 new COVID-19 cases
on Friday and 84 over the three days from Saturday to Monday.

Buchanan County’s positivity rate has jumped by more than
three percent to 10.68%, according to the health department.

Mosaic Life Care reports it is treating 33 COVID-19 patients
in its system with 28 hospitalized in St. Joseph and five in Maryville.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph health officials report 123 new cases of the coronavirus
since last reporting on Thursday.The St. Joseph Health Department reports 39 new COVID-19 cases
on Friday and 84 over the three days from Saturday to Monday.Buchanan County’s positivity rate has jumped by more than
three percent to 10.68%, according to the health department.Mosaic Life Care reports it is treating 33 COVID-19 patients
in its system with 28 hospitalized in St. Joseph and five in Maryville.

St. Joseph reports big jump in COVID-19 positivity rate

COVID-19 hospitalization numbers in the Mosaic Life Care
system have topped 30.

Mosaic Life Care reports on its website it is treating 35
coronavirus patients in its system as of Sunday morning. Mosaic has 30 COVID-19
patients in isolation in St. Joseph with five patients isolated in Maryville.

COVID-19 hospitalizations have been on the rise the past few
weeks.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostCOVID-19 hospitalization numbers in the Mosaic Life Care
system have topped 30.Mosaic Life Care reports on its website it is treating 35
coronavirus patients in its system as of Sunday morning. Mosaic has 30 COVID-19
patients in isolation in St. Joseph with five patients isolated in Maryville.COVID-19 hospitalizations have been on the rise the past few
weeks.

Mosaic COVID-19 hospitalization numbers top 30

The
St. Joseph Health Department reports 112 new COVID-19 cases since last
reporting on Wednesday, prior to the Veterans Day holiday.

The
health department reports 56 new cases on Thursday and Friday with another 56 cases
between Saturday and Monday.

The
Buchanan County positivity rate has increased slightly to 7.42%.

Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating 32 COVID-19 patients in its system as for Monday morning, all being
treated in St. Joseph.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostThe
St. Joseph Health Department reports 112 new COVID-19 cases since last
reporting on Wednesday, prior to the Veterans Day holiday.The
health department reports 56 new cases on Thursday and Friday with another 56 cases
between Saturday and Monday.The
Buchanan County positivity rate has increased slightly to 7.42%.Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating 32 COVID-19 patients in its system as for Monday morning, all being
treated in St. Joseph.

St. Joseph reports 112 new COVID-19 cases since last week

St.
Joseph health officials report 56 new cases of the coronavirus since last
reporting on Monday.

The
St. Joseph Health Department, which normally issues officials reports on
Mondays and Thursdays, issued the report this week a day early due to Veterans
Day.

The
department reports 26 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday with 30 new cases on
Wednesday.

Nearly
40% of Buchanan County residents have received their first dose of the
coronavirus vaccine with nearly 36% completing vaccination. In raw numbers,
33,919 Buchanan County residents have initiated vaccination with 31,337
completing it.

Buchanan
County has had a total of 15,526 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began,
resulting in 224 deaths. The Buchanan County positivity rate has increased, now
at 7.3%.

Andrew
County reports 199 active coronavirus cases. Andrew County has recorded 3,111 COVID-19
cases since the pandemic began with 28 coronavirus-related deaths. 

Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating 27 COVID-19 patients in its system; 24 in St.
Joseph, two in Maryville, and one in Albany.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt.
Joseph health officials report 56 new cases of the coronavirus since last
reporting on Monday.The
St. Joseph Health Department, which normally issues officials reports on
Mondays and Thursdays, issued the report this week a day early due to Veterans
Day.The
department reports 26 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday with 30 new cases on
Wednesday.Nearly
40% of Buchanan County residents have received their first dose of the
coronavirus vaccine with nearly 36% completing vaccination. In raw numbers,
33,919 Buchanan County residents have initiated vaccination with 31,337
completing it.Buchanan
County has had a total of 15,526 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began,
resulting in 224 deaths. The Buchanan County positivity rate has increased, now
at 7.3%.Andrew
County reports 199 active coronavirus cases. Andrew County has recorded 3,111 COVID-19
cases since the pandemic began with 28 coronavirus-related deaths. Mosaic
Life Care reports it is treating 27 COVID-19 patients in its system; 24 in St.
Joseph, two in Maryville, and one in Albany.

St. Joseph records 56 new COVID cases, positivity rate rises

TOPEKA —Governor Kelly discussed Kansas' plan to vaccinate children ages 5-11 years-old at the Safer Classrooms Workgroup virtual meeting Wednesday. It began just after 1p.m.

The state expects to receive nearly 128,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 through 11 next week, and the state also announced Wednesday that all of them will be eligible for shots. 

According to Gov. Kelly, Kansas is following recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccinating children. 

Kansas has about 276,000 children from 5 through 11, and the doses it expects to receive will be enough for 46% of them to get the first of two shots. Federal health authorities gave the final go-ahead Tuesday for a vaccine made by Pfizer for younger children.

TOPEKA —Governor Kelly discussed Kansas' plan to vaccinate children ages 5-11 years-old at the Safer Classrooms Workgroup virtual meeting Wednesday. It began just after 1p.m.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cdn1YlkaONE?start=144" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The state expects to receive nearly 128,000 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 through 11 next week, and the state also announced Wednesday that all of them will be eligible for shots. According to Gov. Kelly, Kansas is following recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccinating children. Kansas has about 276,000 children from 5 through 11, and the doses it expects to receive will be enough for 46% of them to get the first of two shots. Federal health authorities gave the final go-ahead Tuesday for a vaccine made by Pfizer for younger children.

🎥 Governor on Kansas plan to vaccinate kids age 5-11 

ATLANTA (AP) —U.S. health officials on Tuesday gave the final signoff to Pfizer’s kid-size COVID-19 shot, a major expansion of the nation’s vaccination campaign.

The Food and Drug Administration already authorized the shots for children ages 5 to 11 — doses just a third of the amount given to teens and adults. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends who should receive FDA-cleared vaccines.

The announcement by CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky came only hours after an advisory panel unanimously decided Pfizer’s shots should be opened to the 28 million youngsters in that age group.

Millions of shots made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech have already been shipped to states, doctors’ offices and pharmacies, to be ready for CDC’s decision.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635890433225.png" alt="CDC Director Rochelle Walensky" />
 <figcaption>CDC Director Rochelle Walensky</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) —U.S. health officials on Tuesday gave the final signoff to Pfizer’s kid-size COVID-19 shot, a major expansion of the nation’s vaccination campaign.The Food and Drug Administration already authorized the shots for children ages 5 to 11 — doses just a third of the amount given to teens and adults. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends who should receive FDA-cleared vaccines.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635537216378.png" alt="The vaccine for children has an orange cap-Photo courtesy Pfizer" />
 <figcaption>The vaccine for children has an orange cap-Photo courtesy Pfizer</figcaption>
 </figure>The announcement by CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky came only hours after an advisory panel unanimously decided Pfizer’s shots should be opened to the 28 million youngsters in that age group.Millions of shots made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech have already been shipped to states, doctors’ offices and pharmacies, to be ready for CDC’s decision.___

US gives final clearance to COVID-19 shots for kids 5 to 11

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-five-million-dead-memorials-acd5a25aabb50f203c8ee059803a1bec">global death toll</a>&nbsp;from COVID-19 topped 5 million on Monday, less than two years into a crisis that has not only devastated poor countries but also humbled wealthy ones with first-rate health care systems.

Together, the United States, the European Union, Britain and Brazil — all upper-middle- or high-income countries — account for one-eighth of the world’s population but nearly half of all reported deaths. The U.S. alone has recorded over 740,000 lives lost, more than any other nation.

“This is a defining moment in our lifetime,” said Dr. Albert Ko, an infectious disease specialist at the Yale School of Public Health. “What do we have to do to protect ourselves so we don’t get to another 5 million?”

The death toll, as tallied by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the populations of Los Angeles and San Francisco combined. It rivals the number of people killed in battles among nations since 1950, according to estimates from the Peace Research Institute Oslo. Globally, COVID-19 is now the third leading cause of death, after heart disease and stroke.

The staggering figure is almost certainly an undercount because of limited testing and people dying at home without medical attention, especially in poor parts of the world, such as India.

Hot spots have shifted over the 22 months since the outbreak began, turning different places on the world map red. Now,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-europe-pandemics-moscow-b844be49c2811a454440d4e84d5e5338">the virus is pummeling Russia</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-religion-europe-eastern-europe-2c9668cdc75b37ed140345405fcc3f54">Ukraine and other parts of Eastern Europe</a>, especially where rumors, misinformation and distrust in government have hobbled vaccination efforts. In Ukraine, only 17% of the adult population is fully vaccinated; in Armenia, only 7%.

“What’s uniquely different about this pandemic is it hit hardest the high-resource countries,” said Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, director of ICAP, a global health center at Columbia University. “That’s the irony of COVID-19.”

Wealthier nations with longer life expectancies have larger proportions of older people, cancer survivors and nursing home residents, all of whom are especially vulnerable to COVID-19, El-Sadr noted. Poorer countries tend to have larger shares of children, teens and young adults, who are less likely to fall seriously ill from the coronavirus.

India, despite its terrifying delta surge that peaked in early May, now has a much lower reported daily death rate than wealthier Russia, the U.S. or Britain, though there is uncertainty around its figures.

The seeming disconnect between wealth and health is a paradox that disease experts will be pondering for years. But the pattern that is seen on the grand scale, when nations are compared, is different when examined at closer range. Within each wealthy country, when deaths and infections are mapped, poorer neighborhoods are hit hardest.

In the U.S., for example, COVID-19 has taken an outsize toll on Black and Hispanic people, who are more likely than white people to live in poverty and have less access to health care.

“When we get out our microscopes, we see that within countries, the most vulnerable have suffered most,” Ko said.

Wealth has also played a role in the global vaccination drive, with rich countries accused of locking up supplies. The U.S. and others are already dispensing booster shots at a time when millions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-technology-business-cape-town-health-48046e5255cc3e4fa27455fc12ab5e52">across Africa haven’t received a single dose</a>, though the rich countries are also shipping hundreds of millions of shots to the rest of the world.

Africa remains the world’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-europe-philanthropy-31fd688936caec29ff082412ef23e30a">least vaccinated region</a>, with just 5% of the population of 1.3 billion people fully covered.

In Kampala, Uganda, Cissy Kagaba lost her 62-year-old mother on Christmas Day and her 76-year-old father days later.

“Christmas will never be the same for me,” said Kagaba, an anti-corruption activist in the East African country that has been through multiple lockdowns against the virus and where a curfew remains in place.

The pandemic has united the globe in grief and pushed survivors to the breaking point.

“Who else is there now? The responsibility is on me. COVID has changed my life,” said 32-year-old Reena Kesarwani, a mother of two boys, who was left to manage her late husband’s modest hardware store in a village in India.

Her husband, Anand Babu Kesarwani, died at 38 during India’s crushing coronavirus surge earlier this year. It overwhelmed one of the most chronically underfunded public health systems in the world and killed tens of thousands as hospitals ran out of oxygen and medicine.

In Bergamo, Italy, once the site of the West’s first deadly wave, 51-year-old Fabrizio Fidanza was deprived of a final farewell as his 86-year-old father lay dying in the hospital. He is still trying to come to terms with the loss more than a year later.

“For the last month, I never saw him,” Fidanza said during a visit to his father’s grave. “It was the worst moment. But coming here every week, helps me.”

Today, 92% of Bergamo’s eligible population have had at least one shot, the highest vaccination rate in Italy. The chief of medicine at Pope John XXIII Hospital, Dr. Stefano Fagiuoli, said he believes that’s a clear result of the city’s collective trauma, when the wail of ambulances was constant.

In Lake City, Florida, LaTasha Graham, 38, still gets mail almost daily for her 17-year-old daughter, Jo’Keria, who died of COVID-19 in August, days before starting her senior year of high school. The teen, who was buried in her cap and gown, wanted to be a trauma surgeon.

“I know that she would have made it. I know that she would have been where she wanted to go,” her mother said.

In Rio de Janeiro, Erika Machado scanned the list of names engraved on a long, undulating sculpture of oxidized steel that stands in Penitencia cemetery as an homage to some of Brazil’s COVID-19 victims. Then she found him: Wagner Machado, her father.

“My dad was the love of my life, my best friend,” said Machado, 40, a saleswoman who traveled from Sao Paulo to see her father’s name. “He was everything to me.”

By CARLA K. JOHNSON, Associated PressThe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-five-million-dead-memorials-acd5a25aabb50f203c8ee059803a1bec">global death toll</a>&nbsp;from COVID-19 topped 5 million on Monday, less than two years into a crisis that has not only devastated poor countries but also humbled wealthy ones with first-rate health care systems.Together, the United States, the European Union, Britain and Brazil — all upper-middle- or high-income countries — account for one-eighth of the world’s population but nearly half of all reported deaths. The U.S. alone has recorded over 740,000 lives lost, more than any other nation.“This is a defining moment in our lifetime,” said Dr. Albert Ko, an infectious disease specialist at the Yale School of Public Health. “What do we have to do to protect ourselves so we don’t get to another 5 million?”The death toll, as tallied by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the populations of Los Angeles and San Francisco combined. It rivals the number of people killed in battles among nations since 1950, according to estimates from the Peace Research Institute Oslo. Globally, COVID-19 is now the third leading cause of death, after heart disease and stroke.The staggering figure is almost certainly an undercount because of limited testing and people dying at home without medical attention, especially in poor parts of the world, such as India.Hot spots have shifted over the 22 months since the outbreak began, turning different places on the world map red. Now,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-europe-pandemics-moscow-b844be49c2811a454440d4e84d5e5338">the virus is pummeling Russia</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-religion-europe-eastern-europe-2c9668cdc75b37ed140345405fcc3f54">Ukraine and other parts of Eastern Europe</a>, especially where rumors, misinformation and distrust in government have hobbled vaccination efforts. In Ukraine, only 17% of the adult population is fully vaccinated; in Armenia, only 7%.“What’s uniquely different about this pandemic is it hit hardest the high-resource countries,” said Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, director of ICAP, a global health center at Columbia University. “That’s the irony of COVID-19.”Wealthier nations with longer life expectancies have larger proportions of older people, cancer survivors and nursing home residents, all of whom are especially vulnerable to COVID-19, El-Sadr noted. Poorer countries tend to have larger shares of children, teens and young adults, who are less likely to fall seriously ill from the coronavirus.India, despite its terrifying delta surge that peaked in early May, now has a much lower reported daily death rate than wealthier Russia, the U.S. or Britain, though there is uncertainty around its figures.The seeming disconnect between wealth and health is a paradox that disease experts will be pondering for years. But the pattern that is seen on the grand scale, when nations are compared, is different when examined at closer range. Within each wealthy country, when deaths and infections are mapped, poorer neighborhoods are hit hardest.In the U.S., for example, COVID-19 has taken an outsize toll on Black and Hispanic people, who are more likely than white people to live in poverty and have less access to health care.“When we get out our microscopes, we see that within countries, the most vulnerable have suffered most,” Ko said.Wealth has also played a role in the global vaccination drive, with rich countries accused of locking up supplies. The U.S. and others are already dispensing booster shots at a time when millions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-technology-business-cape-town-health-48046e5255cc3e4fa27455fc12ab5e52">across Africa haven’t received a single dose</a>, though the rich countries are also shipping hundreds of millions of shots to the rest of the world.Africa remains the world’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-lifestyle-europe-philanthropy-31fd688936caec29ff082412ef23e30a">least vaccinated region</a>, with just 5% of the population of 1.3 billion people fully covered.In Kampala, Uganda, Cissy Kagaba lost her 62-year-old mother on Christmas Day and her 76-year-old father days later.“Christmas will never be the same for me,” said Kagaba, an anti-corruption activist in the East African country that has been through multiple lockdowns against the virus and where a curfew remains in place.The pandemic has united the globe in grief and pushed survivors to the breaking point.“Who else is there now? The responsibility is on me. COVID has changed my life,” said 32-year-old Reena Kesarwani, a mother of two boys, who was left to manage her late husband’s modest hardware store in a village in India.Her husband, Anand Babu Kesarwani, died at 38 during India’s crushing coronavirus surge earlier this year. It overwhelmed one of the most chronically underfunded public health systems in the world and killed tens of thousands as hospitals ran out of oxygen and medicine.In Bergamo, Italy, once the site of the West’s first deadly wave, 51-year-old Fabrizio Fidanza was deprived of a final farewell as his 86-year-old father lay dying in the hospital. He is still trying to come to terms with the loss more than a year later.“For the last month, I never saw him,” Fidanza said during a visit to his father’s grave. “It was the worst moment. But coming here every week, helps me.”Today, 92% of Bergamo’s eligible population have had at least one shot, the highest vaccination rate in Italy. The chief of medicine at Pope John XXIII Hospital, Dr. Stefano Fagiuoli, said he believes that’s a clear result of the city’s collective trauma, when the wail of ambulances was constant.In Lake City, Florida, LaTasha Graham, 38, still gets mail almost daily for her 17-year-old daughter, Jo’Keria, who died of COVID-19 in August, days before starting her senior year of high school. The teen, who was buried in her cap and gown, wanted to be a trauma surgeon.“I know that she would have made it. I know that she would have been where she wanted to go,” her mother said.In Rio de Janeiro, Erika Machado scanned the list of names engraved on a long, undulating sculpture of oxidized steel that stands in Penitencia cemetery as an homage to some of Brazil’s COVID-19 victims. Then she found him: Wagner Machado, her father.“My dad was the love of my life, my best friend,” said Machado, 40, a saleswoman who traveled from Sao Paulo to see her father’s name. “He was everything to me.”___

COVID-19's global death toll tops 5 million 

St. Joseph health officials report 49 new coronavirus cases
since last reporting on Monday.

The St. Joseph Health Department says 18 were reported on
Tuesday, 14 on Wednesday, and 17 on Thursday. The Buchanan County positivity
rate remains at 5.14%.

Mosaic Life Care reports it is treating 22 COVID-19 patients
in its system; 21 in St. Joseph and one in Maryville.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph health officials report 49 new coronavirus cases
since last reporting on Monday.The St. Joseph Health Department says 18 were reported on
Tuesday, 14 on Wednesday, and 17 on Thursday. The Buchanan County positivity
rate remains at 5.14%.Mosaic Life Care reports it is treating 22 COVID-19 patients
in its system; 21 in St. Joseph and one in Maryville.

Coronavirus Update