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The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported 3,858Ìýnew cases of COVID-19 on Thursday

There will not be enough in the first shipment to vaccinate all hospital workers.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported 2,795Ìýhospitalized COVID-19 patients statewide, up from 2,641Ìýthe day before.

FDA gave emergency authorization to the Pfizer vaccine on Friday night.

The rise in cases has left health care systems planning a vaccine rollout without enough hands to do the work.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his state's estimated Pfizer shipment for next week had also been "tightened," likely decreasing the state's projected December shipments by about half.

The state Public Service Commission turned down a request by the St. Louis-based Consumers Council of Missouri for the emergency action.

Statewide call center can't handle the increased load during the pandemic.Ìý

BJC HealthCare and SSM Health rolled out large-scale COVID-19 vaccinations for their frontline health care workers on Thursday.

A coronavirus vaccine has provided hope, but the virus continues to spread at a rate that troubles local officials.Ìý

Dr. Alex Garza: ‘You just can’t maintain this sort of operations tempo at this rate, because it gives us very little room to maneuver. … We are burning our staff out.’

Vaccinations for health care workers continued to roll out, with Missouri reporting 23,000 doses administered and Illinois 63,000.

St. Louis-area hospitals reported another high number of COVID-19 patients, down only slightly from an early December peak.

Hospitalizations plateaued in November and haven't fallen markedly since.

‘Our ICUs are still operating at near-full capacity and there is little room left if we were to have a surge in patients,’ Dr. Alex Garza warned.

Missouri reported 3,714 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, the most in a single day since Dec. 18.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the state has reported a total of 399,456 COVID-19 cases and 5,543 deaths due to the virus.

Another 2,305 COVID-19 cases were reported Sunday, bringing the total of Missouri cases 401,761.

On Tuesday the state reported 263 more deaths due to the virus, a record one-day increase.

Officials noted they were watching for a variant of COVID-19, which emerged in the United Kingdom, to appear in local samples

Pritzker was among 8 governors to send a letter demanding the US immediately distribute to states vaccine that's so far been reserved as a precaution

Missouri reported 4,332 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, and 30 deaths due to the virus.

St. Charles County on Monday lifted an 11 p.m. curfew on bars, restaurants and nightclubs, which had been in place since Nov. 24.

St. Louis and St. Louis County have rolled out online systems for residents to learn about COVID-19 vaccination opportunities.

The reluctance among health care workers mirrors some of the concerns of the broader population.

Parson on Thursday activated the first part of Phase 1B, which focuses on law enforcement, firefighters and public health professionals, among others.

At the same time, ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ officials learned on Friday that they will receive fewer vaccine doses next week than previously projected.

The St. Louis region's four major hospital systems now have systems for residents to sign up for COVID-19 vaccines.

Missouri reported 2,397 hospitalized COVID-19 patients statewide, and the seven-day average hit the lowest level since Nov. 16.

Washington U. study was published online Wednesday in the medical journal Gastroenterology.

The cityÌýhealth department ordered seven establishments to close this week for flouting coronavirus-related restrictions

Antigen tests caught an average of 648 positive cases a day in December and 644 positive cases a day in January.

Experts generally now say the virus will spread, in lower numbers, for years to come.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force reported a seven-day average of 77 COVID-19 admissions, the lowest number since early November.

‘Five thousand doses versus 640,000 doses needed,’ said Ave. ‘That is the No. 1 issue, no questions about it.’

Cape Girardeau County had the highest vaccination rate in Missouri, at 10.2%.

There are nine mass COVID-19 vaccination events scheduled to take place across the state on Friday.

St. Louis-area counties are preparing to ramp up COVID-19 vaccine clinics, with multiple large-scale events scheduled over the coming weeks.

The state will send 53% of its weekly vaccine allocations to these hospitals, and 23% to mass vaccination events.

The health department estimates that, given enough supply, between 500 to 1,000 people could be vaccinated each day at the site.

Missouri reported that 427,152 people have received a first dose of vaccine, or 7% of the population.

Illinois officials announced that indoor dining can resume in the Metro East.

Friday, the state told the county it wouldn't send the vaccine after all, county officials said.

Missouri reported 884 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the seven-day average to 809, the lowest level since mid-July.

Over the weekend the university launched anÌý. When trials begin, researchers plan to get in touch and enroll those who are eligible.

Missouri's seven-day average of new cases fell to its lowest point since July, and Illinois to its lowest since September.

By mid-March Illinois expects to receive 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine per day, on average,ÌýPritzker said.

A private registration link for upcoming vaccine clinics was shared on social media, and more than 1,900 people signed up, the health department said.

St. Louis task force reported a seven-day average of 39 COVID-19 admissions to area hospitals, the lowest level since early October.

An estimated 550,000 Missourians, including teachers, grocers and bus drivers, will become eligible for COVID-19 vaccines on March 15.

Illinois health officials on Friday reported the state's first known case of a COVID-19 variant that was first detected in travelers from Brazil.

During the week of Feb. 21, more than 7,700 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were left over after mass vaccination events across the state, according to state data.

Health officials on Wednesday praised Missouri Gov. Parson's decision.

In early days, they dealt with rising caseloads and public concern, lacking equipment, staff and clear guidance.

On Monday, 550,000 more Missourians will becomeÌýeligible for COVID-19 vaccines, when the state opensÌýPhase 1B Tier 3.

Ferguson-Florissant, Webster Groves and St. Louis Public school districts all open vaccination clinics this week.

Parson said the three St. Louis-area events could inoculate as many as 14,000 area residents.

The city is holding a mass vaccination event on Saturday and Sunday at the America's Center. Between 3,000 and 4,000 people will be immunized.

Despite cold temperatures and rain, health care workers and volunteers planned to vaccinate thousands of area residents at the Family Arena on Thursday.

Missouri reported 584 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.

St. Louis and St. Charles counties as well as the city of St. Louis are hosting mass events over several days.ÌýÌý

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said he anticipates that 60% to 65% of Missouri adults will want to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

"That's a way where we can help. Make it easy, make it accessible," saidÌýLal Karsanbhai, president and CEO of Emerson.

The program, beginning on April 7, aims to administer up to 3,000 doses per day, seven days a week at the Dome at America's Center.

Experts tout the urgency of vaccinations and the importance of maintaining protective practices, like social distancing and wearing masks.

On a call with health care providers Tuesday afternoon, state officials projected more than 350,000 fewer doses during the week of April 12, a dip of almost 70 percent.

FEMA opened the clinic with promises of vaccinating up to 3,000 people a day, but only about 700 doses were administered Wednesday.Ìý

The county also Friday allowed outdoor youth and adult sports officiants to remove their face coverings.

Over the course of just two weeks, the city'sÌýseven-day average of new cases rose to 28, as of Thursday, from 20 on March 25.

Experts cautioned that some residents will likely be more hesitant to get the vaccine now.

Missouri's seven-day average of new confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 423 on Thursday, the highest level since March 1, according to Post-DispatchÌýdata.

As expected, a small number of vaccinated residents test positive for the coronavirus.

Dr. Alex Garza said there is an ‘understandable temptation’ to let up on preventive measures, but it is too soon to do so.

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The joint city-county ‘ReOpen STL’ plan was announced Monday by St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones and St. Louis County Executive Sam Page.

Still, experts note serious caveats: Restrictions are relaxing, people are beginning to gather, and the pace of vaccinations has slowed.

The study's senior author raised concern about the incidence of opioid prescriptions among patients who had previously had COVID-19.

Task force leader Dr. Alex Garza became a near-constant in local media and on Facebook, where the task force aired its briefings.

Health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated ahead of the Independence Day holiday.

St. Louis-area residents have turned to the task force briefings for information about COVID-19, the vaccines, and new guidance from health authorities.

BJC will require employees to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 15. Washington University will require all faculty, staff and trainees to show proof of vaccination by August 30.

The department said the state is seeing a rising number of individuals contracting theÌýDelta variant of COVID-19.

St. Louis acting health director Dr. Fredrick Echols said the city is working to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines and address hesitancy.

Researchers at Washington University looked at the effectiveness of treatments among mice and hamsters infected with COVID-19 variants.

Many Missourians mistakenly believe the pandemic is over, St. Louis County health director says.Ìý

Missouri's seven-day average of new confirmed cases has more than doubled since the beginning of June.

"This is evidence of a really robust immune response," said Dr. Rachel Presti, co-senior authorÌýand associate professor of medicine, in a statement.

SSM employees must be fully vaccinated by the end of September.

Even though vaccines are highly effective against COVID-19, some who are vaccinated may still contract the disease, health officials warned.Ìý

The data, the authors wrote, suggest that "each person getting vaccinated has an impact."

"The only way out of this pattern, right now, is for people to get vaccinated," said BJC HealthCare's chief clinical officer.

The pandemic ‘is not over, by far. And get vaccinated,’ saidÌýDr. George Turabelidze, a Missouri epidemiologist.

Mount Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in Hanley Hills gave out $25 gift cards to anyone willing to get vaccinated.Ìý

"Not only are cases continuing to rise, but they're rising faster," saidÌýAaron Schekorra, spokesman for the Springfield-Greene County Health Department.

‘The increase in severe illness is projected to outpace hospital capacity,’ Greene County officials warn.

The state reported 1,357 COVID-19 patients in hospitals across ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ on Friday, the highest number since Feb. 12.

At the same time, the virus' rebound continued creeping closer to St. Louis, with health officials issuing "hot spot" advisories for three counties along the Interstate 44 corridor.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force on Tuesday sent out a plea for all residentsÌý— vaccinated and unvaccinatedÌý— to return to wearing masks in public

Missouri reported 3,031 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, a daily case count not seen since mid-January.

The state is also working on a program that local public health agencies can apply to, which would allow them to offer up to $25 for each person who is vaccinated.

Masks will be required,Ìýincluding for those who are vaccinated; opponents at the state and local level are vowing to stop the renewed mandate.

“They say, ‘Wear a mask until you’re vaccinated,’ and we got vaccinated, and they want us to wear masks again?â€� said County Councilman Mark Harder.Ìý

Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed Wednesday for a temporary restraining order against the county mandate.Ìý

Ascension set a Nov. 12 deadline for employees to get fully vaccinated.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force reported 452Ìýpatients with confirmed COVID-19 in area hospitals Monday, the highest number since Feb. 3, and an increase of about 100 patients compared to one week earlier.

On July 9, the number of COVID-19 patients in area hospitals surpassed 200. As of Friday, the number was 493.

As major U.S. companies roll out COVID-19 vaccine mandates, few St. Louis-area corporations are requiring vaccination.

Parson again urges Missourians to get vaccinated: ‘Now is the time to step up and take personal responsibility.’

The number of Missourians lost to COVID-19 reached 10,002 as the more infectious delta variant of the coronavirus continues to cause a surge.

‘If I would have known that it was going to be as bad as it was for me, I probably would’ve already started the vaccination process.'

Only three states — Louisiana, Arkansas and Nevada — have higher rates, according to the CDC.

Demand has inflated hourly rates to sometimes double pre-pandemic levels. Costs for traveling nurses have risen, in some cases, to $200 per hour.

Missouri also announced that those with compromised immune systems are cleared to get COVID-19 vaccine booster shots.

St. Louis County health officials are preparing to ramp up vaccine clinic capacity, in case they need to begin administering booster doses to the public at large

The policy does not apply to people visiting patients in outpatient settings, doctors' office or urgent cares.

Maryland Heights’ city council voted 6-3 on Thursday to require all employees to vaccinate against COVID-19 or face termination.Ìý

Hospitalizations are still at high levels, the task force reported Tuesday.

One site offering monoclonal antibody treatment will open Tuesday in north St. Louis, and another will open Wednesday at Mercy Hospital Jefferson.

90% had an immune response, though it was one-third less than the general public. Researchers say results exceeded expectations.

Dr. Steven Brown, a virtual care physician, says cases of ivermectin toxicity have occurred at Mercy hospitals across the state.

Coronavirus spread among children ‘can cause another spike in our community at large, leading to more hospitalizations, and more deaths,’ Page warns.

Residents of Lincoln and Warren counties warned of quickly rising coronavirus cases.

COVID-19 vaccines have driven down case rates in nursing homes. But now the industry faces a crossroads.

The federal government was poised to pull the facility's Medicare and Medicaid agreements, but rescinded the notice a few days before the deadline.

The pandemic drove a 21.3% increase in the county’s mortality rate over 2019, and brought down the county’s average life expectancy rate dropped by 2.3 years, from 79 to 76.7.Ìý

'We're not done with this wave of the pandemic yet. But we're certainly going in the right direction,' Dr. Clay Dunagan said Tuesday.

Average daily new virus hospitalizations in the area dropped past a key threshold this weekend, to 39, and have maintained at that level for four days.Ìý

‘Even when things look like they’re at their worst, it can turn around in an instant,’ saidÌýher mother, Melanie Davis-Baker.

Upturn in cases suggests 'continued evolution of COVID into an endemic virus that's probably going to have periodic surges," task force chief said.

Interest has been high across the region as the first vaccination events for young kids got underway over the weekend and continue this week.

Doctors are urging the elderly and immunocompromised to get their booster shots.

Getting vaccinated, continuing to wear a mask are the "prudent" things to do with COVID cases on the rise, Dr. Clay Dunagan said Tuesday.

The state also reported cases after vaccination or prior infection — cases remarkably rare, most common among those with underlying health conditions.

The COVID-19 vaccines are free of charge and already available across the region.

Omicron a cause for concern, but area doctors urge people to be "prudent" and take precautions against the still-dominant delta variant.

The seven-day average of St. Louis-area patients hospitalized with COVID-19 was 424 on Tuesday, climbing from 228 just a month ago.

Pandemic task force leaders say St. Louis is on track to top record set in December 2020.

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‘A large part of our population is still susceptible to the virus,’ the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force said in a statement.

TheyÌýurge the public to take precautions over the holidays to protect themselves and the region’s struggling health care systems.

‘She served the citizens well,’ Franklin County Presiding Commissioner Tim Brinker said Wednesday.

With the number of cases rising, testing for the virus is becoming tougher to get.

Health officials in both states urge continued vigilance, precautions over holidays and into the new year.

Amid holiday gatherings and a spike in cases, health officials, stores strive to keep up with the demand for in-person and at-home testing.

The health system said more restrictions may be needed in the future, due to capacity issues.

A Lincoln County testing site was forced to close WednesdayÌýafter 600 cars lined up, jamming traffic all the way to the highway.

Students and SLUCare employees must get their booster dose by Jan. 31. Non-SLUCare faculty and staff must get their booster by Feb. 28.

Beginning Wednesday, patients will be allowed one visitor per day in most circumstances.

Patients who have procedures scheduled will be contacted by BJC about postponing their appointment.

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On Thursday area hospitals reported a total of 1,158 COVID-19 patients in the region, a new record for the fourth consecutive day.

There were a total of 1,340 patients with confirmed cases — more than triple the number on Dec. 5, when there were 433.

St. Louis-area hospitals reported a total of 1,369 COVID-19 patients on Wednesday — more than triple the number six weeks ago.

But unlike last winter, the rates of infection among residents are markedly lower than the rates among nursing home workers.

Cold weather and snow forced some local testing sites to temporarily close for the day.

It was the 12th record-setting day for hospitalizations this year.ÌýOne apparent positive note: a dip in hospital admissions from 216 to 145.

‘The pressure on the health system is unprecedented,’ saidÌýBJC Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Clay Dunagan, who co-leads the task force.

The task force cited the spread of the omicron variant, and the delays to other care that have accompanied the surge.

Christian Hospital needs "all the help we can get right now," the site's president said. A 44-person medical team is scheduled to arrive Wednesday.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Task Force also said new hospital admissions are down, reporting 197 Saturday.

"This go-around ... it definitely seems like almost every call is COVID-related," said one firefighter.

The data suggest that parts of the metropolitan area are beginning to see improvements, while the virus continues to surge in rural counties.

In recent days, pharmaceutical companies have announced that they are studying doses that target omicron specifically.

Several residents said the St. Louis Health Department didn't contact them for more than a week after their positive test, and, in some cases, 10 days later.Ìý

"We need people to stay cautious for a bit longer," Dunagan said. "But I do think we're on the right path."

‘The positivity is still up there, so we definitely need to keep testing. We are not out of this yet.’

For the first time since December, the seven-day average ofÌýnew daily COVID-19 admissionsÌýwas less than 100.

St. Louis County has reached a milestone with more than 70% of residents initiating vaccination. It’s about 66% in the city.

Missouri’s case rates have been steadily declining from the record levels seen last month.

State and local governments and school boards are shedding mask requirements and other prevention measures. Some people worry it’s too soon.

The mask mandates in St. Louis County and Illinois were lifted on Monday, while St. Louis city’s mask mandate remained in effect.

The Navy arrived after one of the hospital's "darkest moments" and left, with COVID cases tumbling, on Wednesday.

Regional COVID-19 rates are at some of the lowest levels seen during the pandemic. But the recent upswing in cases in Europe has some experts casting a wary eye toward the future.