News

Springfield-City Council will discuss an ordinance Monday night, July 13, that would make wearing a mask or face covering a requirement in the city.

The ordinance would require face coverings in places of public accommodation for anyone over age 11 with some exceptions.  If approved, it would take effect on July 16 and carries a $100 fine for those who violate it.

Fourteen people with COVID-19 went to 27 businesses before they were diagnosed, according to the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, and they may have exposed others to the coronavirus.

Here's a list of locations they visited:

Three people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 visited several locations while infectious, according to the Taney County Health Department.

Prior to being diagnosed, they went to these locations:

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — New data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services shows that opioid overdose deaths decreased last year when compared to 2018.

The state health department said Friday that the 3.4% decrease was the first time since 2015 that Missouri experienced a decrease in opioid overdose deaths. Deaths from overdoses have been rising steadily, including a 19% increase in 2018, when 1,132 deaths statewide were blamed on opioid overdoses.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — President Donald Trump has approved Missouri’s request for a federal disaster declaration for severe storms in early May.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s office said Friday in a news release that the declaration means federal assistance will be available to help 19 counties with the expense of responding to and recovering from the storm that churned up 70 mph winds. One person died after strong winds knocked a tree into a home in western Missouri.

  O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — The rapidly rising number of confirmed new coronavirus cases is prompting facial-covering requirements in several areas of Missouri.

The state health department on Thursday announced 795 new cases of COVID-19. That was the most in a single day since the pandemic began, topping the 773 confirmed new cases reported Tuesday.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri is once again reporting its highest daily increase in confirmed coronavirus cases. State health department data show another 795 cases were reported Thursday. That brings the total confirmed cases of the virus in the state to 25,999. The record for new cases reported in a single day was last broken Tuesday, when 773 cases of coronavirus were reported. Another five deaths have been reported, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related fatalities in the state to 1,051.

The City of Neosho will not have restrictions on gatherings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Neosho City Council voted against an ordinance that, in part, would have prohibited gatherings of 16 or more unless a letter or approval was obtained first from the Newton County Health Department.  The council also voted to repeal the existing ordinance, which means the city currently has no restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Starting Friday, July 10, you’ll have to wear a mask to enter an indoor facility operated by the City of Nixa.  Those who don’t have a mask will have one provided to them, according to the city.

The rule doesn’t apply to the outdoors; anyone participating in a sports program or exercising indoors at the X Center; anyone under 12; those with health conditions, which make wearing a mask unadvisable; those who are hearing impaired or communicating with someone who is hearing impaired and the restroom facilities at The X Center pool, according to a statement from the City of Nixa.

Another person has died in Taney County from COVID-19.  That makes a total of three deaths from the illness in Taney County.  The person who died was a woman in her 80s, according to a news release. 

The director of the Taney County Health Department, Lisa Marshall, said community members need to take social responsibility to slow the spread of COVID-19.  That includes wearing face coverings, following social distancing guidelines, washing their hands and staying home if they’re sick.

Missouri welcome centers on both sides of I-44 at Conway are closed after an employee with the company that cleans the centers tested positive for COVID-19.

DBi, which is contracted to clean rest areas and welcome centers in the state, notified the Missouri Department of Transportation Thursday of the positive test.  Both eastbound and westbound facilities were immediately closed to the public, according to MODOT in a news release.

The center are being cleaned following CDC guidance, MODOT officials said. 

There were 34 new cases of COVID-19 in Greene County Thursday bringing the total number of cases to 440.  And the Springfield-Greene County Health Department says there have been some potential community exposures from two people with the illness.

Before being diagnosed they visited six locations in Springfield, most while infectious and symptomatic and not masked:

 Updated 8:00 a.m. July 10:  The Missouri Highway Patrol has issued the following update on this AMBER Alert:  BOTH VICTIMS LOCATED SAFE IN MIAMI, OKLAHOMA. SUSPECT IN CUSTODY.

Updated at 11:20 p.m. July 9, 2020:  The Missouri Highway Patrol said:  "BOTH SUSPECT VEHICLES INCLUDED IN EARLIER UPDATES HAVE BEEN RECOVERED. THE MOTHER AND CHILDREN ARE NOW BELIEVED TO BE ON FOOT IN THE TULSA, OK AREA."