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KSMU is dedicated to broadcasting critically important information as our community experiences the COVID-19 pandemic. Below, you'll find our ongoing coverage.

12 More COVID-19 Deaths In Greene County Push Death Toll Over 100

Springfield-Greene County Health Department

Twelve more Greene County residents are dead because of COVID-19.  Springfield-Greene County Health Department director, Clay Goddard, announced at a media briefing Tuesday morning that the nursing home residents all died in the past 24 hours. 

Twenty-four Greene County residents have died of COVID-19 in the first six days of October, and there have been 101 deaths since the pandemic started. 

Goddard thanked Springfield City Council for extending the city’s mask mandate.  He said required masking, along with hand washing and social distancing, will “continue us on a steady path on our road to recovery.”

“This has been a very difficult year,” he said, “but we cannot as a community afford apathy or divisiveness.  Both apathy and divisiveness is a fuel for this virus, so we must continue to conscientiously live our new normal.”

He encouraged people to be creative and find new ways to connect with others that don’t spread the virus.

CoxHealth president and CEO, Steve Edwards, called the council members who voted yes on the mask extension Monday night courageous.  “Many politicians haven’t chosen to take this route.  The science is unequivocal,” he said.  “This is the right thing to do.”

Last week, Cox South had more than 80 COVID-19 patients, according to Edwards.  There were about 72 COVID patients on Monday.  There have been 860 COVID-related admissions to date, the majority in the last six months, he said.

Mercy Hospitals COO, Brent Hubbard, reminded everyone that now is not the time to let their guard down.  He said they’re continuing to see a rise in patients with COVID-19 being admitted to their hospitals in Aurora, Cassville, Lebanon, Springfield and Mountain View, Missouri.

“We’re seeing, on average, 50 to 75 patients per day who are testing positive,” he said, “and, unfortunately, this is translating to a number of deaths.”

There have been more than 60 deaths across Springfield Mercy communities, he said, but there are things that people can do to prevent future deaths, including masking.  Masks have to be worn correctly, according to Hubbard, which means they need to cover the mouth and nose.

"It's not just about having a mask around your ears or over your mouth," he said. "It's about mouth and nose."

Michele Skalicky has worked at KSMU since the station occupied the old white house at National and Grand. She enjoys working on both the announcing side and in news and has been the recipient of statewide and national awards for news reporting. She likes to tell stories that make a difference. Michele enjoys outdoor activities, including hiking, camping and leisurely kayaking.