Associated Press: Hospitalizations at new high, positivity rate up in Missouri

The number of people hospitalized for the coronavirus in Missouri reached another record Thursday, and the seven-day average positivity rate was more than triple the benchmark suggested by the World Health Organization.

The state health department’s COVID-19 dashboard showed other alarming numbers, too: 1,875 new confirmed cases and 22 deaths. According to the dashboard, Missouri ranks fourth nationally in reported deaths over the past seven days, and eighth in the number of new cases. All told, Missouri has reported 150,554 confirmed cases and 2,442 deaths since the pandemic began.

The Associated Press talked to Dr. Marc Larsen, Director of Operations for Saint Luke's COVID response team and emergency physician, about how the system's rural hospitals are now seeing surges just as much as the metropolitan hospitals.

Read the full AP News article: Hospitalizations at new high, positivity rate up in Missouri

Related Content

Oct. 16, 2020

Kansas City Star: KC hospitals ‘bursting at the seams’ with record numbers of COVID-19 patients
As Saint Luke's sees record high COVID cases, the Kansas City Star talked to Dr. Marc Larsen about why it's more crucial than ever the Kansas City area takes the COVID pandemic seriously.
Oct. 16, 2020

KMBC: Push is on for people to get flu shots as pandemic continues
As COVID hospitalizations continue to rise across the KC area, KMBC talked to Dr. Marc Larsen about why the flu shot and testing are even more important this flu season.
Oct. 15, 2020

KCUR: Missouri's high coronavirus rate has White House recommending universities test students before Thanksgiving Break
KCUR talked to Dr. Sarah Boyd, infectious disease physician with Saint Luke's Health System, about how students going home for Thanksgiving could spread the virus.