Missouri Health and Senior Services

Hospitals say they're facing a "double whammy" as patient burden increases while more staff are out due to illness. In some regions, patients have to wait days for a bed to become available.

Only 45,000 of Missouri adults who received the vaccine since the state announced its vaccine lottery have entered the statewide drawing. That's fewer than 15% of the 600,000 people who entered the drawing for $10,000 prizes, which ends next month.

Some districts have buckled down on testing, masks and vaccinations. Others say they are better off making such mitigation measures optional.

The state health department will offer public, private and charter K-12 schools a screening COVID testing program for the upcoming school year

Fewer than 2% of people in Missouri who have tested positive for the virus died as of October, compared with more than 6% in May, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Doctors say younger people with healthier immune systems are getting sick.