Missouri reports record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations

ST. LOUIS — As Missouri again reported a record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations Friday, the leader of the local pandemic response warned that cases are rising quickly in rural areas, a change since previous months of the pandemic.

Missouri’s hospitalization numbers have been rising for weeks. Health experts have warned that hospitals will be challenged if new coronavirus case numbers continue to swell through flu season.

This week, Mercy Hospital Washington, seeing higher numbers of virus patients than ever, transferred two COVID-19 patients to another facility because of concerns about capacity.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported on Friday that there were 1,068 patients in hospitals statewide with presumed or confirmed COVID-19, the highest number on record. The data lags three days, and not every hospital reports every day.

Read more: https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/coronavirus/missouri-reports-record-number-of-covid-19-hospitalizations/article_f52b9d40-f8dd-53ef-9aaf-ba9f1cddd367.html