COVID-19

Little is known about COVID-19 cases in which symptoms persist for months. Affected service members may have trouble performing their duties or getting treatment.

The state already had infection control guidance in place, yet 36 died in the November 2020 outbreak at state-run facility.

Appropriations Vice Chairman Lincoln Hough says he’s upset that Attorney General Eric Schmitt "continues to sue most of the citizens of this state." Since November, Schmitt has sued at least 45 school districts over their local health orders.

Health officials say people in the St. Louis region should expect to live with the threat of the coronavirus. To help, the St. Louis and St. Louis County health departments have released “Living With COVID-19," a plan for people, businesses and government agencies.

Under the bill, facilities can still limit things like visitor movements and the number of visitors per patient, but cannot require patients be vaccinated against any disease to receive treatment or visitors. Experts warn it could cause a conflict between state and federal requirements.

Missouri officials this week announced an end to the coronavirus pandemic emergency, saying the state was moving on from the crisis. But public health officials say it may be too early to declare victory over the pandemic.

The state will now shift to addressing the coronavirus as endemic rather than epidemic. The change will officially begin on Friday.

Despite the politicized rhetoric around masking in schools, federal judges have ruled that schools can be required by law to protect medically vulnerable children.

St. Louis journalist Kathy Gilsinan wrote her book about the COVID-19 pandemic while in its midst.

The BA.2 subvariant is about 30% more transmissible than the original omicron variant and is fueling a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Europe.