Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Vaccinations have increased in Missouri's hardest-hit areas but remain far below levels needed to stop COVID-19 from spreading.

While coronavirus outbreaks have largely been concentrated in southern Missouri, epidemiologists from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services say the number of cases is now rising in other parts of the state, including the St. Louis region. Rural counties with low vaccination rates also are at risk of large outbreaks.

Missouri is a hot spot for the delta variant, which is easy to catch and transmit, and health officials are urging the state to redouble its efforts to give Missourians the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. George Turabelidze, Missouri state epidemiologist, said people should assess their risks and whether they should wear masks.

Absent statewide mandates, local communities should continue to use preventive measures to ensure safe working conditions, an expert said.

Dr. Randall Williams, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, has resigned, Gov. Mike Parson announced Tuesday. Williams, who has led the department since 2017, submitted his letter of resignation in the morning. The governor gave no reason for the departure of Williams, whose tenure has been marked by controversy.

The Missouri Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling ordering the state to pay the legal fees for Reclaim the Records.

The Missouri health department has acknowledged that it has used national data to estimate Missouri’s racial breakdown, rather than data based on the state's population. That information has been a source of frustration for local health officials working to ensure that vaccine distribution is equitable. State officials now plan to use 2019 U.S. Census data from Missouri but say some parts of the data remain problematic.

Recent changes have caused drastic swings in the vaccination rates on Missouri's COVID-19 dashboard.

New guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are permitting indoor visits in nursing homes. Missouri health officials are following federal guidelines in new recommendations for nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

Though Missouri has been vaccinating seniors for months, nearly half haven't received COVID-19 shots.