Home COVID tests to be covered by insurers starting Saturday

WASHINGTON (AP) — Starting Saturday, private health insurers will be required to cover up to eight home COVID-19 tests per month for people on their plans. The Biden administration announced the change Monday as it looks to lower costs and make testing for the virus more convenient amid rising frustrations.

Under the new policy, first detailed to the AP, Americans will be able to either purchase home testing kits for free under their insurance or submit receipts for the tests for reimbursement, up to the monthly per-person limit. A family of four, for instance, could be reimbursed for up to 32 tests per month. PCR tests and rapid tests ordered or administered by a health provider will continue to be fully covered by insurance with no limit.

President Joe Biden faced criticism over the holiday season for a shortage of at-home rapid tests as Americans traveled to see family amid the surge in cases from the more transmissible omicron variant. Now the administration is working to make COVID-19 home tests more accessible, both by increasing supply and bringing down costs.

Later this month, the federal government will launch a website to begin making 500 million at-home COVID-19 tests available via mail. The administration also is scaling up emergency rapid-testing sites in areas experiencing the greatest surges in cases.

The insurer-covered testing would dramatically reduce costs for many Americans, and the administration hopes that by easing a barrier to more regular at-home testing, it can help slow the spread of the virus, get kids back into school more quickly and help people gather safely.

“This is all part of our overall strategy to ramp up access to easy-to-use, at-home tests at no cost,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. “By requiring private health plans to cover people’s at-home tests, we are further expanding Americans’ ability to get tests for free when they need them.”

Biden announced the federal requirement late last year, and it kicks in on Jan. 15, but the administration had been silent until now on details of the plan.

The administration is trying to incentivize private insurers to cover the tests up-front and without a cumbersome reimbursement process. Insurance plans that work with pharmacies and retailers to cover the up-front costs of the tests will be required to reimburse only up to $12 per test if purchased through an out-of-network retailer. Plans that don’t move proactively to set up a network of pharmacies would have to cover the full retail price that the customer paid — which could be more than $12 per test.

A major health insurance industry group said insurers would carry out the administration’s order, but cautioned consumers it won’t be as easy as flipping a switch.

“Health insurance providers will work as quickly as possible to implement this guidance in ways that limit consumer confusion and challenges,” Matt Eyles, president of America’s Health Insurance Plans, said in a statement. “While there will likely be some hiccups in early days, we will work with the administration to swiftly address issues as they arise.”

The group said it supports provisions in the Biden administration plan to counteract potential price gouging on tests.

Only tests purchased on or after Jan. 15 will be required to be reimbursed, the administration said. Some insurers may choose to cover the costs of at-home tests purchased earlier, but they won’t have to.

Mina Bressler, a mother of two and a therapist in San Mateo, California, was able to buy rapid test kits online and shared some with a parent who works in the service industry and doesn’t have time to “sit at her computer every hour refreshing the Walmart page to see when tests are in stock.”

“I gave her some and her kids went to school. That’s one time and there’s a million of her,” Bressler said.

“Just like vaccines becoming available really shone a light on the inequity of what’s going on in this pandemic, I think testing is the new flashlight for that because who’s going online stalking Walmart? It’s not the most vulnerable people in the county,” Bressler added.

Americans on Medicare won’t be able to get tests reimbursed through the federal insurance plan, but Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program plans are required to cover the cost of at-home tests fully. Those who are not on a covered insurance plan can receive free tests through the forthcoming federal website or from some local community centers and pharmacies.

Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Missouri

STACKER – The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises the majority of cases in the U.S.Researchers around the world have reported that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, making breakthrough and repeat infections more likely.

Early research suggests this strain may cause less severe illness than Delta and the original virus, however, health officials have warned an Omicron-driven surge could still increase hospitalization and death rates—especially in areas with less vaccinated populations.

The United States as of Jan. 4 reached 828,344 COVID-19-related deaths and nearly 56.5 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 62% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 33.4% have received booster doses.

Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Missouri using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Counties are ranked by the highest infection rate per 100,000 residents within the week leading up to Jan. 3, 2021.

Cumulative cases per 100,000 served as a tiebreaker. Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 infection rates in your state.

#50. Harrison County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 347 (29 new cases, -3% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,756 (1,483 total cases)
— 8.2% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 24 (2 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 275 (23 total deaths)
— 5.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#49. St. Francois County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 347 (233 new cases, +28% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,472 (13,760 total cases)
— 24.8% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 9 (6 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 339 (228 total deaths)
— 29.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#48. Randolph County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 348 (86 new cases, +54% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,367 (4,298 total cases)
— 5.9% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 4 (1 new deaths, -50% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 343 (85 total deaths)
— 30.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#47. Adair County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 351 (89 new cases, +37% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,352 (4,144 total cases)
— 0.3% less cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 20 (5 new deaths, +67% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 209 (53 total deaths)
— 20.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#46. Ste. Genevieve County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 352 (63 new cases, +19% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 15,441 (2,763 total cases)
— 5.9% less cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 190 (34 total deaths)
— 27.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#45. Cole County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 352 (270 new cases, +139% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,217 (14,748 total cases)
— 17.1% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 1 (1 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 306 (235 total deaths)
— 16.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#44. Greene County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 356 (1,043 new cases, +93% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,695 (48,930 total cases)
— 1.8% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 1 (4 new deaths, -43% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 289 (847 total deaths)
— 10.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#43. Saline County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 356 (81 new cases, +59% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,632 (4,696 total cases)
— 25.8% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 4 (1 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 378 (86 total deaths)
— 44.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#42. Polk County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 358 (115 new cases, +53% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,256 (5,869 total cases)
— 11.3% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 3 (1 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 255 (82 total deaths)
— 2.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#41. Cooper County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 361 (64 new cases, +106% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,364 (3,252 total cases)
— 11.9% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 23 (4 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 328 (58 total deaths)
— 25.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#40. Ralls County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 369 (38 new cases, -3% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,188 (1,875 total cases)
— 10.9% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 184 (19 total deaths)
— 29.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#39. Benton County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 370 (72 new cases, +112% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 15,656 (3,044 total cases)
— 4.6% less cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, -100% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 370 (72 total deaths)
— 41.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#38. Phelps County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 370 (165 new cases, +41% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,781 (7,480 total cases)
— 2.3% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 7 (3 new deaths, +200% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 451 (201 total deaths)
— 72.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#37. Montgomery County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 381 (44 new cases, +76% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 15,557 (1,797 total cases)
— 5.2% less cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 294 (34 total deaths)
— 12.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#36. Monroe County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 382 (33 new cases, -28% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,065 (1,648 total cases)
— 16.2% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 393 (34 total deaths)
— 50.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#35. Schuyler County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 386 (18 new cases, +50% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 11,845 (552 total cases)
— 27.8% less cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 472 (22 total deaths)
— 80.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#34. Daviess County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 387 (32 new cases, +88% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 15,716 (1,301 total cases)
— 4.2% less cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 205 (17 total deaths)
— 21.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#33. Hickory County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 388 (37 new cases, +185% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 14,239 (1,359 total cases)
— 13.2% less cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, -100% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 472 (45 total deaths)
— 80.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#32. Barton County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 391 (46 new cases, +48% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,237 (2,026 total cases)
— 5.1% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 17 (2 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 357 (42 total deaths)
— 36.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#31. Madison County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 397 (48 new cases, +118% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,980 (2,657 total cases)
— 34.0% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 8 (1 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 339 (41 total deaths)
— 29.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#30. Linn County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 403 (48 new cases, +300% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,055 (2,033 total cases)
— 4.0% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 487 (58 total deaths)
— 85.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#29. Vernon County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 404 (83 new cases, +89% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,444 (3,587 total cases)
— 6.3% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 5 (1 new deaths, -50% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 423 (87 total deaths)
— 61.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#28. Buchanan County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 414 (362 new cases, +77% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,787 (16,413 total cases)
— 14.5% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 5 (4 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 293 (256 total deaths)
— 11.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#27. Marion County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 421 (120 new cases, +19% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,591 (6,160 total cases)
— 31.6% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 7 (2 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 358 (102 total deaths)
— 36.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#26. Clinton County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 427 (87 new cases, +47% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,668 (3,602 total cases)
— 7.7% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 5 (1 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 491 (100 total deaths)
— 87.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#25. Pettis County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 428 (181 new cases, +135% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,041 (8,485 total cases)
— 22.2% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 7 (3 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 309 (131 total deaths)
— 17.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#24. Dent County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 430 (67 new cases, +103% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 15,090 (2,350 total cases)
— 8.0% less cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 405 (63 total deaths)
— 54.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#23. Cedar County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 432 (62 new cases, +138% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 14,677 (2,106 total cases)
— 10.5% less cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 293 (42 total deaths)
— 11.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#22. Franklin County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 441 (459 new cases, +71% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,687 (17,349 total cases)
— 1.7% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 3 (3 new deaths, -40% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 263 (273 total deaths)
— 0.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#21. Henry County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 449 (98 new cases, +34% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,571 (4,053 total cases)
— 13.2% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, -100% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 302 (66 total deaths)
— 15.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#20. Boone County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 453 (818 new cases, +211% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 15,842 (28,589 total cases)
— 3.4% less cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 2 (3 new deaths, -50% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 112 (203 total deaths)
— 57.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#19. Knox County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 455 (18 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,515 (733 total cases)
— 12.9% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 202 (8 total deaths)
— 22.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#18. Warren County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 468 (167 new cases, +80% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,935 (6,037 total cases)
— 3.2% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 210 (75 total deaths)
— 19.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#17. Livingston County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 493 (75 new cases, +200% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,756 (2,856 total cases)
— 14.3% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 7 (1 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 532 (81 total deaths)
— 103.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#16. Cass County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 498 (527 new cases, +61% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,579 (17,537 total cases)
— 1.1% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 4 (4 new deaths, -20% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 213 (225 total deaths)
— 18.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#15. Lincoln County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 498 (294 new cases, +68% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,284 (11,380 total cases)
— 17.5% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 7 (4 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 171 (101 total deaths)
— 34.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#14. Holt County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 500 (22 new cases, +57% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,374 (809 total cases)
— 12.0% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 23 (1 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 545 (24 total deaths)
— 108.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#13. Atchison County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 506 (26 new cases, +24% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,958 (975 total cases)
— 15.6% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 350 (18 total deaths)
— 33.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#12. Dallas County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 515 (87 new cases, +107% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 15,997 (2,700 total cases)
— 2.5% less cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 6 (1 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 350 (59 total deaths)
— 33.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#11. Gentry County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 533 (35 new cases, +35% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,765 (1,693 total cases)
— 57.0% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 426 (28 total deaths)
— 62.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#10. Jefferson County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 540 (1,215 new cases, +94% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,492 (39,372 total cases)
— 6.6% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 4 (9 new deaths, +12% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 204 (459 total deaths)
— 22.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#9. Bates County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 557 (90 new cases, +125% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,091 (2,764 total cases)
— 4.2% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 6 (1 new deaths, -50% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 390 (63 total deaths)
— 48.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#8. Lafayette County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 563 (184 new cases, +20% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,769 (5,812 total cases)
— 8.3% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 278 (91 total deaths)
— 6.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#7. St. Charles County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 591 (2,377 new cases, +117% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,568 (66,608 total cases)
— 1.0% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 2 (7 new deaths, -22% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 186 (748 total deaths)
— 29.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#6. Ray County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 613 (141 new cases, +66% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,374 (3,769 total cases)
— 0.2% less cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 4 (1 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 282 (65 total deaths)
— 7.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#5. Carroll County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 634 (55 new cases, +53% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,691 (1,709 total cases)
— 20.0% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 449 (39 total deaths)
— 71.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#4. Andrew County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 655 (116 new cases, +158% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,794 (3,506 total cases)
— 20.7% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 231 (41 total deaths)
— 11.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#3. Jackson County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 752 (5,286 new cases, +86% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,586 (144,724 total cases)
— 25.5% more cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 4 (27 new deaths, +35% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 268 (1,886 total deaths)
— 2.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#2. St. Louis city, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 1,203 (3,617 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 12,968 (38,978 total cases)
— 21.0% less cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 5 (15 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 215 (646 total deaths)
— 17.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

#1. St. Louis County, MO

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 1,259 (12,521 new cases, +161% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,132 (160,389 total cases)
— 1.7% less cases per 100k residents than Missouri
– Deaths per 100k in the past week: 3 (30 new deaths, +43% change from previous week)
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 276 (2,742 total deaths)
— 5.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Missouri

Nearly one in three COVID tests in Missouri come back positive in past week

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Nearly one in three of all COVID tests taken in Missouri over the last recorded seven days have come back positive.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), the state has recorded 863,885 cumulative cases of SARS-CoV-2—an increase of 10,073 positive cases (PCR testing only)—and 13,299 total deaths as of Thursday, Jan. 6, an increase of 16 from the day prior. That’s a case fatality rate of 1.54%.

It’s important to keep in mind that not all cases and deaths recorded occurred in the last 24 hours.

Missouri has administered 8,573,746 PCR tests for COVID-19 over the entirety of the pandemic and as of Jan. 5, 18.4% of those tests have come back positive. People who have received multiple PCR tests are not counted twice, according to the state health department.

According to the state health department’s COVID-19 Dashboard, “A PCR test looks for the viral RNA in the nose, throat, or other areas in the respiratory tract to determine if there is an active infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. A positive PCR test means that the person has an active COVID-19 infection.”

The Missouri COVID Dashboard no longer includes the deduplicated method of testing when compiling the 7-day moving average of positive tests. The state is now only using the non-deduplicated method, which is the CDC’s preferred method. That number is calculated using the number of tests taken over the period since many people take multiple tests. Under this way of tabulating things, Missouri has a 30.0% positivity rate as of Jan. 3. Health officials exclude the most recent three days to ensure data accuracy when calculating the moving average.

The 7-day positivity rate was 4.5% on June 1, 10.2% on July 1, 15.0% on Aug. 1, and 13.2% on Dec. 1, 2021.

Month Cumulative case-fatality rate
on the final day of the month
March 2020 1.06%
April 2020 4.35%
May 2020 4.71%
June 2020 4.71%
July 2020 2.52%
August 2020 1.81%
September 2020 1.68%
October 2020 1.65%
November 2020 1.28%
December 2020 1.41%
January 2021 1.47%
February 2021 1.66%
March 2021 1.74%
April 2021 1.74%
May 2021 1.77%
June 2021 1.77%
July 2021 1.70%
August 2021 1.68%
September 2021 1.70%
October 2021 1.71%
November 2021 1.70%
December 2021 1.61%
(Source: Missouri Dept. of Health and Senior Services)

The state has administered 104,606 doses—including booster shots—of the vaccine in the last 7 days (this metric is subject to a delay, meaning the last three days are not factored in). The highest vaccination rates are among people over 65.

State health officials report 61.2% of the total population has received at least one dose of the vaccine. Approximately 72.3% of all adults 18 years of age and older have initiated the process.

Vaccination remains the safest way to achieve herd immunity. Herd immunity for COVID-19 requires 80% to 90% of the population to have immunity, either by vaccination or recovery from the virus.

Just 3.46% of 3.3 million fully vaccinated Missourians (or 114,818 people) have tested positive for COVID-19 since Jan. 1, 2021. And 913 people (or 0.03%) of those vaccinated individuals have died from the virus.

The first doses were administered in Missouri on Dec. 13, 2020.

The city of Joplin has vaccinated 60% of its population. St. Louis City, Kansas City, and Independence, as well as the counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Boone, Atchison, Jackson, Franklin, and Cole, have at least 50% of their populations fully vaccinated.

The Bureau of Vital Records at DHSS performs a weekly linkage between deaths to the state and death certificates to improve quality and ensure all decedents that died of COVID-19 are reflected in the systems. As a result, the state’s death toll will see a sharp increase from time to time. Again, that does not mean a large number of deaths happened in one day; instead, it is a single-day reported increase.

At the state level, DHSS does track probable or pending COVID deaths. However, those numbers are not added to the state’s death count until confirmed in the disease surveillance system either by the county or through analysis of death certificates. FOX 2 does not include probable or pending numbers.

The 7-day rolling average for cases in Missouri sits at 6,865; yesterday, it was 6,290. Exactly one month ago, the state rolling average was 2,046. 

The 10 days with the most reported cases occurred between Oct. 10, 2020, and Jan. 6, 2022.

Approximately 50.8% of all reported cases are for individuals 39 years of age and younger. The state has further broken down the age groups into smaller units. The 18 to 24 age group has 104,281 recorded cases, while 25 to 29-year-olds have 74,975 cases.

People 80 years of age and older account for approximately 41.1% of all recorded deaths in the state.

Month / Year Missouri COVID cases*
(reported that month)
March 2020 1,327
April 2020 6,235
May 2020 5,585
June 2020 8,404
July 2020 28,772
August 2020 34,374
September 2020 41,416
October 2020 57,073
November 2020 116,576
December 2020 92,808
January 2021 66,249
February 2021 19,405
March 2021 11,150
April 2021 12,165
May 2021 9,913
June 2021 12,680
July 2021 42,780
August 2021 60,275
September 2021 45,707
October 2021 33,855
November 2021 37,594
December 2021 74,376
January 2022 48,054
(Source: Missouri Dept. of Health and Senior Services)

As of Jan. 3, Missouri is reporting 2,771 COVID hospitalizations and a rolling 7-day average of 2,584. The remaining inpatient hospital bed capacity sits at 20% statewide. The state’s public health care metrics lag behind by three days due to reporting delays, especially on weekends. Keep in mind that the state counts all beds available and not just beds that are staffed by medical personnel.

Across Missouri, 611 COVID patients are in ICU beds, leaving the state’s remaining intensive care capacity at 18%.

If you have additional questions about the coronavirus, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is available at 877-435-8411.

As of Jan. 5, the CDC identified 57,190,371 cases of COVID-19 and 827,879 deaths across all 50 states and 9 U.S.-affiliated districts, jurisdictions, and affiliated territories, for a national case-fatality rate of 1.45%.

How do COVID deaths compare to other illnesses, like the flu or even the H1N1 pandemics of 1918 and 2009? It’s a common question.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), preliminary data on the 2018-2019 influenza season in the United States shows an estimated 35,520,883 cases and 34,157 deaths; that would mean a case-fatality rate of 0.09 percent. Case-fatality rates on previous seasons are as follows: 0.136 percent (2017-2018), 0.131 percent (2016-2017), 0.096 percent (2015-2016), and 0.17 percent (2014-2015).

The 1918 H1N1 epidemic, commonly referred to as the “Spanish Flu,” is estimated to have infected 29.4 million Americans and claimed 675,000 lives as a result; a case-fatality rate of 2.3 percent. The Spanish Flu claimed greater numbers of young people than typically expected from other influenzas.

Beginning in January 2009, another H1N1 virus—known as the “swine flu”—spread around the globe and was first detected in the US in April of that year. The CDC identified an estimated 60.8 million cases and 12,469 deaths; a 0.021 percent case-fatality rate.

For more information and updates regarding COVID mandates, data, and the vaccine, click here.

Missouri COVID cases skyrocket following New Year's weekend

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State health officials stopped updating its COVID-19 dashboard on Dec. 31 ahead of the New Year’s holiday. After three days of no new numbers, the state is reporting a monstrous increase in COVID cases as the virus spread at an unprecedented pace.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), the state has recorded 839,208 cumulative cases of SARS-CoV-2—an increase of 23,374 positive cases (PCR testing only)—and 13,125 total deaths as of Monday, Jan. 3, an increase of 12 from the day prior. That’s a case fatality rate of 1.56%.

If you were to average that single day over the last four days to spread things out over the days where there were no updates, Missouri would average 5,844 (rounded up) cases on those days. For added context, those days would all appear on the top 10 list for days with the most reported cases.

It’s important to keep in mind that not all cases and deaths recorded occurred in the last 24 hours.

The state has administered 105,556 doses—including booster shots—of the vaccine in the last 7 days (this metric is subject to a delay, meaning the last three days are not factored in). The highest vaccination rates are among people over 65.

State health officials report 61.0% of the total population has received at least one dose of the vaccine. Approximately 72.1% of all adults 18 years of age and older have initiated the process.

Vaccination remains the safest way to achieve herd immunity. Herd immunity for COVID-19 requires 80% to 90% of the population to have immunity, either by vaccination or recovery from the virus.

Just 2.69% of 3.3 million fully vaccinated Missourians (or 88,819 people) have tested positive for COVID-19 since Jan. 1, 2021. And 862 people (or 0.03%) of those vaccinated individuals have died from the virus.

The first doses were administered in Missouri on Dec. 13, 2020.

The city of Joplin has vaccinated 60% of its population. St. Louis City, Kansas City, and Independence, as well as the counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Boone, Atchison, Jackson, and Franklin, have at least 50% of their populations fully vaccinated.

Month Cumulative case-fatality rate
on the final day of the month
March 2020 1.06%
April 2020 4.35%
May 2020 4.71%
June 2020 4.71%
July 2020 2.52%
August 2020 1.81%
September 2020 1.68%
October 2020 1.65%
November 2020 1.28%
December 2020 1.41%
January 2021 1.47%
February 2021 1.66%
March 2021 1.74%
April 2021 1.74%
May 2021 1.77%
June 2021 1.77%
July 2021 1.70%
August 2021 1.68%
September 2021 1.70%
October 2021 1.71%
November 2021 1.70%
December 2021 1.61%
(Source: Missouri Dept. of Health and Senior Services)

The Bureau of Vital Records at DHSS performs a weekly linkage between deaths to the state and death certificates to improve quality and ensure all decedents that died of COVID-19 are reflected in the systems. As a result, the state’s death toll will see a sharp increase from time to time. Again, that does not mean a large number of deaths happened in one day; instead, it is a single-day reported increase.

At the state level, DHSS is not tracking probable or pending COVID deaths. Those numbers are not added to the state’s death count until confirmed in the disease surveillance system either by the county or through analysis of death certificates.

The 7-day rolling average for cases in Missouri sits at 5,456; yesterday, it was 3,294. Exactly one month ago, the state rolling average was 2,254. 

The 10 days with the most reported cases occurred between Oct. 10, 2020, and Jan. 3, 2022.

Approximately 50.7% of all reported cases are for individuals 39 years of age and younger. The state has further broken down the age groups into smaller units. The 18 to 24 age group has 101,138 recorded cases, while 25 to 29-year-olds have 72,467 cases.

People 80 years of age and older account for approximately 41.3% of all recorded deaths in the state.

Month / Year Missouri COVID cases*
(reported that month)
March 2020 1,327
April 2020 6,235
May 2020 5,585
June 2020 8,404
July 2020 28,772
August 2020 34,374
September 2020 41,416
October 2020 57,073
November 2020 116,576
December 2020 92,808
January 2021 66,249
February 2021 19,405
March 2021 11,150
April 2021 12,165
May 2021 9,913
June 2021 12,680
July 2021 42,780
August 2021 60,275
September 2021 45,707
October 2021 33,855
November 2021 37,594
December 2021 74,376
January 2022 23,374
(Source: Missouri Dept. of Health and Senior Services)

Missouri has administered 8,493,158 PCR tests for COVID-19 over the entirety of the pandemic and as of Jan. 2, 18.0% of those tests have come back positive. People who have received multiple PCR tests are not counted twice, according to the state health department.

According to the state health department’s COVID-19 Dashboard, “A PCR test looks for the viral RNA in the nose, throat, or other areas in the respiratory tract to determine if there is an active infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. A positive PCR test means that the person has an active COVID-19 infection.”

The Missouri COVID Dashboard no longer includes the deduplicated method of testing when compiling the 7-day moving average of positive tests. The state is now only using the non-deduplicated method, which is the CDC’s preferred method. That number is calculated using the number of tests taken over the period since many people take multiple tests. Under this way of tabulating things, Missouri has a 27.3% positivity rate as of Dec. 31. Health officials exclude the most recent three days to ensure data accuracy when calculating the moving average.

The 7-day positivity rate was 4.5% on June 1, 10.2% on July 1, 15.0% on Aug. 1, and 13.2% on Dec. 1.

As of Dec. 31, Missouri is reporting 2,154 COVID hospitalizations and a rolling 7-day average of 2,251. The remaining inpatient hospital bed capacity sits at 18% statewide. The state’s public health care metrics lag behind by three days due to reporting delays, especially on weekends. Keep in mind that the state counts all beds available and not just beds that are staffed by medical personnel.

Across Missouri, 466 COVID patients are in ICU beds, leaving the state’s remaining intensive care capacity at 19%.

If you have additional questions about the coronavirus, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is available at 877-435-8411.

As of Dec. 30, the CDC identified 53,795,407 cases of COVID-19 and 820,355 deaths across all 50 states and 9 U.S.-affiliated districts, jurisdictions, and affiliated territories, for a national case-fatality rate of 1.52%.

How do COVID deaths compare to other illnesses, like the flu or even the H1N1 pandemics of 1918 and 2009? It’s a common question.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), preliminary data on the 2018-2019 influenza season in the United States shows an estimated 35,520,883 cases and 34,157 deaths; that would mean a case-fatality rate of 0.09 percent. Case-fatality rates on previous seasons are as follows: 0.136 percent (2017-2018), 0.131 percent (2016-2017), 0.096 percent (2015-2016), and 0.17 percent (2014-2015).

The 1918 H1N1 epidemic, commonly referred to as the “Spanish Flu,” is estimated to have infected 29.4 million Americans and claimed 675,000 lives as a result; a case-fatality rate of 2.3 percent. The Spanish Flu claimed greater numbers of young people than typically expected from other influenzas.

Beginning in January 2009, another H1N1 virus—known as the “swine flu”—spread around the globe and was first detected in the US in April of that year. The CDC identified an estimated 60.8 million cases and 12,469 deaths; a 0.021 percent case-fatality rate.

For more information and updates regarding COVID mandates, data, and the vaccine, click here.

Joplin: Where to go for drive-thru COVID testing

JOPLIN, Mo. — Getting a free COVID test just got a lot easier in the Joplin area.

There are two new drive-thru COVID testing sites in Jasper County that don’t require any appointments, with more on the way.

Locations are now open in on Carthage near the fair acres YMCA as well as at 7th and Rangeline in Joplin in a parking lot between big lots and natural grocers. Another will soon be open in Webb City as well as Miami, Oklahoma.

“You get a COVID test, a PCR COVID test, which is the swabbing in the nose and then the results you’ll receive within 24 to 72 hours and you’ll get your results through email,” said Julie Hawkins of Seeds of Hope Staffing Agency

All of the testing sites will operate Monday through Saturday from 8 to 4 PM for as long as they’re needed.

To find out the exact locations of the free testing sites you can visit the Seeds of Hope website here.

Governor Parson to end COVID-19 state of emergency

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced today that the COVID-19 state of emergency will expire on December 31. He had declared the state of emergency back in March 2020.

Governor Parson stated in a press release, “Thanks to the effectiveness of the vaccine, widespread efforts to mitigate the virus, and our committed health care professionals, past needs to continue the state of emergency are no longer present,” Governor Parson said. “Over the last 22 months, we have coordinated with local, state, and private partners to mitigate COVID-19 and work towards returning to normalcy. We all now know how to best fight and prevent serious illness from this virus. The State stands ready to provide assistance and response, but there is no longer a need for a state of emergency.

Only 20 other states have related COVID-19 state of emergencies still in place, with three of those bordering Missouri.

Governor Parson said that Missouri never had mandates or forced lockdowns. He said the main focus was on providing support and assistance to Missourians, health care facilities, and businesses. He also gave encouragement to get vaccinated and stay diligent as we continue to battle COVID-19 while trying to live our normal lives.

It was also stated in the release that Agencies, boards, commissions, and departments are able to pursue rulemaking if permanent changes to regulations are needed after December 31 to improve long-term outcomes for Missourians, health care facilitates, and businesses.

With a COVID-19 vaccination being the best method of serious illness prevention, and over 62 percent of Missourians choosing to get the vaccine, Missouri now stands in December alone with 565,000 doses of the vaccine being administered with 42 percent being part of the primary vaccine series.

It was also communicated to healthcare workers in Missouri that there will be flexibility during this period of transition.

Kansas tops more than 7,000 lives lost to COVID-19; Gov. Kelly issues statement and orders flags lowered

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The Kansas Department of Health said coronavirus cases jumped by 7,083 since Monday.

There have been 37 new deaths, bringing the state’s total to 7,001. There have been 118 new hospitalizations since Monday.

Gov. Laura Kelly issued a statement and directed flags to be lowered to half-staff throughout the state effective immediately to sundown Friday, Dec  31. 

“It is with great sadness that I am ordering flags to half-staff for the seventh time since the pandemic began,” Kelly said. “We have the tools to stop this virus and prevent further unnecessary deaths of our loved ones. Whether you are considering your first shot, or your third, I urge all Kansans to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”

The KDHE also updated its COVID-19 vaccination numbers on Wednesday.

  • 5,901 more Kansans got their first dose of a vaccine
  • 4,632 got a second dose
  • 11,120 got a third dose

Of Kansans eligible to get vaccinated, the KDHE reports 63.13% have received at least one dose, while 54.65% have finished a vaccine series. To find a vaccine, click here.

Missouri will send you a free COVID test

ST. LOUIS – Having trouble buying an at-home COVID-19 test? Missouri will mail one to you for free. Click here to get your test. 

With COVID cases tripling in St. Louis, the demand for tests and booster shots has also increased. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services will ship a testing kit to your home at no cost.

You’ll have to answer some basic questions but should still qualify for a free nasal swab test kit. Once approved, the kit will arrive at your home within two days with a prepaid FedEx return envelope. The test itself is good for up to six months.

Once you administer the test, it must be packaged in the FedEx envelope according to specifications and returned to a FedEx collection site within 24 hours. The test will be shipped overnight to a lab for processing and you should have your results emailed to you. Any delay in shipping could void the test itself.

The testing agency, Fulgent Genetics, says it can test for the omicron variant.

You can also find available free testing sites by zip code via Castlight Health.

Freeman Health System releases latest local COVID figures

JOPLIN, Mo. — Freeman Health System has released their latest figures on COVID related cases under their care.

As of December 22nd:

  • 8 people remain in C-Zone or ICU
  • 14 in medical COVID unit
  • 0 in COVID step down unit
  • 4 in Freeman Neosho Hospital
  • 2 on ventilators
  • 26 total patients in isolation*
    • *31 if including those out of isolation.

The health system says questions on whether or not the cases are delta or omicron is left up to health department testing as they test for variants – not the hospital.

7,500 'concerned' parents, students report school mask mandates, Missouri AG said

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Thousands of Missouri parents and students emailed the state Attorney General’s office about concerns over mask mandates and other COVID-19 protocols according to Eric Schmitt.

Last week Missouri’s Attorney General asked parents to report school districts that were enforcing mask mandates. He asked concerns to be sent to an email after a Cole County judge ruled that public health orders related to the COVID pandemic are unconstitutional.

Schmitt said more than 7,500 emails from concerned parents and students were sent to his office in a week. According to the AG, a majority were from parents and students opposed to mask mandates and quarantine orders.

“We’ve received a tremendous response from parents who are fed up with school districts across the state continuing to force their children to wear a mask all day or quarantine when they’re perfectly healthy,” Schmitt said. “My Office has worked diligently to identify non-compliant school districts and send cease and desist letters to those districts. We will continue to fight these mask mandates and quarantine orders and enforce the law.”

Schmitt sent 52 cease and desist letters to school districts across the state, including multiple districts in the Kansas City area. Each letter was sent because of a complaint from someone involved with the district Schmitt said.

In a statement released Friday Schmitt took credit for “a number of school districts that have either already rescinded or plan to rescind their mask mandates, quarantine orders.”

But other districts, like Lee’s Summit, plan to take legal action to continue to enforce protocols, if necessary. Instead of changing its COVID-19 protocols, a lawyer who represents the Lee’s Summit school board sent his own letter to the attorney general’s office and plans to defend its protocols if Schmitt decides to sue.

Jackson County and St. Louis County have filed a motion to intervene in the court ruling that struck down public health officials and school districts’ abilities to issue health orders.

The two counties argue they want to “preserve the regulations that have enabled local public health authorities to address all matters of public health, not just COVID-19.”