Health leaders address rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases across Southwestern Missouri - KY3

(KY3) - Several spots across Southwestern Missouri have been seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases just in the last couple of weeks.

In Greene County, more than 60 people are currently in the hospital, about half of those COVID patients live in Greene County.

Health leaders have reported that 19 of those people are in critical care. .

Health leaders with Cox say there are currently 46 COVID-19 patients hospitalized system-wide.

In Greene County alone, there are now total averages of more than 44 daily cases and 66 county hospitalizations.

One of the major contributing factors -- low vaccination rates health leaders say.

“This uptick in cases is not surprising,” said Lisa Marshall, Director of the Taney County Health Department.

Springfield-Greene County health leaders say vaccination rates in Missouri tend to be lagging behind the nation