(Missouri Independent) – Members of the Missouri House on Wednesday floated the idea of pursuing legislation to undermine a mandate from the Biden administration meant to increase vaccination rates in the U.S. The House Judiciary Committee held what Rep. David Evans said was the first in a series of discussions about vaccine mandates, including an executive order […]
Tag: Department of Health and Senior Services
COVID cases among children rising as Missouri Delta variant wave enters fifth month
(Missouri Independent) – Clay LaRue, superintendent of the Van Buren R-1 School District, made a tough decision Sunday. With COVID-19 cases spiking in Carter County in southeast Missouri, and many of those infections among very young children, LaRue shut down the district’s pre-kindergarten program for two weeks. He had previously directed faculty, staff, and students […]
Changes to Missouri’s adult abuse and neglect hotline hours of operation
To better serve those needing to report concerns of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elderly and disabled Missourians, the Department of Health and Senior Services’ Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline will be revising its hours of operations to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. effective September 1, 2021. In November of 2019, the Department of Health […]
Audio: Another 180 Missourians are preliminary winners in COVID-19 vaccine incentive program
Another 180 Missourians are preliminary winners in the ‘MO VIP’ coronavirus vaccine incentive program. The Department of Health and Senior Services says more than 566,000 entries were included in the second drawing on Friday night. Eighty winners randomly selected from each of the Red and White categories will receive a $10,000 prize and […]
Carroll County Memorial Hospital tightens visitor policy due to increase in local COVID-19 cases
Carroll County Memorial Hospital has experienced the highest number of COVID-19 patients since the beginning of the pandemic and locally, the cases continue to rise. Therefore, as of Saturday, August 28, CCMH will be scaling back on its visitor policies. “This change in policy is an unfortunate necessity,” said Dr. Andy Horine, Chief Medical Information […]
Governor Parson ends existing State of Emergency by terminating Executive Order 2002
Governor Mike Parson terminated Executive Order 2002 ending the State of Emergency that had been in effect since March 13, 2020. “In the nearly 18 months we operated under this Executive Order, we have responded to the COVID-19 crisis by providing unprecedented levels of resources and support,” Governor Parson said. “This Order enabled us to respond to the […]
Trenton R-9 School District updates tracing and quarantine guidelines for COVID-19
Updated COVID-19 contact tracing and quarantine guidelines have been released for the Trenton R-9 School District. The guidelines say a positive case will be isolated for 10 days from symptom onset. Close contact will be quarantined at home for 10 days from contact with the positive case. Students who are six feet or closer to […]
Schools to continue mask rules despite legal challenge from Missouri Attorney General
(Missouri Independent) – The schools in Gov. Mike Parson’s hometown will continue to require students, teachers, and staff to wear masks indoors despite a lawsuit filed by the Missouri attorney general challenging public school mask mandates across the state. The Bolivar R-1 Board of Education in Polk County voted in a special meeting this month to […]
State of Missouri expands access to COVID-19 treatment for high-risk individuals
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has activated a state contract with SLSCO of Galveston, Texas, to provide monoclonal antibody (mAb) infusion treatment for 30 days at sites in the following counties: Jackson, Pettis, Scott, Butler, and Jefferson. This contract follows Governor Mike Parson’s August 11 announcement that $15 million would be committed to staffing, equipment, and […]
Missouri State Auditor finds improvements needed in data security for Missouri WIC Information Network System
State Auditor Nicole Galloway has released an audit of the Missouri WIC Information Network System. This system manages data for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — better known as the WIC program — which provides nutritional benefits to more than 90,000 participants. The report made recommendations for improvements in several […]
Missouri Attorney General files class action lawsuit against school districts forcing masks on kids
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt today filed a class-action lawsuit against school districts forcing a mask mandate on schoolchildren and teachers. The lawsuit, which is a reverse class action that was filed earlier this morning, names Columbia Public Schools, the Board of Education for the School District of Columbia and their board members, and the […]
Deadline for entries for second “MO VIP” drawing is Wednesday
To date, more than 540,000 vaccinated Missourians have entered the MO VIP, Missouri’s COVID-19 vaccine incentive program, for a shot at $10,000. Governor Mike Parson announced the launch of the statewide program on July 21. Approximately 45,000 Missourians have entered to win since the date of the first drawing–winners of this drawing will be announced Wednesday, […]
As Missouri students head back to class, state launches new COVID testing program
(Missouri Independent) – Monday marks the first day of school for thousands of students across Missouri and it’s also when schools can begin enrolling in a new federally-funded testing program aimed at helping facilitate a safe return to the classroom. The Department of Health and Senior Services announced Friday evening that Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc., a […]
Second annual report published by Missouri’s Medical Marijuana program
The Department of Health and Senior Services has published its second annual report of the Missouri Medical Marijuana Regulatory Program. DHSS is required to annually submit a report to the Governor regarding the efficient discharge of its responsibilities under Article XIV Section 1 of the Missouri Constitution. Reported activities are based on the program year […]
Case of Legionnaires’ disease reported in Bethany
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, in collaboration with the Harrison County Health Department, is advising recent guests of the Quality Inn & Suites located at 496 S. 39th Street in Bethany, Missouri, of a potential health concern related to possible exposures to Legionella bacteria. DHSS received notification that an individual diagnosed with Legionnaires’ […]
First “MO VIP” drawing to be held this week, deadline for entries is Wednesday
More than 375,000 vaccinated Missourians have entered the MO VIP, Missouri’s COVID-19 vaccine incentive program, for a shot at $10,000. Governor Mike Parson announced the launch of the statewide program on July 21. In the first 24 hours, more than 120,000 individuals registered. “We are encouraged to see more and more people taking the step […]
Missouri seeks to boost prizes in local vaccine incentive program
(Missouri Independent) – Prizes awarded through a vaccine incentive program offered by local public health departments in Missouri may get boosted to $100-per-person under a new federal allowance. After previously rejecting Missouri’s proposal to exceed a $25 limit on prizes paid for with federal funding to incentivize immunizations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently […]
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issues closing order to Heng Feng Food Services in Lexington
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has issued a closing order to Heng Feng Food Services, Inc., in Lexington, Missouri. The order was issued to the operators of the food warehouse after recent visits by DHSS inspectors identified ongoing pest control issues. Heng Feng Food Services, Inc. is a distributor of food supplies in […]
Missouri’s vaccine incentive program promotes MO ABLE as an option for Missourians with disabilities
The Department of Health and Senior Services recently rolled out the new MO VIP Program, the state’s vaccine incentive program that rewards those Missourians who have chosen or will choose to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Starting this month, DHSS will partner with the Missouri Lottery to draw 180 winners in each of five randomized drawings […]
Asian Longhorned Tick confirmed in Missouri
The Missouri Department of Agriculture, working in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and Missouri State University, has confirmed the first finding of an Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in Missouri. Missouri becomes the 16th state with a presence of the tick species, following the first confirmed report of the Asian […]