Coronavirus
Top 10 local news stories of 2021
MARYVILLE, Mo. — It doesn’t take Carnac the Magnificent to figure out what tops this year’s Forum Top 10 list as COVID-19 continues to dominate headlines and influence everyday lives across the country. But 2021 was a year of progress and building for the future, as reflected in so many of the top stories from…
Read MoreVirus is stretching resources
Last year at this time I authored a letter to our local papers entitled, “Goodbye 2020.” At that time, I was hopeful that 2021 would look different and by now we would be settling back into some semblance of pre-COVID normalcy. The truth is, that is not the case. COVID is still a significant risk…
Read MoreLocal COVID-19 cases decline for second week
MARYVILLE, Mo. — As of Dec. 21, the most recent data available from the Nodaway County Health Department, there were 106 active cases of COVID-19, down from the peak of 227 reached on Dec. 3, according to the online Nodaway County COVID-19 dashboard maintained by Northwest Missouri State University. The active case count has declined…
Read MoreAG’s letter cuts health dept. support for schools
MARYVILLE, Mo. — After a statewide threat of legal action from Missouri’s attorney general, the Nodaway County Health Department will no longer provide contact tracing services or advice on mitigation measures like quarantines to school districts. Last week, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who is running for U.S. Senate, sent letters to local public health…
Read MoreProtect yourself and others, get vaccinated
For the past several weeks I have left my community nurse liaison hat back at my office and donned scrubs to provide some much-needed assistance delivering monoclonal antibody infusions to COVID-19 patients, in light of the most recent surge. I have appreciated the time spent administering the infusions and providing valuable education to those in…
Read MoreCOVID-19 trends continue
MARYVILLE, Mo. — As of Dec. 13, the most recent data available from the Nodaway County Health Department, there were 131 active cases of COVID-19, down from the peak of 227 reached on Dec. 3, according to the online Nodaway County COVID-19 dashboard maintained by Northwest Missouri State University. The active case count dipped under…
Read MoreStaff shortages end South Nodaway fall semester early
BARNARD, Mo. — Spending most of Monday night’s meeting discussing staff shortages, the South Nodaway Board of Education approved ending the fall semester effective Tuesday, Dec. 14. According to a letter sent to parents and patrons on Tuesday morning, the district has six confirmed positive student COVID-19 cases and an 11 additional students who are…
Read MoreCOVID-19 cases rise even higher, another Nodaway County resident dies
MARYVILLE, Mo. — The number of active cases eclipsed 200 last week for the first time in a year, and another death due to COVID-19 was added. As of Dec. 6, the most recent data available from the Nodaway County Health Department, there were 208 active cases of COVID-19, down from the peak of 227…
Read MoreCOVID -19: City opts into sewershed surveillance program
MARYVILLE, Mo. — The city of Maryville has begun taking part in a statewide “sewershed” surveillance program that tracks the prevalence of COVID-19 and can identify virus variants in participating communities. This summer, when the delta variant of the coronavirus began spreading across the country, local health officials were sure that the variant was also…
Read MoreLocal employers brace for vaccination mandate
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Large employers and health care providers in Nodaway County are preparing to implement a contested executive order that would require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or wear masks while on the job and get regularly tested. The executive order, issued by President Joe Biden last month, lays out requirements for…
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