ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Three more Missouri counties have been placed under COVID-19 "Hostspot Advisories" – bringing the total to 14 total counties since July 7.
The surge in COVID-19 cases, which began in Springfield, Missouri last month, appears to be moving east along Interstate 44 towards St. Louis. Phelps County, which includes the cites of St. James and Rolla, and is located about 100 miles west of St. Louis, is now under an advisory.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced the advisory for Phelps, Laclede and Pulaski Counties as the latest under watch. They join Douglas, Texas, Wright, Barry, McDonald, Newton, Jasper, Greene, Camden, Miller and Morgan Counties. All of the "surrounding areas" near those counties are also under the advisory.
"Vaccination rates in Laclede (24.3%), Phelps (31.3%) and Pulaski (32.5%) counties are below the state rate of more than 40%. Experts say at least 70% - 80% of people need immunity to minimize spread within a community," the state reports.
Related
On Monday, the state reported no new COVID-related deaths, despite an average of 500 new cases reported everyday for the past week, according to Health.Mo.gov.
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