Officials with St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau urged area residents to get vaccinated to slow the spread of COVID-19, which they say is starting to overwhelm the hospital’s staff.
During a news conference Thursday, St. Francis’ CEO Maryann Reese said she is preparing to open up the COVID unit again. The hospital closed the unit in March when the spread of the virus had slowed.
Reese said the COVID unit can hold up to 70 patients. St. Francis has 39 COVID patients right now...many of them young people in their 20's, 30's and 40's.
Infectious disease pharmacist Stuart Greaser said the much more contagious delta variant makes up about 90 percent of the virus circulating in the country right now.
With over 320 active COVID cases in Cape Girardeau County, Cape Girardeau City-owned facilities like City Hall will begin requiring masks and encouraging more social distancing and virtual options for service delivery where practical.
Cape City officials are also asking the public to honor the rules put in place by private businesses, households, and public agencies when in their spaces.
