Month: March 2021

by Tamera Heitz-Peek, CMH

Citizens Memorial Hospital is holding vaccination events Saturday, March 6, for qualifying individuals wanting the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

CMH received 1,000 doses of the vaccine Tuesday, March 2, for distribution in Polk and surrounding counties in southwest Missouri. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is the third COVID-19 vaccine now available in the U.S. and is approved for use in adults 18 years of age and older.

As of March 3, CMH has administered 8,040 doses of Moderna vaccine, including those administered with health care partners, to CMH employees, patients, long-term care residents and community members in CMH’s eight-county service area.

March 6 Vaccination Events

CMH will hold vaccination events Saturday, March 6, 9 a.m. – noon, at Citizens Memorial Hospital, Bolivar, and four other locations in Ash Grove, Buffalo, El Dorado Springs and Stockton, Missouri. The vaccination events are free and on a first come, first served basis. Pre-registration is not required.

• Citizens Memorial Hospital, Community Rooms, 1500 N. Oakland Ave., Bolivar – walk-in event (400 doses).
• Ash Grove Health Care Facility, 401 N. Medical Dr., Ash Grove – drive-thru event (150 doses).
• Colonial Springs Healthcare Center, 750 W. Cooper St., Buffalo – drive-thru event (150 doses).
• Community Springs Healthcare Facility, 400 E. Hospital Road, El Dorado Springs – drive-thru event (150 doses).
• Lake Stockton Healthcare Facility, 1523 S. Third St., Stockton – drive-thru event (150 doses).

“This is the first public opportunity for people in our region to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine,” says Mariah Hollabaugh, system pharmacy director at CMH. “Our goal is to vaccinate as many people as possible to protect them from severe illness, hospitalization and death. Adding this new vaccine to our toolbox means more people can get vaccinated. This is a great opportunity for the public to receive one shot and be vaccinated.”

Who Can Be Vaccinated

CMH follows the Missouri vaccination plan, which uses a priority-phased approach to vaccinating individuals. Currently, vaccinations are open to those in Phase 1A and Phase 1B-Tiers 1 and 2 including individuals 65 years of age and older, healthcare workers, those considered essential workers and adults 18-64 with underlying health conditions. The state will allow vaccination of individuals in Phase 1B-Tier 3 starting March 15. Go to https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/priority/ for additional information about eligibility.

Individuals who do not qualify include those who have received either Moderna or Pfizer vaccinations, individuals who have received within the last 90 days (since Dec. 6, 2020) a monoclonal antibody (Bamlanivimab) or convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19, and those who have received within the last 14 days another vaccine for influenza, pneumonia and shingles.

Community Partnership of the Ozarks is offering new services to Springfield’s homeless at the O’Reilly Center for Hope.

CPO is providing showers, including towels and shower kits, and also allowing the homeless to have mail services through the facility.

“These are both critical gaps in services for the homeless population in our community,” Michelle Garand, Vice-President of Affordable Housing & Homeless Prevention, said in a statement. “Because health and hygiene are critical for the hyper-vulnerable homeless population, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic, we know it is important for everyone to have access to showers.”

The showers are available even to those who are not guests of the partner agencies that use the O’Reilly Center for Hope. The showers are available during the center’s regular hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Unless arrangements have been made with a partner agency, showers are first-come, first-served.

The mail service will also give the area’s homeless a chance to obtain help from government agencies or to apply for jobs that require a mailing address.

“Mail services are an additional hardship and struggle for those without homes in our community,” Garand said. “When someone applies for a job or needs to get mail from government, housing and other resources, they need somewhere to receive that mail. This is especially important for those who apply for employment or housing because people need an address to complete application forms and often to receive communication from potential employers or landlords.”

If you know someone who could use these services, contact the O’Reilly Center for Hope at 417-225-7499.Community Partnership Offers Showers & Mail Services for Homeless

Springfield police have identified a man killed in a crash last month on National between Turner and High.

Officers say Kevin Shank, 59, later died from injuries he suffered in the wreck.

Police say a car was heading north on National and merged into the left turn lane. Shank was stopped in the turn lane on his bicycle.

The collision caused Shank to be thrown from his bike. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he died a week later.

The driver of the car and his passenger were not injured.

Police say impairment does not seem to be a factor in the crash.

The St. Louis Cardinals have received approval to welcome fans back to Busch Stadium in 2021, beginning with the home opener on April 8th.

There will be reduced capacity and several rules and regulations, as outlined in the news release (below) from the Cardinals.

ST. LOUIS, Mo., March 4, 2021 — The St. Louis Cardinals, in cooperation with the City of St. Louis and Major League Baseball, announced they have received approval to welcome guests back to Busch Stadium for the 2021 season, beginning on Thursday, April 8.

“We are excited to have our fans back in the stands for the upcoming season,” said Bill DeWitt III, Team President. “We thank Mayor Lyda Krewson’s office, Health Director Dr. Fredrick Echols, and the City of St. Louis Health Department for partnering with us to develop a comprehensive reopening plan that complies with all City health directives and the League’s Return-to-Play Protocols.”

“Reports of new COVID-19 infections have continued to decline in St. Louis over the past month,” said Dr. Fredrick Echols, acting director of health for the City of St. Louis. “Our case positivity rate, the percent of persons tested who have a positive result, recently dipped below 5% for the first time since September 15, 2020. The Cardinals organization has worked diligently to ensure they are able to create and maintain a safe environment for staff and fans. Wearing a face covering, social distancing, cleaning, and other infectious disease control measures they have in place for the stadium should keep us moving in the right direction.”

Mayor Lyda Krewson said, “St. Louis at our very core is a baseball town, and I know our fans are ready to get back to Busch Stadium for another exciting season! Thank you to the entire Cardinals organization for working with us to develop a comprehensive and thoughtful reopening plan that prioritizes everyone’s health and safety.”

To begin the season, up to approximately 32% of capacity will be allowed to attend each game at Busch Stadium. The organization will begin selling tickets to April home games soon, with Cardinals Season Ticket Holders receiving first opportunity to secure tickets for the first two homestands. If inventory allows, ticket on-sale dates for the general public will be determined and announced at a later date.

A number of policies and protocols will be in place to ensure the health and safety of fans, employees, and players in 2021, including:

• Socially-distanced seating: Guests will be seated in pods of four or less with a minimum distance of 6-feet between seating pods in all directions.

• Masks required: Masks will be required at all times in all areas of the stadium, including the seating bowl, unless guests are actively eating and drinking.

• Mobile-only ticketing: All game tickets will be delivered via the MLB Ballpark app, ensuring a touchless entry into the ballpark.

• Cashless transactions: Concession stands, kiosks and other retail transactions made in the stadium will be cashless and only offer credit and debit payment options. Debit cards will be available for purchase using cash with no service fees at a limited number of locations inside the stadium.

• Designated entry gates: Guests will be directed to enter and exit the stadium through one of six designated entry gates to expedite the process and limit crowding at any one entrance. A designated entry gate will be noted on each ticket. Guests will not be permitted to exit and re-enter the stadium.

• Bags not permitted: To reduce contamination and ensure touchless entry, bags will not be permitted to be brought in to Busch Stadium, except for medical or diaper bags.

• Hand sanitizer: Hand sanitizer dispensers will be widely available throughout the ballpark.

• Staff health screenings: All full-time employees and event staff will be subject to health and temperature screenings before entering the stadium.

Additional changes will be implemented to ticketing, concessions and retail operations to further reduce touch points among staff and guests.

“Busch Stadium’s vast open-air footprint, six entry gates and wide concourses gives us the ability to create the safest environment possible for guests to root on the Cardinals this year,” said Matt Gifford, Vice President of Stadium Operations. “We’ve all missed the fans at the ballpark and are confident that all fans will adhere to these policies for an outstanding game day experience.”

The Cardinals will also upgrade Busch Stadium’s HVAC systems by replacing filters in the ballpark to MERV 13 to ensure cleaner air in any enclosed spaces. Electrostatic sprayers and EPA registered disinfectants will continue to be utilized to disinfect rooms and surfaces throughout the ballpark. Additionally, the team’s cleaning partner, SBM Management Services, is working toward GBAC STAR accreditation for Busch Stadium that certifies the organization’s thorough cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention strategies.

Social distancing and proper hygiene will be enforced and encouraged by staff throughout the ballpark. The organization will continuously evaluate all guidelines, seek guidance from local and Major League Baseball health experts, and adjust policies or protocols as necessary.

Fans can view the full list of Busch Stadium policies and protocols for the start of the 2021 season at cardinals.com/backatbusch.

Update 10:30 a.m.: The Missouri State Highway Patrol has identified the victim as Jacob Buckner of Fair Play.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly crash Thursday morning on Highway 13 south of 215 near Brighton.

Troopers say the wreck between a tractor trailer and passenger vehicle happened around 6:45 a.m.

At least one person is dead and a crash team is on scene investigating.

The northbound right lane of Highway 13 is shut down while the investigation is conducted.