COVID-19

Some major changes triggered by the pandemic have been made permanent. And the libraries are being honored for a top state award too.

A federal mandate will soon require all U.S. nursing homes to vaccinate their workers or risk losing government funding. But some worry vaccine mandates will worsen staff shortages.

In the past week, the region’s four largest hospital systems have admitted about 40 new patients a day, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force. That’s down from a high of around 80 people a day in August.

Only 18 of Missouri’s 500-plus school districts have signed up for screening testing for COVID-19, even though the program is entirely free thanks to the federal government.

The vaccine mandate applies to state employees, contractors and vendors who work in congregate facilities and certain health care workers, school personnel and higher education employees.

For those who want their loved ones to be safe from the virus, trying to persuade people to get the shot is frustrating but not impossible.

The Board of Education in August passed a mandate requiring school district employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Friday to protect students and staff.

Making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for workers at St. Louis hospitals has not sparked a mass exodus. Hospital officials in St. Louis say the vast majority of their employees have gotten the vaccine by the fall deadlines administrators set earlier this summer.

The St. Louis-based operator of Varsity Tutors is now trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Nerdy also unveiled a strategy to help educators and students recover from COVID-related learning loss.

COVID-19 killed more than 1,300 St. Louis County residents last year, comprising about 11% of all deaths. Only heart disease and cancer killed more people. North St. Louis County residents had the highest COVID-19 mortality rate.