COVID-19

A federal emergency declaration that has allowed children to receive continuous Medicaid coverage throughout the pandemic could end soon, and health providers are worried.

An updated COVID-19 vaccine booster shot is hitting shelves in the St. Louis region this week after the federal government approved the shots for emergency use. Area health officials and doctors say everyone who can should get the updated booster, even if they’ve received the vaccine or previous boosters in the past.

The Washington Republican won a crowded GOP primary for the 26th Senate District, which takes in parts of St. Louis County and all of Franklin, Warren, Osage and Gasconade counties.

While COVID isn’t as big a concern this year, fairs are keeping in place some of the protocols they picked up during the pandemic. At the same time, they are keeping an eye on other threats to crowd levels.

Illinois, like the rest of the country, is seeing an increase of cases linked to the new, hyper-contagious variant of COVID-19.

In recent weeks, the BA5 variant has accounted for almost half of all COVID cases in Missouri. But state data doesn’t show how many people have contracted the BA.5 variant or include indicators like age, race or gender.

As fewer people are getting tested for the coronavirus in offices, labs and pharmacies, sewer shed surveillance has become one of the most accurate ways to show the virus still exists in the community. The state and its partners at the University of Missouri are monitoring 112 sites to see if viral particles are increasing and if new variants are emerging in the region's wastewater.

Stephen Limbaugh wrote that Schmitt had no jurisdiction over a ‘novel complaint’ filed in April 2020. Schmitt quickly filed an appeal.

Earlier this month, federal officials recommended the COVID-19 vaccine for that age group after the Food and Drug Administration determined it was safe and effective. Doses of the vaccine, scaled down in size for smaller children, began arriving in St. Louis late last week.

Mayor Tishaura Jones discusses the results of the city’s ARPA survey — and her plans for true reform at City Hall — on "St. Louis on the Air."