The Gateway

Though COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available for adults and adolescents in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration has not approved them for children under 12. A St. Louis area pediatrician is advising parents about when young children should wear masks, and the return to in-person learning this fall.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt wants a judge to grant a temporary restraining order against St. Louis County’s face-covering restriction. His office is also suing to invalidate the mandate. County Executive Sam Page says the restriction will remain pending the court battle.

Scott Air Force Base has many connections to the St. Louis region, including how it collaborates with the medical community. One initiative trains military medics in trauma care and another is a shared residency program at an area hospital.

The Archdiocese of St. Louis recently revealed some of its early bishops and clergy held enslaved people. That includes Bishop William DuBourg and Bishop Joseph Rosati. Now two schools named for the men are reckoning with that history.

The Missouri Supreme Court delivered an earthquake for the state's politics and health care communities: It means thousands of people among the working poor will have a way to pay for medical procedures — and a lifeline for rural health care providers. It also fundamentally changes the state's politics.

Advocates worry that a highly contagious strain of the coronavirus could cause staffing shortages and health risks for residents in nursing homes. Many want Congress to pass the Essential Caregivers Act to give people in long-term facilities better care during public health emergencies.

Area hospitals report as much as one-third of their workforce is still unvaccinated. That is a concern as a new wave of cases sparked by the Delta variant sweeps across Missouri.

Health officials in the region are thinking about taking more steps to avoid another wave of COVID-19. Low vaccination rates and the highly contagious Delta variant are two reasons why officials recommend residents go back to face coverings in public spaces.

The state of Missouri has issued a hotspot advisory for three counties southwest of St. Louis as the Delta variant continues to spread. The vaccination rates in Laclede, Pulaski and Phelps counties are lower than the state average.

The future of farming in heavily forested areas like southern Missouri may be under the trees instead of clearing them out. Some landowners who are new to farming are trying out forest farming and are getting help from universities and the government.

Missouri is reporting its highest daily total of COVID-19 cases since January. The increase comes as the Delta variant continues to spread, putting health officials throughout the state on alert.

The Missouri Supreme Court is expected to rule quickly on a lawsuit seeking to expand Medicaid. That decision will impact future ballot issues, the state budget and the amendment process.

Missouri Supreme Court judges have heard arguments in a battle over Medicaid expansion. Three women are trying to gain access to the health care program. Their attorneys reject an argument that the women can’t sign up because the legislature did not appropriate funds.

St. Louis County is planning to announce a COVID-19 vaccine incentive program this week. It is also encouraging residents who might have been exposed to the Delta variant to get tested immediately.

Health officials throughout Missouri are preparing for another potential surge in coronavirus cases. They say there isn’t much that can be done to stop the spread if the Delta variant gains a tighter grip on areas with low vaccination rates.

Missouri's Governor and the federal government do not appear to be on the same page in dealing with the surge in COVID-19 cases. The disagreement comes as state officials have requested assistance from federal health teams to deal with the Delta variant.

Finding help for a child with mental illness is not easy. There are several barriers to treatment, creating a nightmare for relatives. We report on one family’s fight to secure care for their child.

Some people who followed stay-at-home recommendations during the height of the pandemic were unwittingly exposed to an increased risk of getting sick by issues in their homes like mold and rodents.

Hospital officials in Springfield are holding their breath as they deal with an increase in COVID-19 cases. They are also battling low immunization rates.

A fast-spreading coronavirus mutation in Missouri is fueling a rise in cases. The state’s epidemiologist says vaccines alone may not be enough to stop the delta variant.