KIRX News

The Adair County Health Department says COVID precautions are still necessary even though a portion of the population has been vaccinated. While those fully vaccinated may have an immunity against COVID-19, the CDC warns that you can still be exposed to the virus and can carry it to someone who isn’t vaccinated via “asymptomatic” transmission. As for vaccination progress, the health department says 2,125 Adair County residents fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, more than 1,400 more who have received the first of two doses of the Moderna vaccine and hundreds of others are receiving vaccines from local pharmacies and providers.

Dr. Saint Rice has been selected to serve as the director of Truman’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion. The University says that throughout his career, Rice has been a passionate advocate for education and has a track record of directing instructional programs to meet the needs of students and organizations. He has more than 15 years of experience in administrative leadership in the fields of higher education and criminal justice, including six years as a trainer and facilitator of diversity, equity and inclusion curricula. Rice will officially join the Truman community and begin his duties May 24.

A man was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Macon County Saturday afternoon. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred in the Long Branch State Park Marina parking lot. The report says 27-year-old Cody Donelson of Macon, lost control of his motorcycle in the parking lot and overturned. Donelson was transported by Air E-VAC to Columbia for treatment.

The FDA approved Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose coronavirus vaccine. This makes it the third vaccine available in the fight against COVID-19. Unlike Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines, Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose regimen eliminates the need for patients to return for a second dose and it can be stored at refrigerator temperatures for months. The federal government plans to distribute nearly 4 million doses of J&J’s vaccine to states, pharmacies, and community health centers across the nation immediately.

The Adair County Health Department confirmed six new cases of COVID-19 over the past three days. Total case count is now 2,308 with 27 active cases and 2,261 people who have left isolation. Three of the cases are in the higher education sector and one is at an address with a
previously confirmed case. The Health Department also confirmed that two previously reported cases admitted to Boone Hospital in Columbia have been discharged to home.

The Adair County Public Library will begin offering browsing appointments starting today. Call ahead to schedule an appointment. The library will allow10 patrons in for half hour appointments beginning at 9 a.m. After thirty minutes that group will leave. A new group will be let in every half hour. Masks are required for those older than age 8. Visitors will be able to select materials and check out and make copies and use faxing/scanning services. The library will continue to offer one-hour computer appointments scheduled in advance. Curbside pick-up will continue to be an option.

A former A.T. Still University student was fatally shot during a home break-in Iowa. Police say 28-year-old Aaron Thompson broke into a home near Ottumwa last Thursday and fought with the homeowner before he was shot. Investigators say Thompson was suffering from a mental health crisis when he entered the home. Police are calling the incident a tragic event and said no criminal charges will be filed. Thompson was a student at A.T. Still University Medical School in Kirksville but was on family leave.

The Adair County Health Department administered 825 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine yesterday during the 2nd dose clinic at The Crossing in Kirksville. These were administered only to people who received their first dose of the COVID vaccine on January 27th. Today’s regional mass vaccine distribution of the Moderna vaccine is for those who registered for the Feb. 10 and/or Feb. 18 events that were cancelled due to inclement weather.

The Macon County Health Department is conducting a second dose COVID-19 vaccine clinic today. The clinic is for those who received their first dose on February 4th and will take place at the Expo Center at the Macon County Fairgrounds. Participants are asked to enter the fairgrounds off Highway PP, to have their first dose vaccination card and to come at the same time as their first dose appointment. If you are unable to make your scheduled time, you are asked to call 660-395-4711.

Kirksville’s first medical cannabis dispensary, on East Charles Street, will open next month. Missouri regulators recently extended the deadline for the state’s medical cannabis companies to open after most of them failed to meet the one-year cutoff to be up and running. The extension gives roughly 260 out of 370 licensed companies to have until September to open. Each deadline extension is based on each company’s specific circumstances.