Connie Deck

[Steve Edwards @SDECoxHealth]

We have now had over 40 Respiratory Therapists respond to help us. Offers go out this afternoon. This will be such a relief to our staff and allow us to better care for our community in this surge.

[Steve Edwards @SDECoxHealth]

Mercy running out of ventilators is not a management issue. It’s about how rapidly the landscape changes under the delta variant. Sicker, younger, quicker. Mercy responded with lightening speed. They share a great burden of the care in SW Mo. Please support them.

[Steve Edwards @SDECoxHealth]

97 inpatients, 2 more deaths.

As the national media focuses on Springfield as a center of Delta variant, remember it will not stay in SW Mo. There are states and many areas with vax rates far lower. The delta variant is driving this, fueled by unvaccinated kindling. Prepare.

[Steve Edwards @SDECoxHealth]

CoxHealth will be opening our 51 bed COVID ICU. This will help us accommodate more patients, and continue to meet the larger community needs for general medical and surgical care.

[Steve Edwards @SDECoxHealth]

CoxHealth COVID data: 24 currently hospitalized at Cox South, 11.79% positive testing rate last 48 hrs, 110 hospitalizations YTD, 568 positives YTD which has increased from 268 on July 1 (112% increase)

[Steve Edwards @SDECoxHealth]

A united Springfield City Council voted 8-0 (one abstention) to pass a masking ordinance. A difficult decision, based upon sound data, relying upon medical expertise, and I am grateful. Let us mask to protect our city, to protect our economy, to slow the rate of transmission.

[Jarad Johnson @jdjohnson]

Today @CityofSgf will vote on a mandatory mask ordinance to protect the lives of people living in our city.

I encourage council members to listen to experts like @SDECoxHealth over a misinformed vocal minority. #MaskUp417

[CoxHealth @CoxHealth]

Amanda Hedgpeth, VP of Hospital Operations and asst. commander of our Incident Command team, shares at press conference with @CityofSgf, @MercySGF, @SGCHD about alarming rise of COVID cases locally. Please be proactive by staying home and masking to help prevent spread.

[CoxHealth @CoxHealth]

Earlier today, @SDECoxHealth sent the following letter to #SGF Mayor Ken McClure in support of a citywide masking ordinance. We want to share the letter here to explain the rationale for this action. We believe this will save lives in our region. https://t.co/IjItNJJRt8

[CoxHealth @CoxHealth]

This @washingtonpost article focuses on Joplin, a local area where COVID cases are surging. Now more than ever, it's imperative that we take action to stop the rise of positive cases. Let's make national news for other "positive" reasons. https://t.co/nGmS4cUXcu

[Steve Edwards @SDECoxHealth]

CoxHealth COVID numbers (different form Greene county): 9 new covid admissions in 2
Days. Our total positive tests was 244 as of 6/29 and now 351 (one week 43% ⬆️) Admissions will trail positives by +-2 weeks. Masking might slow this down, do we have the will, the compasion?

[Steve Edwards @SDECoxHealth]

Thank you faith leaders! This is amazing and I am grateful for your compassion and support to protect our community, to protect the people we love.

[Steve Edwards @SDECoxHealth]

When I hear its the flu, a hoax, sheep, we have only had 1,000, 50,000, now 120,000 deaths, masking is about my civil liberties, let herd immunity...I can hardly hold my tongue. Please watch this-not just a number- Thank you Hanna, Kyle and Charlotte. https://t.co/lzBWkp6Hzp

[Steve Edwards @SDECoxHealth]

Starting tomorrow, CoxHealth will have approximately 400 employees working from home. This requires software license, technology and high level coordination. I am grateful for our leaders working together to make this happen. We will be expanding this as we can.

[Steve Edwards @SDECoxHealth]

Bless this company. “So we’ve decided to donate our entire supply of the PPE items listed below to front line hospitals with 24 hour emergency rooms in the communities served by our stores.

• N95 Masks
• Face Shields
• 5 and 7 mil Nitrile

[Steve Edwards @SDECoxHealth]

We live in an amazing community. OTC Chancellor Higdon offered equipment, supplies PPEs to deepen our emergency cache. We took it! This literally brought a tear to my eye. Thank you from a grateful healthcare community. @HalHigdon @OTCedu

[Steve Edwards @SDECoxHealth]

Many have inquired how many ventilators we have at Cox. For several weeks we have been adding to our arsenal. We typically have 20-25 patients on vents. Today at South, we have 23 patients on vents. We will soon have 120 vents and adding anesthesia machines we will have 175.

[CoxHealth @CoxHealth]

Starting Monday, we will be offering free virtual evaluations to people in southwest Missouri for COVID-19. The open availability of Virtual Visits for anyone aligns with public health goals of keeping the disease from spreading throughout the community. https://t.co/XTyTQ1sAqA

[Steve Edwards @SDECoxHealth]

CoxHealth is deploying a higher level of visitor restrictions to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 throughout our region, as we remain deeply committed to protecting our patients and community. Effective immediately, no children under 18, only one visitor per patient.