Free COVID-19 Vaccination Event

May 6, 2021

The Regalia Hotel and Conference Center

250 Racquet Club Drive

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

The Camdenton School board is moving forward with ending all COVID 19 protocols.

The decision follows Monday’s school board meeting, which included votes from newly elected members Gail Griswold and Brian Butts who helped push the 4 to 3 vote to finalize the decision.

Members Callie Henze and Troy Risner were the other two who joined Butts and Griswold for a yes vote.

Members Courtney Hullet, Nancy Masterson and Eric Walter voted against the move.

This is a developing story and we’ll being you more details as soon as they’re available.

Lake Regional’s CEO Dane Henry is looking back at a year that saw hundreds admitted to the ER facing the challenge of surviving COVID.

In a letter to the community, Henry talks about the difficulties and challenges the team at Lake Regional faced, as hundreds of patients from the community were admitted with COVID symptoms, 89 of which alone died from the virus at the hospital.

Henry says they’ve since administered nearly 14,000 vaccines to the community and the positivity rate in Camden County alone has dropped from 6.1% to just 4.1%.

Read the full letter below

To Our Community:

One year ago today, on March 22, 2020, Lake Regional admitted its first COVID-19 positive patient. To say a lot has happened since that day is clearly an understatement.

During the past 12 months, health care providers have had to meet what we hope is a once-in-a-lifetime challenge to rapidly develop testing, treatments and vaccine for a deadly airborne virus.

Along the way our team has mourned losses together – loss of certain social freedoms and connectedness, and loss of life. To date, 89 COVID-positive inpatients have passed away in our care.

Lake Regional never laid off or furloughed employees, but many accepted new assignments, such as screening patients at the door or ensuring the safety of coworkers by helping them put on or remove personal protective equipment. I’m proud of the way our team stayed strong during those difficult times.

We’ve also celebrated successes. Since last March, our hospital team has pulled together in dramatic fashion to care for more than 400 COVID-positive inpatients, nearly half of whom required ICU admissions. Throughout that time, we were buoyed by tremendous community support.

Our Laboratory, Emergency Department and Express Care teams rapidly met the challenge of providing testing for our community. In the beginning, we offered only drive-thru options; now testing is available on a walk-in basis at Lake Regional Express Care. More than 20,000 tests have been administered by our health system to-date.

Our clinics quickly ramped up their capacity to offer virtual visits for patients who needed to remain home for their safety or the safety of others. Nearly 7,000 virtual visits have been conducted since March 2020, and this convenient service will continue to be available to our patients.

After the spring wave of hospitalizations last year, we experienced a relatively quiet summer followed by an extraordinarily challenging fall. From October to December, our daily census of COVID-positive patients rarely fell below 20. As I said in our December letter to the community, our caregivers felt the burden of loss and it was a heavy toll.

Then, the tide began to turn. Lake Regional employees started receiving COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 21, 2020. During the past three months, Lake Regional has administered nearly 14,000 total doses of vaccine, including primary and secondary doses. Other community health care providers have been doing this important work, as well. Together, we are bending the COVID curve.

The number of people in our community who have been vaccinated is increasing, and positivity rates are dropping, along with hospitalizations. Camden County’s 7 day positivity rate was 6.1% compared to a state rate of 4.1% as of March 22. Currently, Lake Regional has one positive inpatient after several weeks of the COVID census hovering at either zero or one.

Here’s more good news. We just learned that Lake Regional has been selected by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to receive 500 primary doses of vaccine per week. This confirmation of a steady-stream of vaccine will help us meet the next challenge of vaccinating additional groups as they become eligible. (Visit mostopscovid.com to learn more about vaccine eligibility.)

Now, as we pass the one-year mark in this pandemic marathon, we are looking forward to spring and a season of rebirth. Our health care providers know what’s required and remain cautiously optimistic.

Please help us by doing your part. Mark your calendar for when you become eligible to receive the vaccine and contact your primary care provider to schedule a vaccination appointment. If you don’t have a primary care provider, contact a nearby Lake Regional clinic. You also can register for the state’s Navigator tool at mostopscovid.com.

I’ll close this letter where we began a year ago. As I said about Lake Regional in March 22, 2020, we’re all-in — more than 1,500 of us — doctors, nurses, employees, working together to see this through. As always, you can count on us.

Our Commitment Runs Deep,
Dane W. Henry, FACHE

The Public Health Emergency at the Fort Leonard Wood Base has been rescinded as of Monday this week.

Officials say improved conditions allowed for the order to be rescinded, however General Order #6 that was signed last month will remain in effect for now.

The goal now is to gradually reduce the number of employees working from home and bring them back into their regular on-base locations.

Masks will still be required for all ongoing meetings and events until further notice.

-o-

Sunday’s Mass Vaccination event at School of the Osage was successful.

Officials say 2,000 doses of the new Johnson and Johnson vaccine were administered to those with appointments.

The new vaccine, unlike the previous two, only requires one shot so those who received it will not need to return.

Two more COVID vaccination events are scheduled for this week, on Thursday and Friday.

You can find out more about it here: https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/navigator/

A Lake Area COVID-19 vaccination event postponed in February is happening on Sunday at School of the Osage.

“We look forward to really a great day. I think we have a process that we’ve put in place here, working with other local agencies, that will help to make this a really easy seamless event and we’re just excited to do this finally.”

Speaking on the Ozarks Today with Christian Blood, Lake Regional CEO Dane Henry says the vaccine offered at this event only requires one shot, as opposed to two.

“The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is a single shot. So you come in, get your shot, and you never have to see us again.”

Henry says there is a difference between Sunday’s one-shot COVID-19 vaccine and others that require two shots.

“Pfizer was the first to get the emergency approval from the FDA. Shortly after, Moderna got their approval for their vaccine…both are a two-shot series vaccine.”

Henry says Sunday’s vaccination event is not open to those who don’t have an appointment.

Henry also says the National Guard will be bringing 25-hundred doses of the new COVID-19 vaccine.

Lake Area Agencies Host Mass Vaccine Event, March 7

Slots Already Filled for Region F Event in Osage Beach

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. — Organizers are using names already on waiting lists to fill appointments for a mass vaccination event coming to Osage Beach on March 7.

Lake area health departments and Lake Regional Health System, in partnership with the Missouri National Guard and the Department of Health and Senior Services, are working alongside first responders to plan the mass vaccination event, scheduled Sunday, March 7, at the School of the Osage. Coordinating agencies include public health, health care, fire and police officials. This event, which was postponed from February due to weather, will provide vaccination appointments to 2,500 area residents who have already joined waiting lists.

“Providing vaccines to our community has been an incredible lift to our team, and we are eager to continue this good work,” said Dane W. Henry, FACHE, CEO of Lake Regional Health System.

Overall, demand for COVID-19 vaccination is still greater than the supply providers in the area have received from the state.

“This mass vaccination event is an opportunity to reach people in our community who have been patiently waiting for the vaccine,” said Stephanie Dake, administrator of Camden County Health Department. “With the help of several local partners, we will make a big impact in one day.”

Organizers emphasize that they are drawing exclusively from names already on waiting lists, so there is no opportunity now for someone to sign up for this event.

All participants will be scheduled in advance for appointments. Representatives from participating agencies have begun contacting individuals to schedule appointments. No walk-ins will be accepted.

“All of the agencies involved are firmly committed to providing a safe, orderly environment for participants,” Dake said. “We believe a scheduled, indoor event will best meet the needs of all involved.”

The following are collaborating to host this event.

• Camden County EMA and Community Emergency Response Team
• Camden County Health Department
• Central Ozarks Medical Center
• Lake Ozark Fire Department
• LakeRegional Health System
• Mid-County Fire Protection District
• Miller County Ambulance
• Miller County Health Department
• Miller County EMA
• Miller County Sheriff’s Department
• Missouri National Guard
• Missouri State Highway Patrol
• Morgan County Health Department
• Osage Beach Police Department
• Osage Beach Fire Department
• School of the Osage

Participants are urged to arrive no more than 15 minutes prior to their scheduled time. Individuals will be verified as they enter the lot, and only those with appointments will be allowed to park. Participants should bring a photo ID and mask. To download and complete consent forms in advance, visit lakeregional.com/vaccineforms.

Currently, Missouri is vaccinating Phase 1A populations and 1B Tier 1 and 2 populations. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which only requires one dose, will be given at this mass vaccination site. It is not recommended for individuals who have experienced a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in the vaccine. For information on vaccine components, visit www.fda.gov/media/146305/download.

To view eligibility criteria for Phase 1A and 1B Tier 1 and 2, visit mostopscovid.com. Individuals will be screened and approved according to these eligibility criteria.

For more information, contact the Camden County Health Department at 573-346-5479 or lakeregional.com/vaccine. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit MOStopsCOVID.com.

To learn more about future vaccination opportunities or to register for notifications, visit covidvaccine.mo.gov/navigator or call 877-435-8411.

If you need to be removed from the Lake Regional waiting list, please fill out the form at lakeregional.com/removeme.

If you’re set to receive a second dose of the COVID 19 vaccine, you’ll have to wait until Friday.

Officials with Lake Regional say the vaccine shots are being moved from Monday and Today, to Friday the 19^th and if you had an appointment, it will be honored.

The location of the clinic remains the same, at the former Pier One Imports building inside the Prewitt’s Pointe Plaza.

Participants will need to download the consent form below before arriving on Friday.

Lake Regional Postpones Feb. 15, 17 COVID Vaccine Clinics to Feb. 19

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. — Due to continued hazardous conditions, Lake Regional Health System is postponing all COVID vaccination appointments from Feb. 15 and Feb. 17 to Friday, Feb. 19. Participants will keep their appointment times, and the clinic location is still the former Pier 1 Imports location, 3975 Jr Prewitt Pkwy, Osage Beach, near Lowe’s. 

 Only those with an appointment will be able to enter the clinic. All participants are encouraged to visit lakeregional.com/vaccineforms prior to their appointments to download a consent form. Filling the form out before the event will help speed the vaccination process. All participants also should bring a photo id, an insurance card (those with Medicare should bring their red, white and blue Medicare card) and their vaccination card from their first dose.

For more information on Lake Regional’s COVID-19 vaccine efforts, visit lakeregional.com/vaccine.

If you’re looking to get a time slot to get your COVID 19 shots in Pulaski County, it’s too late.

Officials with the Health Department say all shot clinics have been booked for the Health Clinic being managed by the Missouri National Guard this weekend.

The total number of doses that will be handed out is 2,000.

The Health Department will have more details about additional health clinic and shot opportunity’s coming soon.

The Morgan County Health Department is issuing a warning about a possible COVID 19 exposure.

Officials say a person who’s tested positive attended the Basketball/Court Warming game on Friday at the Morgan County R-2 High School in Versailles.

This same person also visited the Laurie Westside Lanes between the 19^th and the 20^th.

Health Officials encourage everyone who may have been in those areas to monitor symptoms, but they do not suggest self-isolation as the chance of spread is low.

The Pulaski County Health Center say’s they are planning a Vaccination Clinic later this week.

Officials say the National Guard will be helping vaccinate those 65 and older.

It’s scheduled to take place on the 29^th through the 30^th from 8AM to 6PM.

Additional details are expected to be released later this week.

Lake Regional is releasing details about how to get the COVID 19 vaccine.

In a letter, the hospital says they’re setting up a website where people can join the waiting list, as they roll through the phases recommended by the CDC.

The Lake area is currently in the Phase 1A & begging to shift to phase 1B, which is for doctors, medical staff, the elderly and those at extreme risk.

Officials with the hospital say they are setting this up for when they do receive additional doses of the vaccine.

You can log on to http://lakeregional.com/vaccine or call the hospital and leave a request for someone to contact you back for the waiting list.

The cost of the vaccine is free, but there is a small administration fee charged to offset expenses.

A Camdenton Registered Nurse was the first one to receive the Pfizer Vaccine at Fort Leonard Wood this week.

Serena Detlie has worked with Fort Wood’s General Community Hospital for 8 years now in the emergency department.

Detlie is a survivor of a rare form of lung cancer and had been working in a special care unit, until COVID 19, when she returned to the emergency department, in order to help keep it from overloading with backlogs of COVID patients.

Officials with the General Hospital started administering the vaccines on Tuesday, after receiving a limited number from the FDA’s emergency use authorization.

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital began administering COVID-19 vaccinations today after receiving a limited number of vaccines following the FDA’s recent Emergency Use Authorization.

Individuals, representing Fort Leonard Wood’s medical community, law enforcement and fire department were vaccinated, following a prioritization strategy established at the Department of Defense level to be used here as vaccines are received.

According to Col. Aaron Pitney, GLWACH commander, while there is limited vaccine availability, vaccination distribution prioritization will focus on those providing direct medical care, maintaining essential national security and installation functions, deploying forces and those beneficiaries at the highest risk for developing severe illness from COVID-19.

In step with the DoD strategy, GLWACH’s first vaccine recipient was Serena Detlie.

Detlie, from nearby Camdenton, Missouri, has been a registered nurse for more than 25 years and has worked in GLWACH’s emergency department for eight years. She is also a survivor of pulmonary colloid adenocarcinoma, a rare form of lung cancer that left her upper left lobe significantly scarred and minimally functional.

She said due to her health issues she transferred to the relatively lower-stress post-anesthesia care unit a year ago but requested to return to the ED in March “because that is where the need is greatest.”

“Our hospital, like hospitals all across the country — across the world — was hit by COVID-19,” she said. “My co-workers were stretched to the limit; the number of critical patients was rising. Nursing is a calling. Our job is to alleviate suffering and help people. The best way I could do that was to go back to the ED.”

Getting the vaccine is important, Detlie said, because she’s seen what the virus can do to people of all ages.

“Symptom severity varies, but the bad cases are really bad,” she said. “Every breath is a battle. Life is short — nothing is guaranteed — but I want to do everything I can to tip the scales in my favor; in favor of all my friends, family and patients. That includes educating patients, correcting misinformation, wearing a mask, washing my hands and social distancing. And now that it is available, I will take the vaccine.”

According to Defense Health Agency officials, TRICARE beneficiaries enrolled at a DoD military treatment facility are eligible to receive the vaccine at a DoD MTF. TRICARE beneficiaries who receive care at DoD MTFs on a space-available basis can alternately receive the vaccine through the local civilian jurisdiction.

Every service member at Fort Leonard Wood is encouraged to take the vaccine, as it becomes available, “to protect their health, their families, this community and lower the public health risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic,” Pitney said.

“I know that many in our community are anxious to receive the vaccine; we are excited to start administering it,” he added. “Even as we work through our directed priorities of who we vaccinate, we need everyone to continue the practice of social distancing, wearing face masks and handwashing. That, along with vaccines, will turn the tide against COVID. Our team at GLWACH will continue to keep everyone informed of vaccine availability in our area.”

For more information on the DoD COVID-19 vaccination plan, go to www.health.mil/covidvaccine.

The medical industry in the US and Missouri says the Coronavirus is causing extreme mental stress.

A new study finds a correlation between financial stresses and higher levels of depression during the Coronavirus.

Boston university researchers found those with low assets and high covid-19 financial stressors had four times more depression- suggesting that health gaps are widening during the Coronavirus.

Researchers say the results show it’s important for lawmakers to provide economic help – especially to low-income groups, to prevent more mental health issues.

There are a number of free resources offered in the Lake Area and throughout Missouri, including free counseling, financial management and even phone calls for people who simply need to talk.

f your health organization is one of these groups offering free help, please email us at newsroom@krmsradio.com so we can feature it on our website.

From our news partner CBS:

The Miller County Health Department is making some changes to their contact tracing procedures.

According to Administrator Michael Herbert, the county will no longer be directly contacting close contacts of positive Coronavirus cases.

That’s because the case load has skyrocketed, making it extremely challenging for them to keep up with all the calls.

Instead, the health department is encouraging residents who’ve tested positive for COVID 19, to do their own contact tracing and let their friends, families and those who’ve had close contact with them, be informed of the situation.

The County says they will still reach out to those who have tested positive, and will be working to do contact tracing at larger facilities, such as area nursing homes and schools.

More details on what you can do to help can be found below:

COVID-19 Contact Tracing Update in Miller County, Missouri

As COVID-19 rapid testing becomes more accessible and cases increase across the state, most, if not all, health departments struggle to keep up with contact tracing.  This is also the case in Miller County. Delay in tracing has resulted from a number of factors:

• it can take several days for a local health department to receive positive results
• not all lab results are received
• not all lab results have the correct personal or contact information
• many people avoid answering the phone or don’t give complete information

Miller County Health Center and other health departments have worked tirelessly to contact each and every positive case as well as all of their close contacts as quickly as possible.  However, cases continue to rise, and this strategy has become more challenging. We have modified our approach to contact tracing which will allow positive residents to immediately notify their contacts as soon as they receive positive lab results.

Moving forward, Miller County residents do not need to wait for us to begin notifying people they have exposed. Positive residents should refer to the “COVID-19: What happens after I get tested?” document that can be found on Miller County Health Center’s website and Facebook page.  An e-mailed copy can be requested by calling 573-369-2400 or emailing us at mchc@millercountyhealth.com.

While we will still be completing case investigations for positive cases that are reported, the positive resident will have the responsibility to notify their contacts. This will eliminate the wait time and hopefully, stop people from unknowingly spreading the virus.  We are also hopeful that people will feel more comfortable telling their contacts about their positive result versus a stranger on the phone.

Miller County Health Center will continue to assist places where outbreaks are more likely to occur, such as: businesses, schools, and long-term care facilities.

Miller County Health Center will no longer be directly calling close contacts of positive cases. We will focus efforts on case investigations and household contact quarantine.

If you get a call from your doctor with a positive result, you need to take immediate action to slow the spread of the virus within your friends, family and coworkers by following the outlined steps on our “COVID-19: What happens after I get tested?” handout. Please DO NOT wait for a call from the health department to implement your own contact tracing.

You will need to notify everyone with whom you have had close contact with starting two days prior to becoming symptomatic. A close contact is anyone that you were within 6 feet of for more than 15 minutes, regardless of cloth face coverings; or more intimate contact such as hugging, kissing, or contact sports. If you never had symptoms, begin 2 days prior to the day you were tested.

If you had to do this today, how many people would be on your list?  Please act now to reduce that number on a daily basis. Keeping your distance from those outside of your household is important in limiting the spread of COVID-19.

Your close contacts need to quarantine for 14 days after the most recent date they were with you.  There are some new CDC recommendations to reduce the days from 14 to 10 as long as you remain symptom free.  It could be reduced to as less as 7 with a negative test taken five or more days after the exposure to an infected person AND as long as no symptoms develop.  Persons who qualify for reduced quarantine must continue to wear a mask, practice social distancing, and limit contacts until the end of the 14^th day.

We are urging everyone to continue to take responsibility for their own health and to protect others.  Please reconsider hosting or attending gatherings that bring together people that are outside of your normal interactions, especially if physical distancing cannot be maintained.  These activities are high risk for transmission of the virus.

In addition to limiting social gatherings, the Miller County Health Center is still strongly recommending that everyone take these precautionary measures to reduce the spread of the virus.

 Stay home if you are sick.

• Adhere to all social distancing recommendations and do not be within six (6) feet of others outside of your household for more than fifteen (15) minutes.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating. If not available, use hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• It is recommended that face coverings be worn when in contact with someone outside of your household within six (6) feet for more than 15 minutes. Cloth face coverings offer some degree of protection for both parties.

Cloth face coverings are not considered an acceptable substitute for social distancing. Interactions within six (6) feet of a positive case for more than fifteen (15) minutes will be considered exposure regardless if either person is wearing a cloth face covering.

Cloth face coverings should be washed after each use.  Cloth face coverings should be replaced frequently as consistent washing will degrade the fabric and decrease the effectiveness.

It is important to always remove face coverings correctly and wash your hands after handling or touching a used face covering. For more information, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

Testing options are available at every health care provider in the county, some also have rapid testing capabilities.  It is recommended that you call first and ask what is necessary to get tested.

We will continue to update our website’s dashboard almost daily at http://millercountyhealth.com.  Like Miller County Health Center on http://Facebook.com/millercountyhealth.

There are no schools in the Lake Area working with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the CDC to study COVID-19 strategies.

The office of Governor Mike Parson says schools that are participating with the ‘first of its kind’ study are in St. Charles, St. Louis and Greene counties.

The project is a pilot program being tested in December until schools go on winter break.

It’s unknown if the project will be expanded into the Lake area in 2021.

Governor Mike Parson says more help is one the way for hospitals across the state and here in the Lake Area.

Parson says the state will pick up a part of the costs until the end of December.

The Governor says along with the additional staffing, they expect to expand bed capacity.

Parson also says to help with immediate needs, they’ve deployed the military.

COVID 19 cases have recently started to spike across the state and here in the lake area.

In the four-county region, our active totals cases went from around 400 per day to nearly 1,000 per day over the past two weeks.

Governor Parson Announces Partnership with Health Care Services Company Vizient to Expand Statewide Hospital Capacity

(JEFFERSON CITY, MO) – As hospitals across Missouri continue to face staffing challenges due to COVID-19, Governor Mike Parson today announced a 12-week partnership with Vizient, the nation’s leading health care performance improvement company, to bring in additional staff and further expand statewide hospital capacity.

“Since the start of COVID-19, we have continually monitored Missouri’s statewide health care system and focused on supporting our hospitals and health care workers as much as possible,” Governor Parson said. “Staffing continues to be one of the biggest challenges right now, and we are currently doing everything we can at the state level to assist.”

“Other states like Arizona have worked with Vizient through the COVID-19 crisis, so we are hopeful that this will provide meaningful support for our hospitals and the people of Missouri,” Governor Parson continued.

Through the partnership, Vizient will deploy up to 760 additional staff members through its contracted agencies to multiple, geographically dispersed hospitals across the state, including registered nurses, respiratory therapists, and certified nurse assistants. When fully deployed, the plan will add nearly 600 hospital beds to Missouri’s statewide bed capacity.

The state will fund the first phase of the project through the end of this year using CARES Act funding, and hospital partners will fund the remainder.

“The state’s new partnership with Vizient will allow rapid deployment of staff to support hospital capacity in all regions of the state,” said Missouri Hospital Association President and CEO Herb Kuhn. “In the days and weeks ahead, these agency staff workers will provide essential support to our hospitals. We thank Governor Parson for his efforts to deliver these skilled caregivers to help address the staff shortages that present a threat to hospitals’ capacity to provide care to the critically ill.”

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor’s Office has worked closely with MHA, infectious disease doctors, and numerous other health care providers across the state to monitor Missouri’s health care system and ensure adequate resources and capacity.

Since March, the state has waived over 600 regulations, including many to help hospitals and health care providers with staffing needs and other COVID-19 challenges. Missouri has also granted and secured numerous other waivers to expand hospital capabilities and allow more personnel to care for COVID-19 patients.

Additionally, the state has distributed more than 50 million units of PPE, allocated over $5 million to expand broadband for telehealth across the state, and removed barriers to allow doctors to treat more patients through telemedicine.

To learn more about Missouri’s COVID-19 response, please click here. To learn more about the Show Me Strong Recovery Plan and view the state’s COVID-19 dashboards, visit showmestrong.mo.gov. For information and updates regarding a COVID-19 vaccine, visit mostopscovid.com.

There’s a critical shortage of blood in Lake of the Ozarks.

Chris Pilgrim with Community blood Center of the Ozarks.

He tells KRMS News you could win a new Nissan Kick if you give blood during the ‘Drive 2 Save Lives Blood Drive,’ which runs through January.

Pilgrim also says more than 40 local healthcare facilities get their blood and plasma from Community Blood Center of the Ozarks.

You can donate blood on Monday at Camdenton United Methodist Church from 11:30 until 5:30.

CBCO is giving one lucky blood donor a new car in the Drive 2 Save Lives Blood Drive

 Contest will feature weekly finalists for a chance to win the grand prize of a 2020 Nissan Kicks

 November 30, 2020 – Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO), the exclusive not-for-profit provider of blood and plasma for patients at 44 area healthcare facilities, invites blood donors to “Get their Kicks” during the Drive 2 Save Lives Blood Drive, which runs during December and January at all CBCO blood drives and donor centers.

 Beginning December 1, every participant at a CBCO blood drive will be automatically entered to win a 2020 Nissan Kicks compact SUV. Weekly finalists will be drawn, with one of those finalists driving away in the grand prize during the culmination at the giveaway event on February 6. All successful blood donors during the Drive to Save Lives promotion will also receive a comfortable long-sleeved T-shirt, perfect for those colder days.

 “We are so excited to present this opportunity to our loyal blood donors,” CBCO Executive Director Anthony Roberts said. “The pandemic has taken a toll on blood donations and our hope is that donors will be excited about this chance of making someone’s dream come true – winning a new car while saving local lives.”

 Weekly drawing finalists will be selected each Monday afternoon during the contest, which runs through January 31. The grand prize drawing will be on February 6. For full contest rules, go to www.cbco.org/drive/.

On behalf of local hospital patients, CBCO thanks blood donors from across the region for giving life to your community.  

Lake Regional’s CEO Dane Henry is appealing to the community to make smart choices as the number of COVID 19 cases continue to rise.

In a letter, Henry states that current numbers are higher than they were during the summer and testing has been off the charts.

Henry says in one location alone, they saw over 1,000 tests done in a single day.

Lake Regional facilities over the past week, have seen more than 600 positive tests in their service areas, which include Camden, Miller and Morgan along with Laclede and Pulaski.

Currently the positivity rate for Camden county alone is at 55%.