Missouri is seeing a spike in COVID-19 infections, particularly in Springfield and the surround southwest Missouri region.

"We are feeling the pressure of COVID admissions. We have the commitment of our physicians, commitment of our co-workers that we will remain open and we will utilize all of our resources to continue take care of our patients here in our community," said Craig McCoy, president of Mercy Springfield Communities. "We believe the best care is close to home where you have access to your loved ones and the rest of your support network."

Mercy is seeing two important factors driving the rise in COVID cases: lagging vaccination rates and the spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus.

"The one thing that we would ask, and that I think every health care facility would ask, is the public’s help. The one thing that we have as a defense against COVID-19 is the vaccine," McCoy said. "We want to continue to make sure we have health care resources available for all the patients who come whether with COVID or not. And the one thing the community can help us with and we can help each other with is please get vaccinated."

Patients being admitted with COVID are younger and sicker than they have been in the past.

"We’re not seeing many vaccinated patients with COVID. The vaccine helps keep people out of the hospital. If they were to get it, the symptoms are lessened. That’s concrete evidence the vaccine is having an impact," McCoy said.

For more on Mercy's response to the surge in COVID cases, see the national and local media coverage: