COVID-19 surge appears to move to Bootheel region

Missouri’s surge in COVID-19 cases appears to be moving to the Bootheel region of the state, with hospitals in southeast Missouri filling with many critically ill patients.

Meanwhile, the state health department on Tuesday reported 170 additional deaths, bringing to 10,376 the number of Missourians who have succumbed to the virus since the onset of the pandemic.

Information on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard shows six of the 12 counties with the highest seven-day rates of new cases are in the southeast.

Hospitals in Cape Girardeau have 24 patients in intensive care units.