JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The state is due to receive thousands of vials of remdesivir, a drug used to treat patients with COVID-19.
The 4,000 vials of the drug, which is enough to treat about 600 patients, are expected to arrive Tuesday morning, Department of Health and Senior Services Director Dr. Randall Williams announced during the state's COVID-19 briefing Monday.
"It's been shown to significantly reduce their morbidity," Williams said of the drug. He said he will work with the Missouri Hospital Association to help distribute the drug to patients who need it the most, many of whom are on ventilators
Williams said the remdesivir's manufacturer Gilead gave a "compassionate care gift" to the federal government to distribute among states.
As of May 11, there have been a total of 9,918 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state and 488 people have died, according to the state's website.
The state saw the smallest increase in new cases, with 74 confirmed cases, reported by the Department of Health and Senior Services since April 5.
"We are very encouraged by the trends we are seeing across the state and people re-engaging in the economy," Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said.
Parson urged people to continue to follow social distancing guidelines, calling it a "new normal."
Also during the briefing, the Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten said there were currently three patients being treated at Ferguson hotel that has been converted to a temporary health care facility to treat people with no symptoms or mild symptoms. A total of 27 people have been admitted.
Karsten said the facility will stay open for now, and the state will reevaluate its usage in mid-June.
The state is currently under phase one of its reopening plan and counties in our area have already begun to reopen, including St. Charles, Jefferson, Franklin and Lincoln.
St. Louis and St. Louis County will begin a gradual reopening on May 18, which will allow some businesses to reopen.
