The COVID-19 virus has been having a more significant impact on county residents over the last two months. At the end of October, six people had died. With Tuesday’s announcement of four additional deaths, that brought the county total to 43. Laclede County Health Department Administrator, Charla Baker, says over the past two months infected individuals have been having more severe symptoms. Baker adds that a county or city mask mandate could have saved lives……….

Baker says the problem is that many county residents are refusing to take personal responsibility……..

Lebanon City Council, and the Laclede County Commission, have been asked to institute a mask mandate, but have chosen not to do so.