St. Joseph mayor urges caution as Thanksgiving approaches

Department reporting another staggering five local deaths due to covid 19 over the weekend.

City leaders say they are concerned on this week of thanksgiving, urging the public to be careful.

Kq2's madeline mcclain with mayor bill mcmurray's plea to the public.

<<many public health officials and hospital staff are dealing with record cases, hospitalizations and deaths but at the same time worrying and preparing for what thanksgiving brings.the mayor says if we all sacrificed a little this holiday -- we could lessen the burden on our health care workers by a lot.

Mayor bill mcmurray, city of st.

Joseph: "this year we're just going to have to give up a little bit so we can get through this virus because we don't want any more people getting sick.

We certainly don't want more people dying."

While covid-19 hospitalizations at mosaic's st.

Joseph location has dropped.the death toll in buchanan county climbed by five since friday..three men -- one in his 40s, another 50s, and in his 60s.and two females -- one in her 80s the other in her 20s.bringing the total up to 70 lives lost.

Mayor bill mcmurray, city of st.

Joseph: "it's hitting some younger people and it's certainly hitting the elderly especially those with co-morbidities.

All of those had comorbidities according to the report so if you have a condition so as diabetes or blood pressure and you get covid, covid just exacerbates that condition and could kill ya so that's why we are trying to stay away from one another.

The mayor asks that you please re-think big thanksgiving plans so that they align with all the safety and health guidelines.keep it small, wash you hands, wear a mask.and be creative -- this the perfect time to show off your american ingenuity.reporting madeline mcclain kq2 news.

The st.

Joseph health department also reports that since friday the county has 218 new covid-19 cases.

The total of confirmed cases now stands at