SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Springfield-Greene County Health Director Clay Goddard spoke about the politicization of COVID-19 in his final briefing.
Goddard announced in January that he would retire from office on February 26. His final instruction took place at a mass vaccination clinic COVID-19 in Springfield.
Goddard noted a decline in cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations. He credits the community for making changes to face the pandemic.
“Because we are dedicated to each other, how we care for each other, it can be easy to remember the frustrations and forget the overwhelming ways in which we come together,” said Goddard. “Let’s not forget the 414 Greene Countians who lost their lives in the past 12 months to the pandemic. This is not a fluke, it is not a cold, it is a dangerous disease that has killed more than half a million Americans. “
He criticized state leaders for making the pandemic a political issue. He thanked Governor Parson of Missouri for allowing communities to dictate policies, despite his unanswered calls for a statewide masking mandate.
Goddard will become the senior director of the Missouri Health Foundation. Katie Towns becomes the acting director of the Springfield-Greene County Department of Health.
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