Sadly, there have also been many more COVID infections than have been confirmed.
This makes a difference because the more people that the virus infects, the more it has the chance to mutate into something even more awful.

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1/24/2022, 7:21 PM
US COVID Totals:
Confirmed Infections 71,645,863
Confirmed Deaths 868,420

Missouri Positivity Rate: 35.2%
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1/25/2022
Missouri Positivity Rate: 35.1%
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1/26/2022, 2:21 PM
US COVID Totals:
Confirmed Infections 72,477,749 |
Confirmed Deaths 874,510

Missouri Positivity Rate: 34.3%

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FOX News Posted: Jan 26, 2022 / 05:28 PM CST
“TOPEKA, Kan. — The state of Kansas now has the nation’s highest rising average of COVID-19 cases per-capita, according to local doctors.
"‘The state that now has the highest average case per capita is Kansas,’ KU Health System’s Dr. Steve Stites said. ‘If you look at Kansas, highest increasing rate in the United States, not exactly the honor you want to receive.’

“The news came alongside the latest statistics from the University of Kansas Health System, which show six more people died of COVID-19 overnight.
The total number of COVID patients at KU Health System also hit an all-time high with 215, up from 213 Tuesday.
Stites went on to say that though the omicron variant is thought to be less severe, people can and do still die from it.”

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"KANSAS CITY, Kan. 1-26-22
On Wednesday, Kansas lawmakers continued their discussion on off-label drug use – specifically, the drugs ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. Two proposals are at the statehouse. Senate Bill 308 would mandate doctors give those prescriptions simply if a patient asks for them for use in COVID-therapy. Senate Bill 381 would require pharmacists to fill those prescriptions. The drugs are favorites among vaccine critics who want to protect themselves from COVID-19.

"Also on Wednesday, the University of Kansas Health System sent a letter to lawmakers on the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee saying that they oppose the legislation. They also called the bill unsafe." FOX News

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"A Kansas Hospital Association report on Wednesday showed COVID-19 hospitalizations are worse now than at any previous point in the pandemic. The report covers all of Kansas, plus the Kansas City metro area."
Topeka Capital-Journal