Blood shortages are causing delays in patient procedures and COVID is raising food prices leaving more families in need of food. We hear from area blood centers and Harvesters, The Community Food Network.

We take you to the morgue and the ICU to see the impact of this surge, plus we’ll update the CDC guidelines around masks and vaccinations. Guests are Dr. Tim Williamson and Amanda Cackler, RN, director of quality and safety, infection prevention and control.

Last week alone, the COVID positivity rate in Johnson County approached 31 percent. In Wyandotte County, the big concern is the low vaccination rate. Health officers from both counties will join us to discuss what they are doing about these numbers.

We hear from an emergency department doctor from Abilene on the struggles in his community. Dr. Amber Schmidtke, chair, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of St. Mary, also joins.

Amanda Cackler, director of Infection Prevention and Control breaks down our COVID deaths. Dr. Amber Schmidtke, Chair, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of St. Mary, brings us the big picture with nationwide numbers and offers a COVID forecast. Dr. Tim Williamson updates the current crisis with regional and state hospitals. Doctors talk about the impact of Restaurant Week and the Chiefs playoff game on the COVID surge.

Anil Gharmalkar shares his story of survival from COVID. This long hauler now has a permanent reminder of what he went through, something he can’t live without. This over-the-road trucker will join us live from the road, along with Dr. Leslie Spikes, a doctor who has helped him in the long-COVID clinic.

Emergency Department wait times are at an all-time high in many areas due to COVID. We'll tell you how to stay safe and prevent getting hurt, especially in winter weather, so you can stay clear of the ER.

The COVID surge continues to put a strain on the workforce. We’ll hear from a health system leader and the Kansas City area chamber of commerce on the consequences of so many sick workers.

On Wednesday during the Statewide Chief Medical Officers news briefing, some doctors said having a statewide declaration of emergency would be “extremely helpful,” especially for addressing severe hospital staffing problems. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued that declaration on Thursday, January 6. Doctors discuss what this means for hospitals facing staff shortages and patients trying to find a bed.

Dr. Angela Myers from Children’s Mercy and Dr. Steve Lauer from our health system will talk about the record numbers of children hospitalized from COVID-19. Doctors will answer questions from the public on going back to school.