Mercy Hospital Archives

A video of a group of Missouri nurses getting their groove on has gone viral on social media. Kala Baker and her dancing nurse friends at Mercy Hospital in southwest Missouri’s Springfield are boosting morale by showing off their great dance moves. The video on social media platform TikTok caught the attention of Good Morning America.

Group of Missouri nurses busting out their dance moves sparks viral video

“Obviously it’s just been a little bit stressful around here,” Baker tells Good Morning America. “I saw a video and I thought ‘We could do that.’ And so it was a good way to just step away from our work for a second and bring some joy to the people around us and just to my co-workers.”

The video has had more than three million hits.

“Honestly, we are just still so shocked. We are honored that people even want to watch us dance because we are not dancers,” Baker chuckles.

Baker says they are happy to be serving.

Nurse Kala Baker brings joy to many by dancing on TikTok while working alongside healthcare heroes at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. pic.twitter.com/5rkgfKLyNL

— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 1, 2020

A veteran Missouri lawmaker who has tested positive for the coronavirus is worried that hospitals could run out of vital supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE).

This is a photo of State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, taken at Kansas City’s St. Joseph Hospital on March 19, 2020. He’s tested positive for coronavirus, and requested that the photo be shared with Capitol reporters in Jefferson City

State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, is one of Missouri’s at least 90 confirmed COVID-19 cases. We’ll get an updated number of confirmed cases from the state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) tonight.

Runions has asked that a photo of him at Kansas City’s St. Joseph’s Hospital be shared with Capitol reporters. The photo was taken on March 19. While Runions remains hospitalized, he’s no longer on the ventilator and is breathing normally.

The 79-year-old Runions spoke to Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R) on the phone today, from the hospital. Runions says he spoke with the governor about his experiences and observations as a COVID-19 patient.

“I also urged him to do all in his power to send the necessary supplies directly to our hospitals as quickly as possible. I believe the governor understands the challenges our hospitals are facing and will take the necessary actions,” Runions says, in a news release.

Runions also sent a letter to Governor Parson, after their phone conversation. In the letter, Representative Runions urges the governor to do everything in his power to prevent Missouri hospitals from becoming overwhelmed during the pandemic.

Runions says his doctors at St. Joseph Hospital asked him to seek the governor’s assistance on PPE, because they’re worried they will run out of vital supplies.

“Since I am in isolation, every time a doctor or nurse comes in to check on me, they must put on all manner of gear to protect themselves,” Runions writes. “However, stocks of that equipment are rapidly running low, and doctors are deeply concerned about whether those stocks will be replenished fast enough to keep us with demand. Our hospitals need these supplies.”

There are some supplies coming in, and more are expected.

State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, has tested positive for coronavirus. He is seen here speaking on the Missouri House floor on February 18, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

During Saturday’s press conference at the State Capitol in Jefferson City, Governor Parson and state Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Sandy Karsten announced that personal protective equipment orders have been delivered to 101 hospitals and to 22 EMS providers from the National Strategic Stockpile.

And during a Wednesday Capitol news briefing, Director Karsten announced that DPS and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) were working to get hundreds of thousands of pieces of PPE to local law enforcement officers and other first responders. She emphasizes the importance of equipment like masks and gowns.

“We expect the first orders of that to arrive March 24, and we’re already making plans to distribute those pieces to our partners,” Karsten said on Wednesday.

But Representative Runions worries about demand.

“I have witnessed first-hand how much of these supplies are being used up treating COVID-19, and I am just one patient. I’d say they are using 20 sets of supplies on me every day. The process of getting these supplies directly to hospitals must be greatly speeded up,” Runions writes.

Runions also says his doctors tell him are still aren’t enough testing kits, and is asking the governor to do anything he can to expedite the availability of the kits.

Governor Parson has said the state is working with the University of Missouri to expand COVID-19 testing, which should increase testing capabilities by thousands across the state.

The governor also notes the Mercy Hospital recently set up a drive-through testing site in Chestefield, and notes Quest Diagnostic and LabCorp are now testing. Governor Parson also notes that Lee’s Summit private lab Viracor will have the ability to do more than 1,000 tests each day.

As for Runions, he says he’s getting better but that it will be a long recovery. His focus now is on helping Missouri hospitals and medical staff.

Missouri House leaders in both parties have requested that all House employees stay out of the Missouri Capitol for at least the next ten days.