Missouri State Fair opens amid an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across the state

SEDALIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri State Fair is back as it kicked off today in Sedalia after holding a scaled-back version last year.

State leaders have COVID-19 in mind as the event goes on and are offering COVID-19 testing and vaccinations at the fair.

Many fair leaders are celebrating this year's Missouri State Fair.

Chairman Kevin Roberts says it's not just about showcasing agriculture or the state's 200th birthday, but about its resiliency during the pandemic.

"And to being back the full fair experience that I know everyone was looking forward to," said Roberts.

Watch playback of the fair kickoff in the player below.

The fair won't require masks this year and has the whole grounds open this year.

However, the fair is happening as hospitalizations in the state hit some of their highest marks with nearly 2,300 people in the hospital, with a record 689 in the ICU.

Gov. Parson says he feels comfortable with it since people know more about how to deal with the virus now than before.

Parson said, "We know we have a vaccine. We know ways to treat it by other means that we have that we're putting out there."

The fair will have some stations to monitor COVID-19 as well as protect people against it.

"We have testing stations here at the fairground that I know will have the opportunity to test a lot of people, vaccines available here at the fairground so people can get a shot," says Parson.

While the fair brings in people from all over, the host county of Pettis has a 30-percent vaccination rate.

The fair runs until August 22.