422,000 IN NATION DIE 247 IN CLAY COUNTY DIE 19 IN RAY COUNTY DIE RICHMOND – The COVID-19 death toll continues to rise in Clay and Ray counties and across the nation. More U.S. residents have died from the virus, 400,000, than died fighting in World War II, President Joe Biden said last week. On Tuesday, deaths surged past 422,000 cases, rising by 5.5% in the week since Biden spoke. Missouri’s death toll stood at 6,968. In Clay County, where about 250,000 people live, nearly 250 people have died – roughly 1 per 1,000. In Ray County, with just 20,000 residents, 19 people are dead, also about 1 per 1,000. The vaccine rollout that started under the Trump administration has been slow to reach residents in Clay and Ray counties, but some people are receiving help. At this time, CVS and Walgreens continue to lack vaccine for general distribution, but nursing home residents – including at Shirkey Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Oak Ridge Assisted Learning Center – have received…