Missouri Gov. Mike Parson denies recent reports of ventilator shortages in SW Missouri Says hospitals have not asked for assistance Dyson via CNN Newsource and last updated 2021-07-08 17:11:14-04 KANSAS CITY, Mo. â As COVID-19 cases have surged in southwest Missouri, hospitals in the area reported ventilator shortages over the weekend. Last weekend, Erik Frederick, Mercy Springfield chief administrative officer, On Thursday, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said the state has over 750 ventilators available for hospitals who need them. "I don't think you want to go out there and be telling the public things that are not true, example when they say there's a ventilator or a hospital ran out of ventilators," Parson said.