Gov. Parson announces second Missouri coronavirus case, this one in Greene County
A Springfield resident in their 20s who just returned from visiting Austria is Missouri’s second “presumptive positive” case of coronavirus, Gov. Mike Parson announced Thursday evening.
The person, whose identity was not made public, is currently in quarantine at home.
Parson was quick to note that as of today 73 people have been tested for coronavirus in Missouri.
“Only two people have tested positive, and both are travel related cases,” he said. “So far there has been no community, person-to-person transmission in Missouri.
Five days ago the first case of coronavirus was detected in Missouri. A 20-year-old St. Louis County woman who was studying in Italy was confirmed to have the virus by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hours before Parson’s announcement, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly disclosed three new cases in Johnson County. Early Thursday evening Kelly announced the region’s first virus-related death, that of a 70-year-old man who lived in a Wyandotte County long-term care facility.
She also declared a state of emergency.
Parson said Thursday that access has been restricted at Missouri’s veterans homes and that visitors are no longer allowed at the state’s prisons.
“We knew this was coming,” Parson said, “and we are taking every precaution we can.”
But Parson said he will not at this time be declaring a state of emergency, although he will continue to evaluate the situation.
“The situation changes daily,” he said.
The governor took some criticism Thursday for his response to the pandemic from his presumptive Democratic opponent in this fall’s gubernatorial election.
Asked earlier in the day by St. Louis radio station KMOX if Missouri should follow suit with other states in canceling events with large crowds, Parson said individuals had to make their own decisions.
“It’s not going to come down to government to be able to fix this. It’s just gonna come to... It’s a virus, it’s a virus like anything else,” he said.
Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway took to Twitter to say: “Missourians are looking for leadership. This isn’t it. It’s on all of us to work together to face this crisis — that includes our governor.”
Parson reiterated his earlier comments at his Springfield press conference.
“At the end of the day, we are all responsible for our own actions,” Parson said. “Use common sense. Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands. Stay at home when you’re sick. And if you are told to self quarantine, it is important to follow those instructions.”
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 4:56 PM.
