Grandview lawmaker is first member of Missouri legislature diagnosed with COVID-19
A member of the Missouri General Assembly from Grandview has tested positive for COVID-19, leaders of the Missouri House announced in a statement Friday evening.
The state representative’s identity was not included in the joint statement released by Republican and Democratic House leaders. But emails notifying lawmakers of the diagnosis on Friday identified him as Rep. Joe Runions, a Democrat from Grandview.
House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, told colleagues in an email that Runion’s doctors say he’s “over the hump” of the disease, although he will remain in isolation for five more days.
Runions, 79, was hospitalized with what was thought to be pneumonia, Quade wrote. He tested positive for COVID-19 Friday.
“Joe got sick on Saturday, March 15, and his doctors estimate he likely contracted the virus sometime around Tuesday, March 10. Joe was last in the Capitol on Thursday, March 12 and wasn’t here for session last week,” Quade wrote.
The joint statement released Friday evening by House leaders said lawmakers and staff who may have been in contact with Runions are still being contacted, and “we have requested all employees stay out of the Capitol for at least the next 10 days.”
“While we learn more and work closely with (the Department of Health and Senior Services) to take every precaution necessary, we keep this member and their family in our thoughts and prayers in their battle to return back to health.”
Both the House and Senate are adjourned until March 30, although House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, expressed doubts that the legislature would return at that time.
The state’s $30 billion budget has not yet been approved, nor has a $40 million funding package aimed at combating the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 6:48 PM.
