Missouri governor extends ban on gatherings of 10 or more, plans to ‘re-open’ the state
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has extended his order banning gatherings of 10 or more people for another week, announcing Thursday that it will not expire until May 3.
After that, Parson said, he plans to begin re-opening the state so ”people can go back to work.”
“We are seeing very early signs in the data that lead us to be cautiously optimistic that we are beginning to slow the course of the infection,” Parson said. He later said: “I truly believe we are headed on the downward slope. I say that cautiously.”
Areas that have been hardest hit by COVID-19, such as St. Louis and Kansas City, may take longer to fully re-open, Parson said.
The governor’s extension of his social distancing order aligns Missouri with Kansas, where Gov. Laura Kelly extended her previous statewide stay-at-home order on Wednesday.
The announcement came as Missouri topped 5,000 reported COVID-19 cases and 152 deaths. According to models created by the University of Washington, COVID-19 deaths are projected to peak in Missouri on April 28.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and six other northeastern state governors have extended stay-at-home orders to May 15. Cuomo also issued an executive order requiring people to wear a mask in public situations.
The wave of extensions come as President Donald Trump was scheduled to issue guidelines to governors for reopening states during a 6 p.m. news conference.
Parson said state officials will spend the next two weeks working to “prepare to reopen the economy and get Missourians back to work.”
The ability to begin rolling back restrictions will depend on meeting four benchmarks, Parson said.
The state must rapidly expanding testing for COVID-19, he said, an area that has been problematic both in Missouri and nationally.
Second, Missouri must expand its reserves of personal protection equipment. The state recently had to recall 48,000 KN95 masks distributed to first responders because they were found to be defective.
Third, the state will have to continue to monitor, and if necessary expand, hospital system capacity. Construction of an emergency hospital in the St. Louis area was just completed.
Lastly, Missouri must improve its ability to predict potential outbreaks using Missouri public health data.
“We will be following a data driven approach,” he said.
Stay-at-home order?
In recent weeks, Parson has called his social distancing requirement a stay-at-home order. But public health experts said his directive doesn’t qualify because unlike other states, like Kansas, Parson leaves decisions on what businesses can remain open to local authorities.
Parson’s order bans any gathering of 10 or more, including religious services. It also enacts occupancy limits on businesses deemed essential by the federal government, such as grocery stores.
In defending his actions, Parson has noted that, unlike many states, his social distancing order has no exemptions.
On Wednesday, Kansas City’s local stay-at-home order was extended to May 15. Non-essential businesses must continue to cease all in-person operations, forcing them to either operate remotely or temporarily close. Restaurants are only allowed to offer carry out or delivery services.
Other local orders, such as in St. Louis County, have also been extended. Many rural counties have not issued an order.
While Parson has been criticized by some who feel his order is too lax, he’s also facing pressure from his base to let his statewide order expire so that businesses can re-open immediately.
State Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina, has been a consistent critic of stay-at-home orders. On Tuesday, she posted on Facebook that the state should open back up again.
“Our way of life is being destroyed by overzealous government officials who see their role as one of implementing a total nanny state,” she wrote, later adding: “We are intelligent enough to understand the risks and we are sensible enough to adjust accordingly without government FORCING their version of a solution on us.”
Carl Bearden, CEO of the conservative nonprofit United for Missouri, argued Wednesday that while he believes Parson has acted in good faith and done what he thinks is right during the pandemic, “data no longer supports decisions from a week or two ago.”
“It’s time to reopen the state again,” he said. “It’s time to put Missouri and America back to work.”
Saundra McDowell, the 2018 GOP candidate for state auditor who is challenging Parson in this year’s gubernatorial primary, called the governor’s order an unconstitutional infringement on the right to peacefully assemble and the free exercise of religion.
Next week, a group plans to rally at the Missouri Capitol to demand stay-at-home orders be rescinded.
Parson said the group is welcome to protest as long as they abide by the social distancing requirements.
“They have every right to do that,” he said.
This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 3:34 PM.
