After Republican retreat, COVID-19 infections bring Missouri Senate work to a halt
The Missouri Senate halted its work Monday amid cases of COVID-19 among senators and staff, a decision coming as infections soar and after Republicans held a meeting last week that appeared to violate the state’s safety guidance.
“Due to a number of positive COVID-19 cases among members and staff, the Missouri Senate will postpone action related to the special session until after the Thanksgiving holiday,” Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, a Columbia Republican, said on Twitter.
The incoming House speaker also announced that a bus tour of the state for new legislators had been postponed “out of an abundance of caution” in an effort to protect the health of legislators, staff members and the public.
The Senate cases follow a Senate Republican retreat last week near Branson, though it’s unclear whether the infections are related or what role the event played. Gov. Mike Parson, who spoke at the retreat, posted photos showing a largely unmasked, indoor gathering.
The extent of the outbreak wasn’t immediately clear Monday. Rowden referred to “members” in his statement but didn’t say how many senators had been infected.
Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, a Kansas City Democrat, said at least one senator had tested positive and he had heard of another potential case among a senator, in addition to the infection of a key staff member. He said to his knowledge no Democratic senator had tested positive.
Rizzo called the infections frustrating. “We’ve got to get to the root of it, which is this is basic science,” he said, referencing the need for precautions, such as masks and social distancing.
The retreat appears to have violated basic COVID-19 measures put forward by Parson’s own administration, based on photos posted by the governor to Twitter on Nov. 11.
“Met with the Senate Republican Caucus this morning to share my vision for the next legislative session,” Parson tweeted.
Photos accompanying the tweet show Parson speaking to at least 15 people who are seated at tables arranged in a U-shape in a conference-like room. Only one person appears to be wearing a mask and no one appears to be sitting 6-feet apart.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services on Saturday issued a statement advising residents to keep “physically distance, wear masks, use hand sanitizer and avoid congregating indoors” when possible.
Missouri is now reporting more than 4,000 new cases a day, on average. That’s up from 2,800 cases a day the previous week—a substantial climb.
Sen. Mike Cierpiot, a Lee’s Summit Republican, said most Republican senators attended the retreat, held at Big Cedar Lodge. He said people were spaced well at meetings and that some presenters joined by Zoom.
“It was informal. You didn’t have to [wear a mask],” Cierpiot said. “I know the complex wanted you to wear them when you walked around.”
Cierpiot said he believed the COVID-19-positive senator, who he would not name, had already contracted the virus before the retreat.
Big Cedar Lodge spokeswoman Janet Glaser said all workers servicing the event followed the resorts safety protocols, including face masks, temperature screenings and enhanced cleaning.
“We continue to follow the health practices implemented earlier this year, including closely monitoring team members throughout our resort for potential transmission,” Glaser said in an email.
Though health officials have been clear that masks reduce transmission of the virus, Cierpiot said there doesn’t appear to be “any rhyme or reason” to who is infected.
“I’ve seen people that are really, really intensely sensitive to masks and want everybody to wear them all the time, come down with it,” he said. “I’ve seen people that don’t wear them come down with it, so I don’t know where the sweet spot is.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, masks offer protection to those around the wearer but can also help protect the wearer.
Parson spokeswoman Kelli Jones said there was no reason to believe Parson, who has previously had COVID-19, was exposed at the event.
“He was socially distanced the entire time he was at the event and wore a mask except when he was speaking,” Jones said in an email.
A couple of hours after Rowden’s disclosure, incoming House Speaker Rob Vescovo, an Arnold Republican, announced the postponement of the bus tour.
“I am committed to ensuring our new members will be able to benefit from this incredible educational experience at a future date when we can conduct the tour in a safe and responsible fashion that doesn’t risk further spread of COVID-19,” Vescovo said in a statement.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
This story was originally published November 16, 2020 at 11:56 AM.
