Missouri
Parson won’t issue stay-at-home order, eyes Kemper Arena for COVID-19 hospital
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson once again rejected calls to issue a stay-at-home order on Tuesday, even as he announced the national guard is scouting locations like Kemper Arena in Kansas City as emergency hospitals for COVID-19 patients.
Parson said during his daily briefing that he is not ready to heed the calls for a statewide order.
“Everyday we look at the models to see how many counties in Missouri has a positive hit, and how many are multiple hits” Parson said. “And we go by that to make the decisions on what day, if we do a stay-at-home (order) at some point. Right now, I’m not ready to do that.”
He said there are “still 95 counties in this state that has less than five cases of coronavirus. The majority, 75 of them, with one or two. I have to take all that into consideration as I make decisions on how it affects the economy and how it will affect those areas.”
Nearly 300 new COVID-19 cases were reported Tuesday in Missouri, pushing the state’s total to at least 1,327. Another death was also reported, this one in St. Louis County, bringing deaths in Missouri to 14.
Parson announced Tuesday that the Missouri National Guard has been working since last week with various other state and federal agencies to identify possible “alternative care sites” to handle COVID-19 patients.
Among the sites being scouted include Kemper Arena and Independence Event Center, along with the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis and Hearnes Arena in Columbia and others.
These arenas are being considered in areas where the COVID-19 outbreak could result in a lack of available beds for patients, Parson said.
“This is just another example of how we are moving forward to put plans in place, anticipate needs and support communities in this fight against COVID-19,” he said.
Stay-at-home
In recent weeks, Parson has been urged to issue a statewide order by the Missouri State Medical Association, Missouri Nurses Association, the Association of Missouri Nurse Practitioners, the Missouri Association of Nurse Anesthetists and the Missouri Center for Public Health Excellence.
Those medical groups have been joined by local leaders such as Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann and public health directors from urban and rural communities.
On Tuesday, Parson’s likely Democratic opponent this fall -- state Auditor Nicole Galloway -- became the latest to urge the governor to take action.
“A statewide stay-at-home order is necessary because we have a limited window to take steps that will lessen the surge on our healthcare system and that window is closing rapidly. Continuing to wait only delays the inevitable.” Galloway said in a statement Tuesday. “Failure to address the immediate threat to public health will undermine our economic recovery.”
Parson dismissed Galloway’s call.
“I would say the state auditor needs to worry about being the state auditor right now,” Parson said. “This is not the time to play politics.”
Galloway shot back on Twitter.
“Governor, I was elected by voters to act in their best interest and be their voice. Bipartisan leaders, doctors, nurses, and businesses are all calling for this. Let’s agree saving lives should be our top priority. Please listen to them and act.
On Monday, Parson argued that a one-size-fits all approach won’t work in Missouri.
“Everybody has a different version of what we should do on a stay-at-home order for the state of Missouri,” Parson said Monday. “Again, we have to evaluate the whole state and have to look at it county by county and what is happening in those counties.”
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, issued a stay-at-home order over the weekend. Kansans are directed under the order to stay home unless performing an essential activity, such as obtaining food or medicine.
A huge swath of the state is covered by local stay-at-home orders, including Kansas City and Jackson County.
Parson encouraged Missourians to abide by any local stay-at-home order that has been put in place, emphasizing personal responsibility as the only way the state will overcome the outbreak.
“This is the only way we will stop the spread of COVID-19,” he said Monday. “Please, stay at home.”
Jeff Howell, general counsel of the Missouri State Medical Association, said his organization fears if a state-at-home order isn’t issued soon, COVID-19 patients could deplete the state’s available hospital beds, ventilators and precious personal protection equipment.
He then pushed back on the idea that a stay-at-home order will hurt the state’s economy.
“The sooner you do a stay at home order statewide, the better the economic outcomes on the back side,” he said. “When people stay healthier, the economy on the backside will be healthier as well.”
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