To further combat the spread of COVID-19 in Missouri, Governor Parson on Friday ordered Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Dr. Randall Williams to issue a Stay at Home Order which is effective April 6 until late evening on Friday April 24. The order will be re-evaluated before it expires and could be restricted or extended.

The order directs all Missourians to avoid leaving their residences unless necessary and to practice social distancing of six feet, when they need to travel outside their homes to work, access foods, prescriptions, health care, and other necessities, or to engage in an outdoor activity. It does not require all businesses statewide to close or cease operation.

Here are some examples of things you can do under this order: 

• Go to grocery, convenience, or warehouse stores

• Go to the pharmacy to pick up medications and other healthcare necessities

 • Go to medical appointments (check with your doctor or provider first) 

• Go to a restaurant for take-out, delivery, or drive-thru

• Go to a place of worship – just make sure that no more than 10 people are in any single space at one time and keep six feet of distance between you and others 

• Take a walk, ride your bike, hike, fish, hunt, golf, and be in nature for exercise – just keep six feet of distance between you and others 

• Receive deliveries from any business which delivers

Individuals shall not do the following things: 

• Visit state office buildings that are closed to the public

• Stand closer than six feet of distance from others

• Visit loved ones in nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and assisted living homes, unless you are providing critical assistance

The order refers to businesses considered “essential” during the COVID-19 response period.  Some examples include, but are not limited to: healthcare workers and in-home caregivers; law enforcement, fire fighters, and first responders; government operations; mental health and social service workers; pharmacy employees; workers supporting groceries, pharmacies and other retail sales of food and beverage products; restaurant carryout and quick-serve food operations and food delivery employees; farmworkers; electricity and utility industry employees; critical manufacturing employees (medical supply chains, energy, transportation, food, chemicals); petroleum, natural and propane gas workers; transportation and logistics workers; communications and information technology employees.

Workplaces that qualify as essential under the guidance may remain open. Workers onsite should take all necessary precautions to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, including practicing social distancing except when performance of job duties require otherwise.

Grocery stores are strongly encouraged to set aside hours, outside of regular store hours, to allow third-party grocery delivery services to provide grocery shopping services for their customers.This will allow individual shoppers to shop during regular store hours, and reduce congestion during such times. This will further allow such services to function in an environment where their services may be in excessive demand.

Shoppers at all retail stores are also encouraged, when possible, to limit the number of people shopping in stores to one person per household at any one time. This will better enable all families to access necessary goods in grocery stores, and further reduce the number of individuals necessary to access such goods.

Daycares, child care providers, or schools providing child care for working families can continue operations but should follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance targeted for those operations.

The State is working with local health authorities to support the order.  Local health authorities and law enforcement maintain the same jurisdiction and authority they have always had.  This order establishes the minimum requirements with which must be complied statewide. Local health authorities may enforce more restrictive public health requirements for businesses or individuals.

As of noon Monday, there were 2,367 cases in Missouri and 34 deaths. There have been 29,480 patients tested throughout the state. 

By Tuesday morning, Howard County had its first confirmed case of COVID-19. It is currently investigating.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prvention (CDC) continues to study the spread and effects of the novel coronavirus across the United States. The virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms. In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

It is critical to emphasize that maintaining six-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus. The CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.

The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance. The CDC will make additional recommendations as the evidence regarding appropriate public health measures continues to develop.

Please check out our Website for updates: Howardcountypublichealthdepartment.com  and Facebook at Howardcountypublichealthdepartment or call us with questions at (660) 248-3100.

Citation:  CDC, Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services