Missouri, “reopens”, today May 4th

All Missouri businesses and social events will be allowed to reopen today as long as residents and business owners continue to practice proper social distancing requirements, according to Gov. Mike Parson. Missouri’s economy will reopen in phases, starting today, as the state prepares to lift a stay-at-home order that forced businesses to close for weeks amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Parson says the first phase of the reopening might look different in various regions of the state and local governments will be able to impose stricter limitations if their officials believe it is necessary. Starting today, Missourians will be able to return to all businesses, such as restaurants, manufacturing plants, gyms and, hair salons. Churches, sporting events and social gatherings may also resume, but local guidelines for reopening may supersede the state’s guidelines. Under state guidelines, there will be no limit on the size of social gatherings if people maintain the current six-foot social distancing efforts. The decision to reopen was made based on favorable data and approval from state health officials, but Parson warned reopening will be gradual. The first phase of reopening will last through May 31. State and health officials will re-evaluate the data later in May to determine the next step.

Parson and Rob Dixon, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, stressed that the reopening will be successful only if Missourians use common sense, follow social distancing guidelines and continue proper hygiene. Parson says the number of coronavirus patients in the hospital has taken a significant decline in every region of the state except for the St. Louis area. He says the state reached its peak on April 7 of 1,242 coronavirus patients in a hospital. Parson, along with state, health, and business leaders, said the decision was based on four “pillars” that have been reached — expanding testing capacity across the state, expanding reserves of personal protective equipment, continued monitoring of the hospital and health care system capacity and the improved ability to predict where “hotspots” of the disease might spring up in the state. As of Sunday, nearly 8,400 positive cases of COVID-19 and 350 deaths have been reported in Missouri, according to the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services.