Today’s COVID-19 cases, as reported by Missouri DHSS at 3:30 p.m. on April 1, 2020.
Positive cases in Missouri: 1,581
These numbers are subject to change throughout the day. There will be no updates on the weekend.
Missouri Supreme Court extends suspension again for all state courts, now through May 1
The Supreme Court of Missouri has further extended its statewide suspension of most in-person proceedings through Friday, May 1 and subject to
certain listed exceptions for urgent matters required under the constitution or state law or necessary to protect health or safety.
Spokesperson Beth Riggert says exceptions include “those that have a direct and immediate impact on someone’s life. For instance, there are Constitutional guarantees given to criminal defendants and juveniles facing criminal-type charges. Other cases include temporary restraining orders, emergency child protection orders, orders of protection in domestic violence cases.”
The Missouri Supreme Court
The State Supreme Court already canceled its own in-person oral arguments scheduled in April, but the cases can still be considered. The parties can decide whether they want the case submitted on the written materials, postponed or other options.
The courts can still consider or rule on any matter that does not require an in-person proceeding. The high court’s ruling does not change the deadlines required through Missouri’s electronic filing system.
Riggert says the Supreme Court has left it to local courts to conduct business abiding by CDC precautions.
Local court activities are listed here in a central website.
COVID-19 testing available for Missouri first responders, health care workers WITH symptoms
From D
HSS press release
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is expediting COVID-19 testing and test results for some first responders and other public health and safety professionals by processing their specimens through the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory.
Missourians working in health care and public safety who have had close contact with suspected COVID-19 patients and subsequently experience symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath are eligible, according to the department’s public statement today:
“The lab can provide test results within 24 hours of receiving the specimen — a faster rate than the 8-9 days of some commercial laboratories. This means front-line professionals who test negative and recover from symptoms may return to work sooner and continue providing critical services to fellow Missourians.”
For testing at the state laboratory, first responders must meet two criteria:
- · Close contact with a suspected COVID-19 patient
- · Symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath
First responders who meet these criteria can ask their health care providers to call the 24-hour hotline at 877-435-8411 to request testing. If the patient is approved, the hotline representatives will assist with the PUI (person under investigation) form and send a copy to the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory.
For more information, please see the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services health update::https://health.mo.gov/emergencies/ert/alertsadvisories/pdf/update32320.pdf
Missouri lawmaker says SBA disaster loan portal is slow, shuts down (Includes tips for applicants)
Rep. Wes Rogers, Clay County
Clay County Representative Wes Rogers, D-District 18, has been trying to apply for an SBA disaster loan online since Tuesday.
The coronavirus has immediately damaged his fulltime job, his family’s business selling commercial dishwashers to the hospitality industry and nursing homes. Johnson laid off most of his 20 employees so that they could get unemployment benefits.
Rogers says he is “appalled” at what he calls a lack of planning for helping businesses being shut down.
“We need to take this pandemic incredibly seriously, that said the government should have had an economic plan for when we need to shut things down,” he told Missourinet. “There’s been very little in terms of support for small businesses, I think it’s getting better now that they realize how much harm has been caused.”
The Small Business Administration now offers disaster loans to Missouri businesses, but the many are struggling with the web portal to submit, including Rogers. He says he’s been sharing information with constituents.
“The most frustrating part of this whole thing is that the web site is timing out and the government was not prepared for a mass rush on loans like this. I have no sympathy or understanding for how the government would plan without expecting high volumes on the web site. I’m doing what I can to help people while at the same time being frankly critical of the government’s response with this.”
Rogers tells constituents that even when the loans go smoothly and money moves quickly, “it’s the tip of the iceberg as far as true stimulus to get us back on track.”
These loans are capped at 3.75 percent interest and 2.75 percent for nonprofits over 36 months, with even better loan terms in some cases.
TIPS FOR FILING FOR SBA DISASTER LOANS
Missourinet found some helpful information about filing for an SBA disaster loan from The Loop Community Improvement District website http://theloopcomo.com, The Loop is based out of Columbia, but provides regular public updates.
Keep trying the online system and they recommend you:
- Submit your application during off-hours
- Hit the save button often
- Shift from using Chrome to using Microsoft Edge as your browser
Online submissions are still recommended because you will receive a confirmation of the application and be assigned an application number that will allow you to sign in to the system to get real-time status updates on the application.
Although it is still recommended that applicants keep trying to apply through the SBA Disaster loan portal, this may not be possible for some due to the high volume of traffic. You can also print the paper forms and mail them in or upload them electronically.
Mail completed forms to:
U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center
14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
Email forms to: disasterloans@sba.gov
Here’s a link to the forms:
https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Information/PaperForms
Other instructions for filling out the application available to download.
Columbia and Boone County issue stay-at-home orders
City of Columbia and Boone County leaders hold a live-streamed briefing, practicing social distancing.
Columbia Mayor Brian Treece and Boone County Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill announced new stay-at-home orders to protect the public and essential workers from the spread of COVID-19.
Columbia is home to the Truman VA hospital, Boone County Hospital, the UM hospital and health care system hub, as well as its medical school.
The orders exceed the back-to-school date and Treece says the school district will “accommodate this order. ”
Boone County Public Health and Human Services Director Stephanie Browning confirmed that there are 20 cases in the county as of this morning.
Treece said nothing in the order prevents you from going to the grocery store, the pharmacy, the gas station, the drive-through, and the doctor.
He said because of “healthcare workers and first responders who are selflessly sacrificing, and grocery workers stocking shelves while we stay at home, we honor the seriousness of their work by following the advice and direction of our public health professionals.”
City ordinances violations are complaint-driven and Treece says regulatory workers like building inspectors are being trained to respond and give directions to the offender first. Further violations would be reported to the public health department.
Treece offered this hopeful message:
“We will get through this together. And when we do, may we never take for granted greeting a stranger with a handshake or our friends with a hug. May we be thankful for a crowded football stadium or a packed city council chamber. And may we find joy ina busy morning getting ready for school once again or having to wait 20 minutes for a table in the evening at our favorite local restaurant.”
Calls are down substantially to the Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline — and that’s not good
Calls to the state’s child abuse hotline are down dramatically, and that’s not necessarily a good thing, says Department of Social Services Acting Director Jennifer Tidball.
Director Tidball shares DSS updates at Gov. Parson’s COVID-19 briefing on March 21, 2020.
The drop could be because citizens assume operations are suspended or the more serious reality that children do not have access to some mandated reporters: teachers, school nurses, and daycare workers.
“We typically do see this when we have school out, but it’s much more substantial than we would have expected,” she said in a press conference with Gov. Parson over the weekend.
The Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is 800-392-3738 and calls are anonymous.
“We will not close,” Tidball asserts.
“We understand that families are sheltered close together and there is a lot of anxiety. We just want to make sure that we as a community, and we as Missourians, are able to keep kids safe.”
Gov. Parson in Saturday briefing: Extensions and waivers to help families, drivers (FULL VIDEO)
Missouri Governor Mike Parson held a rare Saturday press conference at the Capitol to continue coronavirus response updates.
Some of the takeaways include:
-Licensed childcare providers can use rules for emergency school closing and exceed facility capacity limits by one-third of normal.
-Dept. or revenue is automatically extending driver’s licenses and motor vehicle registrations by two months from renewal dates. That also applies to inspections.
– March, April and May, registered SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefit recipients get an increase. Families who get free and reduced lunch programs will get additional SNAP benefits. The Dept. of Social Services will reach out to families through the schools to help them enroll in SNAP.
-A federal waiver extends re-certification for SNAP-eligible families by six months.
-Personal protection equipment orders have been delivered to 101 hospitals and 22 EMS providers from the strategic stockpile.
-911 dispatchers must ask callers COVID-19 questions, including potential exposure, travel, medication, and testing to protect and prepare first responders answering the calls.
WATCH THE ENTIRE PRESS CONFERENCE:
BREAKING: St. Louis City, County to enact stay-at-home restrictions
St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis will be adopting new restrictions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the region. The new restrictions, which will take effect Monday, will ensure that residents can meet their basic needs and that essential services will still be provided, but it requires people to stay at home when possible.
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, in a press release, assure residents that they will still be able to go to the grocery store, the pharmacy, and take a walk in a public park in both jurisdictions.
Page tweeted today, “I wish this wasn’t necessary, but it is.”
A resident of St. Louis County died from the disease yesterday.
The announcement adds that County Executive Steve Ehlmann of St. Charles County, County Executive Dennis Gannon of Jefferson County, and Presiding Commissioner Tim Brinker of Franklin County are considering additional restrictions.
More details will be available later. We will update this story.
Gov Parson to ban gatherings of 10 or more, with exceptions (VIDEO OF PRESS CONFERENCE)
Governor Parson says an executive order is in the works to ban gatherings of 10 or more people in the state, with certain exceptions including businesses. He said in Friday’s press conference that citizens would learn more of the details in his Saturday press conference. The governor is now holding daily afternoon press briefings about the state agency responses to the coronavirus outbreak in Missouri.
Watch Friday’s briefing:
Geological drilling and testing to impact I-70 traffic near Rocheport Bridge
Missouri River bridge at Rocheport (Photo courtesy MoDOT)
Traffic may be slowed at the busy 1-70 bridge over the Missouri River near Rocheport.
The bridge is slated to be replaced, with construction starting in 2022. To prepare for construction, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) will gather geotechnical data and survey information. The tests involve drilling holes beneath the surface to get valuable information about the area’s rock and soil stability.
According to a MoDOT release, this process will require occasional lane closures. A single lane of westbound I-70 will be closed at various locations on or near the bridge Tuesday, March 24 through Friday, March 27 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Signs will alert motorists to the closures. MoDOT asks drivers to slow and use caution through the work zone.
There are no emergency lanes on the bridge itself.
Work is weather permitting and could be delayed. For more information about this project: www.modot.org/modot-central-district or call 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636).