Centers for Disease Control Archives

Parson: State of emergency declaration was next appropriate step to protect Missouri’s public health

March 13, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor announced Friday evening in Jefferson City that two more individuals have tested presumptive positive for coronavirus in Missouri.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson addresses Capitol reporters in Jefferson City, after he declared a state of emergency in Missouri for coronavirus (March 13, 2020 photo courtesy of the Governor’s office)

Governor Mike Parson made the announcement during a Statehouse press conference in his office, where he declared a state of emergency. The room was full of television cameras and reporters from across the state.

The governor did not provide specific details of the two additional cases during the press conference, because notifications were still underway. The governor’s office announced later in the evening that one of the two new individuals is a St. Louis County resident, between the ages of 50 and 60. The governor’s office says it’s a domestic travel-related case.

The details on the second new case have not been released yet.

Governor Parson and State Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams say 94 patients have now been tested for coronavirus in Missouri: 90 have tested negative. One has been confirmed positive by the Centers for Disease Control. That case involves a college student from the St. Louis suburb of Ladue.

Three have tested as “presumptive positive.” That includes the two new cases announced Friday evening. Governor Parson announced the third presumptive positive case during a Thursday Springfield news conference, saying it involves a Springfield resident in their 20’s who had recently traveled to Austria.

Governor Parson says his biggest responsibility is keeping all Missourians healthy and safe, telling Capitol reporters that his executive order declaring a state of emergency is the next appropriate step to protect public health.

“I also want to make it clear that the declaration is not intended to close public schools. Schools should seek the guidance of local health officials when thinking about closing their schools,” Parson says.

The governor also emphasizes that Missouri’s hospitals and health care professionals are prepared.

“I want to be clear that the declaration has not been made because we feel our current healthcare system is overwhelmed or unprepared,” says Parson.

He says the emergency declaration is aimed at allowing more flexibility to utilize resources and deploying them across the state, where they’re needed most.

Click here to read Governor Parson’s executive order.

Click here to watch Governor Mike Parson’s full press conference from March 13, 2020 at the Statehouse in Jefferson City.

Hawley outlines details about the $9.9 million in coronavirus funding heading for Missouri (AUDIO)

March 11, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s junior senator says the $9.9 million the state will be receiving shortly in coronavirus funding will go to the front lines. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R) says the money will go to state and local health officials.

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley’s official portrait (2020 photo courtesy of Senator Hawley’s press office)

“They’re really the ones both in our state and across the country, it’s local and state health officials who are at the front lines of fighting this virus,” Hawley says.

Hawley voted for the bipartisan $8.3 billion emergency funding package, which President Donald Trump signed on Friday. U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R) voted for it as well.

State Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams testified this week before a joint legislative committee in Jefferson City, saying DHSS is developing guidelines about how the money will be spent.

DHSS has now tested 65 people for coronavirus: 64 patients have tested negative and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has now confirmed that one patient has tested positive. That case involves a college student who’s from the St. Louis suburb of Ladue.

Senator Hawley tells Missourinet that the state will be receiving more testing kits.

“There’s about a million testing kits around the country now,” says Hawley. “There’s going to be four million testing kits available here in just a few more days nationwide and that number will just continue to multiply.”

Hawley says he’s in daily contact with DHSS officials, regarding the coronavirus.

“I get an update everyday on the number of people who are being monitored in Missouri for coronavirus, on the number of people who are being tested and also any requests for resources from local and state officials,” Hawley says.

DHSS has established a statewide public hotline for Missouri citizens or providers who need guidance or information about coronavirus. The number is 1-877-435-8411, and is operated by medical professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Click here to listen to the full four-minute interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, which was recorded on March 11, 2020:

Missouri’s health director testifies about coronavirus funding and St. Louis County case

March 10, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s health director testified Tuesday in Jefferson City about the one presumptive positive result for coronavirus in the state. The case involves a college student who is from the St. Louis suburb of Ladue.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams prepares to testify before a joint legislative committee in Jefferson City on March 10, 2020 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

State Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams testified before the Legislative Joint Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Awareness.

“That patient had, as (St. Louis County Executive) Sam Page has said, had done the right things,” Williams testifies. “She had come from a country which is one of our flagged countries, she had gotten symptomatic.”

Dr. Williams tells lawmakers that the woman called a hotline, got into care and become sicker, then was tested.

Governor Parson and County Executive Dr. Sam Page announced the St. Louis County case at a Saturday evening news conference in Clayton. The woman had recently traveled to Italy.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has not confirmed the St. Louis County case yet. Dr. Page told reporters Saturday that the case is highly likely to come back confirmed as positive.

President Trump signed the coronavirus emergency funding package, which contains about $9.9 million for Missouri. Dr. Williams tells lawmakers that the state has received the appropriation for the funding, but not the funding itself yet.

“Which (the funding) will be incredibly helpful,” Williams testifies. “I’ll cut to the chase, we do not plan to ask for GR (general revenue) funding, we think we have the funds to cover what we need.”

Williams testifies that DHSS is developing guidelines about how that $9.9 million will be spent.

Dr. Williams also testifies that about 35 to 40 tests have been done in Missouri for coronavirus. All of the others in Missouri have tested negative.

Former State Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, who is a physician, also testified before the committee on Tuesday.

He testified that Missouri lawmakers should be ready to dip into the state’s Rainy Day Fund. Schaaf also predicts coronavirus will impact Missouri prisons and hospitals.

Former Senator Schaaf is also calling on lawmakers to give Governor Parson the authority to release non-violent prisoners immediately. Schaaf works for a company that provides health care to Missouri inmates, and emphasizes he is not speaking for the Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC). He also says he did not clear his remarks with the governor.

As for Dr. Williams, he reiterated Tuesday what he said last week to a House special committee: that he’s hoping for the best but preparing for the worst regarding the coronavirus.