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Missourinet

Your source for Missouri News and Sports

You are here: Home / Archives for Gov. Mike Parson

Missouri intercepts $78 million in stimulus money from people who owe child support

February 15, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

The CARES Act passed by U.S. Congress last year allowed states to block the first stimulus payment to people who owed child support. Last April, Gov. Mike Parson said he was supportive of using that approach.

Missouri intercepts $78 million in stimulus money from people who owe child support

“If you owe for your children, you need to pay for your kids. They should be a priority of yourselves,” the governor said during a coronavirus briefing on April 10, 2020. “If there’s an opportunity to take that money and make sure we get it to those kids where they need it, by all means we’ll be taking it.”

According to Parson spokeswoman Kelli Jones, the Missouri Legislature passed a bill during last November’s special session that allows the state to continue intercepting federal stimulus payments to pay custodial parents money they are owed.

Rebecca Woelfel, spokesperson for the state Department of Social Services, says between May 2020 and January 2021, Missouri captured $78.8 million total in stimulus payments from 60,842 individuals who owe child support.

Woelfel says most of the funds go to the custodial parent. Four-percent of the funds were retained for debt owed to the state for custodial parents who executed an assignment of rights for periods when the family received TANF, temporary financial aid to needy Missouri families.

Under the first stimulus plan passed by U.S. Congress last year, Americans who make $75,000 or less a year received a payment for $1,200 or $2,400 for married couples. Plus, they received $500 per child. The second stimulus payment was $600 per adult, $1,200 per married couple, and up to $600 for each qualifying child.

The payments were intended to provide an injection of cash to millions of Americans struggling to get by while the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the economy.

Copyright © 2021 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Legislature, News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: CARES Act, coronavirus stimulus payments, Gov. Mike Parson, Kelli Jones, Missouri Department of Social Services, Missouri legislature, Rebecca Woelfel, TANF, U.S. Congress

Gov. Parson says St. Louis region partners not sharing vaccine as agreed, accuses local health leaders of “spreading fear and panic” (VIDEO)

February 12, 2021 By Ashley Byrd

Governor Mike Parson began today’s press conference by taking issue with how the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force is characterizing the state’s vaccine distribution.  Dr. Alex Garza, incident commander of the task force. Garza told the St. Louis Post Dispatch, “We don’t believe that we’re being allocated the amount that we need in order to address the needs of our region given its population size.” This spurred other counties to ask the governor for clarification.

Parson responded that the St. Louis region gets 37 percent of the doses allocated to the state through a rapid-distribution partnership with selected hospitals in each region of the state.  However, Parson says that the St. Louis County Health Department has not gotten its share of the doses it was supposed to have gotten from the partnership.

Currently, there are approximately 50,000 first and second doses in the St. Louis area that have not been reported as administered,” Parson said. “There should be no problem with this vaccine being shared with other agencies which was the agreement that was made.”

The task force stands by its count, saying the region get about 20,000 doses.

“We are confident in the way we estimate the number of doses received by Region C, and our goal has always been to ensure fair and equitable distribution of vaccine with all of our partners,” Garza said in a press statement.

In the briefing, Parson also acknowledged that the state is struggling with vaccine supply.

“Every vaccinator in every region is requesting more vaccine than they are currently receiving because quite simply the demands for the vaccine still far outweigh the supply and we are doing everything we can to get the vaccines out as quickly as the supply will allow,” Parson said,

Watch the entire briefing:

Filed Under: Health / Medicine, News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Alex Garza, Gov. Mike Parson, St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force

10 mass vaccination clinics planned this week in Missouri

February 2, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

The state is holding ten high volume COVID-19 vaccination events this week. The state, along with the Missouri National Guard, Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), and local health care systems are putting on the clinics.

10 mass vaccination clinics planned this week in Missouri

Missourians who are eligible to get a vaccination include health care workers, first responders, those 65 years and older, and individuals with certain health conditions who are at risk of getting the coronavirus.

For event sign-up information, visit MOStopsCOVID.com/events.

Region A
• County: Henry
• Location: Clinton First Baptist Church, 1531 N Vansant Rd., Clinton, MO 64735
• Date: Friday, February 5, 2021
• Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (or until supply is out)

Region B
• County: Marion and Ralls
• Location: Hannibal Inn & Conference Center, 4141 Market St., Hannibal, MO 63401
• Date: Friday, February 5, 2021
• Time: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (or until supply is out)

Region C
• County: St. Francois
• Address: Community Civic Center, 2 Black Knight Dr., Farmington, MO 63640
• Date: Thursday, February 4, 2021
• Time: 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (or until supply is out)

Region D
• County: Greene
• Location: Ozark Empire Fair Grounds, 3001 N. Grant Ave., Springfield, MO 65802
• Date: Friday, February 5, 2021
• Time: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (or until supply is out)

Region E
• County: Pemiscott
• Location: Centry Casino Caruthersville, 777 E Third St., Caruthersville, MO 63830
• Date: Friday, February 5, 2021
• Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (or until supply is out)

Region F
• County: Cole
• Location: The Linc, 1299 Lafayette St., Jefferson City, MO 65101
• Date: Friday, February 5, 2021
• Time: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (or until supply is out)

Region G
• County: Douglas
• Location: MOCH Wellness Center, 603 NW 10th Ave., Ava, MO 65608
• Date: Saturday, February 6, 2021
• Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (or until supply is out)

Region H
Site 1
• County: Livingston
• Location: Methodist Church, 1414 Walnut St., Chillicothe, MO 64601
• Date: Thursday, February 4, 2021
• Time: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (or until supply is out)

Site 2
• County: Harrison
• Location: South Harrison High School, 3400 Bulldog Ave., Bethany, MO 64424
• Date: Saturday, February 6, 2021
• Time: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (or until supply is out)

Region I
• County: Phelps
• Location: Phelps Health Respiratory Screening Station, 1000 W 10th St., Rolla, MO 65401
• Date: Thursday and Friday, February 4 – 5, 2021
• Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (or until supply is out)

The first week of mass vaccination events took place last weekend with nearly 20,000 Missourians receiving an initial coronavirus vaccine dose. To date, Missouri providers have completed more than 533,660 doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

In total, there will be 27 separate mass vaccination events hosted by the state. A press release from Gov. Mike Parson’s office says the National Guard and DHSS vaccination teams will return to each site after 21 days to give the second dose vaccinations.

Copyright © 2021 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Health / Medicine, News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: COVID-19, Gov. Mike Parson, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Missouri National Guard

State rolls out COVID-19 vaccine dashboard with Missouri-specific data

January 26, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

The state has launched today a new COVID-19 vaccination dashboard containing Missouri-specific data submitted by providers statewide. Gov. Mike Parson made the announcement in a press release.

State rolls out COVID-19 vaccine dashboard with Missouri-specific data

“This dashboard will provide Missourians with the most up-to-date, Missouri-specific data available, Parson said. “It is important that we provide this resource and be as transparent as possible, especially as some individuals tasked with reporting Missouri’s vaccine data often fail to report the complete picture.”

The interactive dashboard includes total doses given and distinguishes the number of individuals who have received one dose or both doses. Seven-day averages of doses administered are also included as well as demographic information on individuals who have received at least one dose. This information shows the shares of individual populations by age group, sex, race, and ethnicity.

What the dashboard does not currently show is how many doses of vaccine have been delivered to Missouri. State Department of Health and Senior Services spokeswoman Lisa Cox tells Missourinet the agency is working to eventually include that information.

According to the dashboard, Cape Girardeau County in southeast Missouri leads the state in number of vaccinations completed with 9.6%, followed by neighboring Scott County with 7.6% and central Missouri’s Boone County with 6.4%.

To view the dashboard, click here.

See earlier story:

Missouri is building a COVID-19 vaccine-specific dashboard

Missouri is building a COVID-19 vaccine-specific dashboard

Copyright © 2021 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Health / Medicine, News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: COVID-19, Gov. Mike Parson

Missouri Capitol heightens security after FBI warning of armed protests; House discusses emergency plans

January 13, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

The Missouri Capitol has extra law enforcement keeping an eye on the building after reports of possible “armed protests” at all 50 state capitols and the U.S. Capitol. The increased presence follows an FBI warning of threats of an “uprising” in the days leading up to the January 20 inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden.

During a press conference Monday following the inauguration, Gov. Mike Parson said the state is taking precautions.

Rep. Keri Ingle, D-Lee’s Summit (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

“We’re quite aware of what’s going on there,” said Parson. “I think our state is a little different, compared to a lot of other states where you are seeing maybe some of these issues coming.”

Pro-Trump rioters at the U.S. Capitol last week and the FBI memo are making some state lawmakers feel uneasy. On the Missouri House floor Tuesday, Rep. Keri Ingle, D-Lee’s Summit, says the Capitol needs a comprehensive emergency plan.

“One of the things that we are, you know, being made aware of from law enforcement agencies on a daily basis is that, while we know right now we are under increased threat, they don’t see it ceasing in the near future. But I think what is important for us to remember, gentlemen, is that we may never know when an event happens. Right now we are getting tips and we’re being tipped off to holes within our system, but emergency preparation is what saves lives and we are finding that we are not prepared and that is terrifying I think for most of us. We’ve got to figure out a way to address it,” says Ingle.

Majority Floor Leader Dean Plocher, R-St. Louis County, says the Capitol Police team does not have the ability to respond in the event of a hostile takeover or most other emergencies.

Rep. Dean Plocher, R-St. Louis County (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

“I think it’s incumbent upon us, if it’s not going to be provided for us, to provide security – essentially crafting our own method of security. We’re trying to work with the executive branch and that has occurred over several years,” says Plocher. “When the executive branch is on the third floor, I feel quite safe. But when the executive branch is not on the third floor, we kind of are left in the dark. We don’t have the resources. We haven’t crafted a game plan, if you will, to address some things. Fortunately, Missourians haven’t tried to take such actions into their own hands. But I think it’s something we need to look into.”

The executive branch is another term to refer to the governor.

Rep. Ron Hicks, R-Defiance, has been working for years to update security plans. He says the Legislature needs to come up with a bipartisan approach to address the gaps.

“We’re all sitting on this floor right now discussing this together and we’re going to do a little bit more of this in a little while – for one reason and one reason only. This is the one thing we are all on the same team on. I know my wife wants me to come,” says Hicks. “We are trying to build up security in the building. Our Capitol Police – they are a 34-unit team. They try to do their best that they can. But they are 34 members that do not have the equipment or the updated equipment they need to do what needs to be done.”

Rep. Ron Hicks, R-Defiance (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

Hicks says lawmakers should think about some of their most vulnerable constituents – children.

“What would happen if an incident did occur and you have a hallway filled with children outside your office that you’re speaking to. Would you know what to do? Let’s just say a tornado is hitting,” says Hicks. “Would you know where to take them? I may not be someone with a weapon. It could literally be someone having a heart attack right here on the House floor.”

ABC News reports state, local and federal government courthouses and administrative buildings could be targets. The FBI is also getting reports of threats to harm Biden, Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Copyright © 2021 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, Elections, Legislature, News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Gov. Mike Parson, Missouri Capitol, President Donald Trump, President-Elect Joe Biden, Rep. Dean Plocher, Rep. Keri Ingle, Rep. Ron Hicks, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris

Missouri prepares for possible ‘uprising’ planned at all state capitols and U.S. Capitol

January 11, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

An FBI memo is warning law enforcement in Missouri and nationwide of possible “armed protests” at all 50 state capitols and the U.S. Capitol in the run-up to Inauguration Day. ABC News reports the memo indicates threats of an “uprising” if President Donald Trump is removed from office before Inauguration Day.

Gov. Mike Parson

The news follows a pro-Trump mob taking over the U.S. Capitol last week, killing at least five people and vandalizing many parts of the building.

During a press conference today at the state capitol in Jefferson City, Gov. Mike Parson says precautions are being taken in Missouri.

“We’re quite aware of what’s going on there,” says Parson, a former Polk County Sheriff. “I think our state is a little different, compared to a lot of other states where you are seeing maybe some of these issues coming.”

The report says state, local and federal government courthouses and administrative buildings could be targets. The FBI is also getting reports of threats to harm Biden, Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“People took action they should have never taken. I have said all along, whether it is in Missouri or its in Washington, D.C., I believe in civil protests. I believe people have the right to the First Amendment. But what I don’t believe is, I don’t believe anybody for any cause has the right to commit any crimes. Period,” says Parson, a Republican. “Whether it’s in Washington, D.C., whether it’s in Missouri, or whether it’s in any other state, if you are violating the law, then you are responsible for your own actions.”

Parson’s remarks followed tight security at Monday’s inauguration. Parson, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, and State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick were sworn into office.

Copyright © 2021 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, Elections, Legislature, News Tagged With: Attorney General Eric Schmitt, FBI, Gov. Mike Parson, Inauguration Day, Lt Gov. Mike Kehoe, President Donald Trump, President-Elect Joe Biden, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris

Missouri Veterans Commission chairman resigns, taking issue with Gov. Parson statement

January 1, 2021 By Ashley Byrd

Missouri Veterans Commission chairman Tim Noonan resigned his volunteer post late Thursday, saying “Fundamental values were crossed,” by Governor Mike Parson when he stated “I’m not going to worry about everybody’s personal lives that sit on a commission or chairman,” in response to a question about an investigation into a deadly COVID-19 outbreak at Missouri’s Veterans homes. To date, the commission reports that 158 veterans in their facilities have died of coronavirus since September.

During a Capitol press conference Wednesday, Missourinet asked Parson to elaborate on what changes he wants after an independent report listed causes of COVID-19 spread inside the state’s seven long-term care facilities that serve veterans.

Parson called for an independent investigation into COVID-19 deaths in state veterans homes (file photo courtesy governor’s office)

“I’ve got to be careful with that,” he said. “I’m going to do everything within my power to make sure they (veterans) are taken care of. If people didn’t do their job is why I called for the investigation to expose that, if that is the case. The veterans will be a priority. I’m not going to worry about everybody’s personal lives that sit on a commission or a chairman. I’m just going to absolutely worry about the veterans and that is my whole focus.”

Noonan told Missourinet that his resignation had nothing to do with the release of the full investigation report that same day, though he disagreed with publishing the 415-pages of details of the Armstrong Teasdale review.  Read related story.

Noonan assumed the role of the only spokesman and advocate for MVC staff after the report’s summary was published, shielding veterans home employees and the agency’s director from the press and public comment. However, Noonan said the role of the commission overseeing the agency is often unclear.

Noonan has recently spoken out about having little or no say in money being appropriated from his agency to the Veterans Community Project, a non-profit serving homeless veterans, especially when revenue and staffing are down.

“The commission is independent and shouldn’t be batted around for political gain,” he texted after his resignation. “Hopeful someone will pick up the flag.”

Noonan served in the Marine Corps and is a former executive with Boeing. He was appointed to the post by Gov. Eric Greitens in 2017.

Filed Under: Health / Medicine, Military, News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Gov. Mike Parson, Missouri Veterans Commission Chairman Tim Noonan

Missouri Veteran’s Homes COVID-19 deadly outbreak showed failures of leadership, planning and response, says scathing report

December 3, 2020 By Ashley Byrd

An independent study of the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at Missouri Veterans Homes finds that “the MVC Headquarters and Home staff genuinely care for the Veterans, three major lapses contributed to the COVID-19 outbreak in the Homes this fall: (1) failure to recognize and appreciate the problem at the first sign of an outbreak; (2) failure to plan for the outbreak; and (3) failure to properly respond to the outbreak. The investigation also exposed the unintended negative consequences of isolation due to the restrictive measures intended to protect Veterans.”

Governor Mike Parson called for an outside investigation after a sudden increase in cases and deaths at state-run veterans homes.

This summary of a scathing report from corporate law firm Armstrong Teasdale acknowledged that the Missouri Veteran’s Commission took proactive and effective steps in March to protecting its seven homes from the virus, community spread surged, and “Unfortunately, MVC Headquarters was lulled into a false sense of security and failed to capitalize on its early successes.”

READ FULL REPORT: COVID-19 OUTBREAK at the MISSOURI VETERANS HOMES – Summary of the Independent Investigation Conducted for the MVC _ Armstrong Teasdale LLP

The report finds three critical areas where the commission fell short:

(Direct excerpts from the full report)

A. Failure to Recognize the Outbreak

MVC Headquarters failed to recognize and appreciate the impact of even one positive case of COVID-19, despite a number of experts, like the Missouri State Epidemiologist and the Missouri Medicaid Director, defining a COVID-19 outbreak in a residential setting as a single positive case. This meant that MVC leadership did not change tactics to aggressively contain the first positive
cases, nor did they reach out to external partners for assistance. Instead, they treated the initial cases as something that could be overcome using the same directives, policies, and internal resources that had been employed prior to the positive case.

This lack of understanding was not due to a lack of information. Homes staff provided data to Headquarters via reports, calls, and meetings on an ongoing, nearly real-time basis. MVC
Headquarters simply lacked the ability to engage in meaningful analysis of this data. They should have recognized the presence of a COVID-19 outbreak in the Cape Girardeau Home by September 2, 2020 (when the Home reported a jump from one positive Veteran to three positive Veterans within a 72 hour period, and a jump from five positive staff members to seven positive staff members within a two week period), but even as cases increased, MVC Headquarters failed to appreciate the need to move quickly to isolate positive patients. This also impacted their
communication with external stakeholders, in that MVC Headquarters did not identify specific issues or concerns related to the outbreak. For example, in weekly briefings to DPS, the MVC
provided little data about the outbreak, other than its impact on staffing vacancies—missing a critical opportunity early on to engage outside agencies and resources.

B. Failure to Plan for an Extensive Outbreak

While the novelty of COVID-19 makes long-term strategic planning difficult, MVC Headquarters demonstrated an absence of leadership in failing to appropriately plan for a severe and
prolonged COVID-19 outbreak. Headquarters should have known by the beginning of summer 2020—well before the fall outbreak—that COVID-19 spreads covertly through asymptomatic
carriers and is difficult to control in a residential setting like a nursing home. But despite several months to prepare for a predicted fall surge in COVID-19 cases, MVC Headquarters did not
develop any comprehensive outbreak plan. As a result, they did not have an opportunity to vet the plan with outside agencies or other long-term care facilities, or test the plan to identify areas of
needed improvement. The lack of a comprehensive outbreak plan led to confusion and inefficiencies, and it almost certainly contributed to the inability to contain the spread of COVID-19
once it was introduced into the Homes.

As early as February 2020, MVC Headquarters could have relied on publicly-available guidelines, templates, and checklists published by the CDC. They also could have looked to open
source material regarding outbreaks that had already occurred in congregate care settings in other parts of the country, including in Missouri. The investigation revealed that around March and April, MVC Headquarters studied and learned from an outbreak in Kirkland, Washington, but they did not study any additional outbreaks, even as occurrences multiplied across the country. No one at MVC Headquarters took the initiative to gather this information and develop a comprehensive plan. MVC Headquarters did provide some guidance to the Homes in the form of directives, but these directives were reactionary, haphazard, and often conflicted with each other. The directives addressed only discrete aspects of care and COVID-19 management and in some instances were inconsistent with CDC and VA guidelines or infection control best practices. They were also issued frequently, with little insight as to how staff might learn of or implement them. Staff found it difficult to keep up with the constant updates and changes, and most did not have access to any compilation of the directives they were supposed to be following. The lack of policies and
frequently-changing directives made it difficult to educate, let alone train staff in how they should provide hands-on care and services in the Homes.

This lack of preparation was compounded by the fact that the MVC did not have a current, comprehensive manual for infection prevention policy and procedure generally. An infection prevention policy and procedure manual is required by VA and CDC guidelines. This manual would have included an outbreak management plan or emergency management plan for infections generally, and it would have provided the Homes baseline guidance regarding isolation, quarantine, and universal precautions. While the MVC developed a general pandemic plan in March, there was no evidence that this plan was updated, reviewed, used, or tailored for use during the COVID-19 pandemic. The MVC should have prepared and printed a comprehensive COVID-19 plan and made multiple copies accessible to staff in each Home.

C. Failure to Respond to the Outbreak

Without an appreciation for the problem or a comprehensive plan in place, the MVC’s response to the outbreak was inadequate. In particular, the Homes had significant issues related to
testing, cross-contamination, and staffing. The timing of test results facilitated the spread of COVID-19. In August 2020, the Homes implemented routine nasopharyngeal PCR testing of all Veterans and staff twice a week. PCR tests take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours to process. This is significant because approximately sixty percent of individuals who are COVID-19 positive are either pre-or asymptomatic at the time they are tested. This meant that while awaiting test results, infectious staff and Veterans interacted with one another, some without any personal protective equipment (“PPE”). Asymptomatic Veterans and some symptomatic Veterans were not quarantined pending the results and moved freely among the Homes, dined together, interacted with each other, and remained lodged with their roommates.

In addition to testing issues, improper quarantine and isolation procedures contributed to the spread and cross-contamination of COVID-19 within the Homes. Initially, most of the isolation
and quarantine spaces only had between one and four beds, and little consideration had been given to how expansion would occur if or when necessary. Neither MVC Headquarters nor the Homes’ administrative leadership were prepared for the rapid spread of the virus, and at least one isolation scarce quarantine and isolation beds, and sometimes led to the hectic co-mingling of COVID-19 positive Veterans with otherwise uninfected Veterans. A delay in closing common spaces also contributed to cross-contamination and the spread of COVID-19 within the Homes. In the early days of the outbreak, Veterans were allowed to move freely about the Homes. Many did so without wearing masks, even while exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

In many Homes, staff movement has contributed to cross-contamination. At the onset of the outbreak, staff typically were not assigned to work on a dedicated unit, but rotated across all
units. In two Homes, surges of cases were tied to COVID-19 positive staff who had moved throughout the entire facility. While the Homes are now trying to dedicate staff to one particular
unit, staffing shortages have climbed, it is particularly difficult to assign dietary and environmental services staff to a dedicated unit, and many staff continue to serve multiple roles in the Homes.
These staffing shortages could have been prevented, or at least mitigated. Prior to the outbreak, MVC Headquarters failed to make a contingency plan to address potential staffing shortages, and it waited to coordinate with the VA until the Homes were in the midst of the current staffing crisis. Currently, the VA and personnel from The Missouri Disaster Medical Assistance Team (“DMAT”)
are providing additional staffing as needed.

However, staff morale is low, and many are overwhelmed by the emotional toll of caring for COVID-19 affected Veterans, the negative media attention, and the added demands of COVID-19
protocols—especially when many of them live in Missouri communities where mask mandates and social distancing are not enforced. The Homes need to provide education about practicing COVID19 prevention measures when staff are in their own homes and communities, as well as develop consistent policies regarding when staff who have been exposed to COVID-19 may return to work.

Staff should feel empowered to collaborate with Headquarters in the development of policies and procedures.

The investigation also identified inconsistencies in the use of PPE and in the initial screening process, which may have contributed to cross-contamination.
Finally, although the frequency of cleaning the Homes increased after the outbreak, disinfectant products were not being used according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Specifically, staff was only letting the products sit for 1 minute, when the products must sit for 10 minutes to be effective against viruses, including COVID-19. Thus, while the Homes were clean,
they were not disinfected.

Filed Under: Health / Medicine, Military, News Tagged With: Armstrong Teasdale, COVID deaths at Missouri veterans homes, Gov. Mike Parson, Missouri Veterans Commission

Missouri issues public health warning for local governments to implement, plus travel advisory

November 20, 2020 By Ashley Byrd

compiled by Brian Hauswirth and Ashley Byrd

Missouri’s governor has issued a statewide public health warning because of the continued increase in new COVID cases statewide. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says there have been 27,358 new COVID cases in Missouri in the past week, which is an average of 3,908 new COVID cases per day.

The DHSS new COVID-19 advisory provides expectations for communities, with three action plans for counties based on positivity rates. Counties with a PCR 7-day positivity rate of 15 percent or above are advised to limit social group sizes to ten or less, and masks are advised in all offices and businesses where social distancing isn’t possible. In counties with a PCR 7-day positivity rate of 10 to 14 percent, counties are advised to limit social group sizes to 25 or less, and that offices and businesses with more than ten people should have masks. For counties with a PCR 7-day positivity rate of five to nine percent, social groups should maintain six feet of social distance.

READ 11-19-2020 Public Health Advisory

The advisory is simply that, however, a set of recommendations to counties and not an order, Missourinet confirmed with DHSS. The consequences of not complying are, as the White House Coronavirus Task Force describes, the exponential spread of the virus and the overburdening of health care systems.

Parson explained that this puts restrictions in the hands of mayors and counties instead of his office because he believes in local control, with “citizen input.”

“Government’s not going to mandate everything you need to do in your lives, nor do I want government to mandate, you don’t need that right now. You just need to take it upon ourselves to make tough decisions, wise decisions, and to slow the spread,” the governor said Thursday. “We don’t want to be like these other states around us. To be able to protect our economy, to be able to protect our lifestyle, we have to take action.”

The Parson administration has also issued a travel advisory for Thanksgiving, urging Missourians to minimize travel outside of the state and to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

 

Filed Under: Health / Medicine, News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: DHSS, Gov. Mike Parson, Missrouri Travel Advisory, Parson, public health warning

Bob Priddy: election history this week as 5 statewide officials run for their jobs for the first time

October 26, 2020 By Missourinet Contributor

Bob Priddy, special to Missourinet

Missourians are voting in a unique election this year because five statewide officeholders are trying to keep a job nobody elected them to hold four years ago.

Missouri historian Bob Priddy explains that Governor Mike Parson, Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, Attorney General Eric Schmitt, and Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick were not elected to their present offices in 2016.

The resignation of Governor Eric Greitens created a jobs shuffle at the top of state government.

In 2016, Parson was elected Lieutenant Governor. Schmitt was elected State treasurer. Kehoe was headed back to private life as a term-limited senator and Fitzpatrick was facing ouster from the House because of term limits. Parson moved up with the resignation of Governor Eric Greitens and promptly appointed Kehoe as Lieutenant Governor. Schmitt was elected State Treasurer then was appointed Attorney General when Josh Hawley ended Claire McCaskill’s U.S. Senate career.  Fitzpatrick, House Budget Committee chair, was appointed by Parson as Schmitt’s successor as Treasurer.

The only statewide officeholder who is running for reelection, not just election this year, is Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who has stayed where voters put him four years ago.

They all have opponents who hope to short-circuit their historic bids on election day. 

 

Filed Under: Elections, History, News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: 2020 election, Bob Priddy, Gov. Mike Parson, Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe

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