St. Louis County Archives

St. Louis County and city begin phase one of reopening plan

May 18, 2020 By Ashley Byrd

Jill Enders reported from St. Louis

Phase one of the reopening of St. Louis County and St. Louis City begins today. County Executive Sam Page outlined requirements for businesses reopening, such as requiring employees to wear masks. He also said it’s recommended that customers also wear masks.

“We highly and strongly recommend that people wear masks whenever they are out in public. We do not intend to enforce that; we believe peer pressure and common sense will enforce that. What I have seen in our community is that just about everyone wants to know what the right thing to do is so they can do it. They understand how devastating this virus has been, how contagious it has been and what great harm it has done to our economy and to people’s lives,” Page said in a Monday morning press conference.

Page said area leaders will be watching statistics on hospital admissions and the ratio of positive to negative tests to track the disease prevalence.

The St. Louis metro region has been hardest hit by COViD-19 cases, totaling 5,713 to date.

He says the easing of restrictions can not be looked at as a return to normal and the next step for the county is working with gym owners for a pathway to re-open safely.

Page also announced the deadline to apply for federal funds for the small business relief program has been extended to May 31.

Missouri insurance officials offer advice to residents impacted by major hail storm

March 30, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A major insurance company says more than 3,100 insurance claims have already been processed in Missouri, from this weekend’s hail storm and severe weather.

Jefferson City received some of the heaviest damage from the March 27, 2020 hail storm (photo courtesy of the Missouri Limestone Producers Association)

About 1,800 of those claims involve vehicles, and the other 1,250 are for homes.

State Farm Insurance says the heaviest damage is reported in mid-Missouri’s Cole County, in the Jefferson City area. Other concentrated areas of damage include eastern Missouri’s Warren, Lincoln, St. Charles and St. Louis counties.

Some residents saw baseball-sized hail, while others saw golf ball-sized hail.

State Farm spokesman Chris Pilcic tells Missourinet that a drone team should be active this week, along with an automobile tent in Jefferson City. The tent will be by appointment only.

The state Department of Commerce and Insurance is requesting that Missourians who have insurance questions or concerns call the department’s Insurance Consumer Hotline.

That number is 1-800-726-7390.

“Severe weather continues to occur, even in the midst of a pandemic. The Missouri Department of Insurance and the entire insurance industry are prepared to assist Missourians as they undertake the recovery process following these storms,” State Department of Insurance Director Chlora Lindley-Myers says, in a news release.

She advises you to make temporary repairs to prevent further damage. She also recommends not making permanent repairs until your insurance company has inspected your damage.

Director Lindley-Myers also reminds you to watch the repair contractors who inspect your property. The department says unscrupulous companies will cause damage, to increase the repair cost.

Missouri now has 903 confirmed COVID-19 cases

March 29, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri health officials have announced that there are now 903 confirmed coronavirus cases in Missouri, in addition to 12 deaths.

Governor Mike Parson delivers his State of the State Address to Missouri lawmakers in Jefferson City on January 15, 2020, as House Speaker Elijah Haahr (R-Springfield) looks on (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased from 838 on Saturday. The number was 73 on March 20.

Governor Mike Parson has warned that those numbers will rise.

The first case in Missouri to test presumptive positive happened on March 7 in St. Louis County.

Governor Parson signed a March 13 executive order declaring a state of emergency in Missouri, and he signed another executive order on Friday to start mobilizing the Missouri National Guard to assist with COVID-19 response.

The governor also says the state is working to acquire more personal protective equipment for hospitals, law enforcement, first responders and other emergency services.

Parson says the Missouri Strategic National Stockpile has shipped 42,624 face shields, 5,000 gloves, 2,717 cases of masks and 908 cases of surgical gowns.

Parson describes coronavirus as “a public health emergency”; Missouri now has 73 confirmed cases

March 20, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

State health officials say the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Missouri increased from 46 to 73 on Friday. There are also three deaths: in Jackson, St. Louis and Boone counties.

The death in Jackson County was announced by Governor Mike Parson on Friday afternoon, and the St. Louis County death was announced by St. Louis County Executive Sam Page on Friday evening.

State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, has tested positive for coronavirus. He is seen here speaking on the Missouri House floor on February 18, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Governor Parson briefed Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on Friday afternoon, outside his Statehouse office. The governor says this is a public health emergency, and he predicts the number of confirmed cases will continue to rise as more testing is done.

“The good news to that is we are identifying the people that are testing positive and trying to get them in quarantine and out of the public, so we can help combat the coronavirus,” Parson says.

Parson tells reporters that he is ordering state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams to require social distancing.

“It will be targeted to gathering of more than ten people that will be prohibited,” says Parson. “This order will make statewide restrictions on gathering of people.”

The governor emphasizes this is not about shutting places down, and is designed to promote the health and safety of Missourians.

Parson says this order will not apply to religious services, hospitals, grocery stores, pharmacies and state government. He’ll announce the details of the order on Saturday afternoon.

Meantime, Missouri House leaders in both parties announced Friday evening that a House member has tested positive for the coronavirus. Missourinet has confirmed that the lawmaker is veteran State Rep. Joe Runions, D-Grandview, who is 79 years old.

House leaders in both parties are requesting that all House employees stay out of the Missouri Capitol, for at least the next ten days.

Parson: Missouri now has 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus

March 17, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor announced Tuesday night in Jefferson City that there are five new positive cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 15.

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

Governor Mike Parson says there are now four confirmed cases in southwest Missouri’s Greene County, four in St. Louis County, two in western Missouri’s Cass County, one in mid-Missouri’s Boone County, one in mid-Missouri’s Cole County, one in St. Louis City, one in Jackson County and one in western Missouri’s Henry County.

The governor says the state health lab has tested 267 people for COVID-19. There have been 253 negative patients, while 15 have tested positive.

Governor Parson is starting daily briefings about coronavirus, and the first one is happening tonight at the Statehouse in Jefferson City.

The governor was joined by state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams, State Medicaid Director Todd Richardson and state Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Sandy Karsten.

The governor is emphasizing the importance of personal responsibility, and washing your hands.

The governor announced earlier that the state’s 13 riverboat casinos will close at midnight, and will remain closed through March 30. Governor Mike Parson says the aim is to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Some of the towns impacted by the casino closings are Boonville, Cape Girardeau, Caruthersville and St. Joseph.

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: