Vice President Mike Pence Archives

Parson to host Dr. Birx at Tuesday roundtable at Missouri Governor’s Mansion

August 18, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The Trump administration’s Coronavirus task force coordinator will be in Jefferson City on Tuesday morning, for a roundtable discussion with Missouri’s governor and Cabinet members.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson visits a St. Louis school on July 29, 2020 (file photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Governor Mike Parson’s office says the governor will host Dr. Deborah Birx at the Governor’s Mansion for the roundtable discussion, which will also include the State Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and community health officials.

Dr. Birx plans a media briefing with reporters Tuesday morning at 11 at the Missouri Capitol, which is about two blocks from the Governor’s Mansion.

Governor Parson told reporters earlier this month that the Show-Me State is one of the states the White House is concerned about, with increasing COVID-19 cases.

Parson says that Vice President Mike Pence called him on August 2, to offer additional assistance and resources to battle the pandemic.

“So they’re basically saying we’re here, we’re going to send the CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) in there to help, and I encourage all the help we can get in that area to make sure we curve this as soon as we can,” Parson said on August 5.

DHSS says Missouri has had 68,623 confirmed COVID-19 cases, which is up from 55,321 on August 5. Missouri has had 1,393 deaths, according to DHSS.

Dr. Birx was in the Kansas City area this weekend, and urged people to wear masks regardless of where they live.

Missourinet Kansas City television partner KMBC reports Dr. Birx said Saturday that the epidemic is both urban and rural.

Missouri is one of several states that Dr. Birx is visiting, meeting with state officials and providing guidance on COVID-19.

Missouri House committee to hear Tuesday testimony from Vandeven and Williams about COVID-19

August 7, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s health director and the education commissioner will both testify Tuesday in Jefferson City before a bipartisan Missouri House Committee that’s related to the coronavirus.

Missouri Commissioner of Education Dr. Margie Vandeven briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on July 6, 2020 (file photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

The Missouri House Special Committee on Disease Control and Prevention will meet Tuesday morning at 10:30 at the Statehouse in Jefferson City. The committee is chaired by State Rep. Jonathan Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, a private practice general surgeon. The committee’s ranking Democrat is State Rep. Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia. Kendrick is the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee.

The committee will be examining the decision by school districts in reopening buildings to students, and will get an update on Missouri’s use of federal CARES Act funding.

The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says Missouri now has 57,379 confirmed cases, up from 55,321 on Wednesday.

Chairman Patterson tells Missourinet that DHSS Director Dr. Randall Williams will testify on Tuesday morning, about the trajectory Missouri is on. Dr. Patterson is also interested what will happen if/when a COVID-19 vaccine is developed. Patterson wants to know if DHSS has a plan in place.

Another key part of Tuesday’s hearing will involve Missouri Commissioner of Education Dr. Margie Vandeven, who will testify about schools.

Chairman Patterson notes that he has a nine-year-old and a six-year-old in public school. He says the number one issue he’s hearing about from constituents is about school plans.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson says his office has worked closely with the State Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and DHSS to address questions about reopening.

Earlier this week, DESE and DHSS released updated schoool reopening guidance, which addresses frequently asked questions. DESE and DHSS recommend that local school leaders require school staff members to wear face coverings, “as the data indicates COVID-19 transmission is more likely from adult to student, than from student to adult.”

Contact tracing is also addressed in the report from DESE and DHSS.

Governor Parson says the state is working to help school districts with personal protective equipment (PPE), noting that 1.8 million cloth masks have been made available through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

The governor says DESE and SEMA are currently working to develop a plan to distribute the masks to Missouri school districts.

Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, announced the committee’s creation earlier this year. Chairman Patterson notes this will be the committee’s second hearing: they met on March 2 and heard testimony from Dr. Williams.

At that time, Dr. Williams testified there had been no confirmed cases in Missouri. About 100 people had been self-monitoring, according to testimony.

Governor Parson says Missouri is one of the states the White House is concerned about, with increasing COVID-19 cases. The governor told Capitol reporters this week that Vice President Mike Pence called him on Sunday, to offer additional assistance and resources to battle the pandemic.

Vice President Pence calls Missouri’s governor, to offer additional resources for pandemic

August 5, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor says the Show-Me State is one of the states the White House is concerned about, with increasing COVID-19 cases.

Governor Mike Parson briefs Missouri Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on August 5, 2020 (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

During a Wednesday media briefing in Jefferson City, Governor Mike Parson (R) told Capitol reporters that Vice President Mike Pence called him on Sunday, to offer additional assistance and resources to battle the pandemic.

“We are grateful to both our vice president and to President Trump for their continuing support throughout this process,” Parson says.

The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says Missouri has had 55,321 confirmed cases, up from 39,352 cases on July 24.

During his media briefing, Governor Parson also expressed disappointment with the viral videos of weekend parties at the Lake of the Ozarks, without social distancing.

The governor emphasizes that he and other state officials have been urging residents to practice social distancing, for months. Parson is urging you to take responsibility.

“That virus is out there, and it’s not going anywhere right now,” Parson says.

The governor has also announced that $7.5 million of the state’s coronavirus relief fund has been allocated to a cost-share program with local counties, to help schools cover costs for personal protective equipment (PPE), and cleaning and medical supplies for school buildings and buses.

Governor Parson focused on educating Missourians about coronavirus

March 3, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor said Tuesday in Jefferson City that the Show-Me State is well-prepared, if a coronavirus outbreak were to happen here.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (at podium) and DHSS Director Dr. Randall Williams brief Capitol reporters about the coronavirus on March 3, 2020 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Governor Parson’s office)

Governor Mike Parson briefed Cabinet members and Capitol reporters at the State Emergency Management Center (SEMA) headquarters in Jefferson City, saying his greatest responsibility is keeping all Missourians healthy and safe.

“I want to assure you that we are doing all we can to meet these needs and help every community prepare for a potential coronavirus outbreak,” Parson says.

While there have been no confirmed cases in Missouri, the state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says about 100 people have been self-monitoring. About 80 people in Missouri have been evaluated by epidemiologists.

DHSS says it’s had fewer than 15 people under investigation, which includes testing.

Parson and DHSS Director Dr. Randall Williams continue to urge you to wash your hands frequently with soap and water, to protect yourself from coronavirus. Health officials also urge you to avoid touching your eyes and nose with unwashed hands.

DHSS has a full section about the issue, on its website.

During the press conference, Governor Parson also announced that he will brief Missouri’s statewide elected officials on Wednesday, about the state’s preparedness measures for coronavirus.

Parson says the state will continue to take proactive steps to educate, inform and protect Missourians.

“Right now, our main focus is on educating the public about the virus and the steps to prevent it,” says Parson. “Especially in prisons, nursing homes and mental health facilities.”

Parson, who participated in a conference call with Vice President Mike Pence and other governors this week, notes state health officials have been conducting daily briefings since January 27.

Dr. Williams testified Monday before the newly-created Missouri House Special Committee on Disease Control and Prevention.

Williams testifies that Missouri is well-prepared, and he also praises the preparation of Missouri’s health directors and providers. He says that he’s hoping for the best and preparing for the worst regarding the coronavirus.

President Trump recognizes Missouri child and mother during State of the Union Address

February 5, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A Kansas City child who’s battled serious illness was a special guest at Tuesday night’s State of the Union Address in Washington.

Robin and two-year-old Ellie Schneider of Kansas City received a bipartisan standing ovation at the State of the Union Address in Washington on February 4, 2020 (photo courtesy of White House website)

The White House says two-year-old Ellie Schneider is one of the youngest babies to survive in the United States, born at just 21 weeks and six days. President Donald Trump (R) introduced Ellie and her mother Robin during the State of the Union, saying Ellie is now healthy.

“Healthy two-year-old girl sitting with her amazing mother, Robin. In the gallery, Ellie and Robin, we are glad to have you with us (the House chamber) tonight,” President Trump said, to loud applause.

Ellie and Robin received a bipartisan standing ovation from Congress, as well as from Vice President Mike Pence (R) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California.

The president credits Ellie’s recovery to her medical team at St. Luke’s, as well as the prayers of the parents and from the Kansas City-area community.

The St. Luke’s Hospital website says it’s one of the largest faith-based care hospitals in the region, and has been recognized by “U.S. News and World Report” as one of the nation’s elite hospitals.

President Trump says Congress’ goal should be to ensure that every baby has the best chance to thrive and grow, like Ellie.

“Ellie reminds us that every child is a miracle of life, and thanks to modern medical wonders 50 percent of very premature babies delivered at the hospital were Ellie was born now survive, an incredible thing,” says President Trump.

Ellie and her mother were special guests of the president and First Lady Melania Trump, and sat near the First Lady.