Gov. Parson holds COVID-19 briefing Saturday afternoon
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Gov. Mike Parson held a daily COVID-19 briefing Saturday at 3 p.m.
You can watch the full COVID-19 briefing in the media player below.
During the briefing, Parson went over the provisions in the social distancing order taking effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday. The order instructs people to avoid social gatherings larger than 10 people and to stand six feet away from people who are not family members.
“I cannot emphasize enough how critical it is for all Missourians to practice social distancing," Parson said.
The governor said he wants to keep businesses, especially small businesses, open as long as possible.
Several Missouri cities, including St. Louis and Kansas City have plans to implement stay-at-home orders which prevent people from leaving their homes except to get essential needs.
Parson did not say whether he would consider doing the same.
“Right now I think this is the important order of the day. I think it’s important. If for some reason this doesn’t work, then we take another action at some point," he said.
The governor is not scheduled to hold a daily COVID-19 briefing on Sunday.
All bars and nightclubs in Columbia and Boone County were ordered to close as of 2 a.m. by the Columbia and Boone County health department. The order included businesses like movie theaters and bowling alleys are ordered to have 10 or fewer people inside.
As of early Saturday morning, at least one state lawmaker has tested positive for COVID-19. ABC 17 News obtained a letter that said Rep. Joe Runions (D-Kansas City) tested positive.
Vice President Mike Pence and his wife said they will be tested for novel coronavirus. A staff member in Pence's office recently tested positive for COVID-19.
