About 100 people in Missouri monitoring themselves amid coronavirus outbreak

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The state of Missouri is preparing for a coronavirus outbreak, despite there being no confirmed cases in the state.

State health officials briefed Missouri House members Monday on preparations for the virus as its death toll continues to climb elsewhere.

Dr. Randall Williams, the director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, said at the briefing that his department has been meeting every day since Jan. 27.

“We believe this is time sensitive," Williams said. “We don’t have forever to ramp up a very robust plan.”

There are no confirmed cases in the state. However, Williams said there are approximately 100 people monitoring themselves for symptoms in Missouri and at least 80 have been evaluated by epidemiologists because of their travel history. Less than 15 individuals have been marked as a “person under investigation” but have all tested negative.

The state plans to use the Pandemic Influenza Plan as a guideline for its response to COVID-19. Click below to read the full plan.

Additionally, as of Friday, the state of Missouri can get results from a COVID-19 test in just six hours thanks to a state-run lab test. The test would be in forms of a nose or throat swab.

Six people had died from the virus in the U.S. as of Monday afternoon.

All of the health experts who spoke at the briefing detailed the importance of washing hands and staying home when sick.

Williams said the governor will be meeting with DHSS and other involved parties Tuesday to continue to discuss COVID-19.