WEDNESDAY UPDATES: Missouri General Assembly to return April 27
COVID-19 case numbers might differ among state and local health authorities because of issues with reporting and address verification.
UPDATE 5:20 P.M.: Missouri legislative leaders said Wednesday that they plan to resume work this month.
The Republican leadership of the Missouri House and Senate said lawmakers will return to the Capitol on April 27. A priority will be passing a fiscal 2021 budget, which they're constitutionally mandated to pass by May 8.
“During this unprecedented time, our legislative body has worked to balance the health and safety of members, staff, and visitors with our constitutional obligation to pass a budget," House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, House Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, Senate President Pro-Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, and Senate Majority Floor Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, said in a joint statement.
"The decision to move forward on April 27 was not an easy one, however it is absolutely critical for the people of Missouri that we keep the state government funded and services operating without interruption. We will use the intervening time to monitor the trajectory of Missouri’s coronavirus cases as well as assess the impact of newly issued federal guidance and disaster funds on the state budget."
Legislators left the Capitol last month after a House member was diagnosed with COVID-19. They returned only briefly to pass a supplemental budget containing billions in federal stimulus funding.
Gov. Mike Parson said earlier Wednesday that he hoped legislators would return to the Capitol soon but do so in a safe way.
The legislature intends to follow social distancing guidelines, leaders said. Hearings and proceedings will be open to the public.
UPDATE 4:30 P.M.: Burgers' Smokehouse will close its California, Missouri, plant until Monday after three employees tested positive for COVID-19.
Burgers' in a news release Wednesday afternoon said three of its employees have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Moniteau County meat shop said Wednesday morning that one employee had tested positive but later received word that two more were also positive for the novel coronavirus.
More positives are possible -- the business said others who had contact with the infected employees are also being tested.
Burgers' said between now and Monday it will work on ways to increase social distancing at the plant and implement more stringent screenings of employees. The company also plans to buy more face masks.
“We take our responsibility as part of the nation’s critical infrastructure seriously and will make every prudent effort to remain in operation during this ongoing crisis; however, we feel it is important to shut down for a few days in order to further prepare our facility for the safe return of our people on Monday,” company President Steven Burger said in the release. “We continue to offer our prayers to those affected by the COVID-19 virus and look forward to the day when all of our employees are able to return to work.”
Boone County cases increase
Boone County added three more cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.
County health officials reported 86 cases in the county on a website tracking the numbers, up from 83 the day before. Cases stood at 79 on Monday.
Of those patients, 74 have recovered and 11 have an active infection. One person in Boone County has died of COVID-19 complications, the first in the state to do so.
UPDATE 4:15 P.M.: The Boone County Sheriff's Department says it has stopped the use of a tent that sprays hydrogen peroxide solution on objects and visitors entering the jail.
The sheriff's department started using the tent last week as a way to kill any coronavirus germs hitching a ride on objects or people. The department cited University of Missouri Health Care's use of such a tent at University Hospital, but MU Health Care says it is just testing the concept for possible use on equipment entering the hospital.
The sheriff's department said in a comment posted Tuesday that it has stopped use of the tent after the hospital put the idea on hold and after getting assurances from the health department that the jail is taking proper precautions against COVID-19.
UPDATE 2:50 P.M.: State Auditor Nicole Galloway on Wednesday demanded more information from Gov. Mike Parson's administration about 48,000 face masks that were recalled.
Parson and Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten announced this week that the state was recalling 48,000 KN95 masks that had been delivered to public agencies. The Columbia Police Department had 750 of the masks.
Officials said the masks didn't meet standards after tests by the health department but have not elaborated.
Galloway, who is running for governor as a Democrat and could face Parson in the November election, cited her oversight role as auditor in demanding information.
"As my office is currently reviewing the accounting of the costs associated with the state's response to COVID-19, we are requesting additional information on the process with which this equipment was procured and purchased," Galloway's office wrote in a letter to Karsten.
Galloway's office is asking for the information by April 22 and asking whether the potential exists for similar incidents to happen in the future, the auditor's office said in a news release.
UPDATE: 1:55 P.M.: Missouri added about 200 cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours with 14 new deaths reported.
The state website that tracks COVID-19 case numbers reported 4,895 cases Wednesday afternoon, up from 4,686 on Tuesday. The state reported 147 Missourians have died, up from 133 the day prior.
The state numbers reflected the first case reported in Miller County. In Mid-Missouri, Audrain and Monroe counties remained without cases. The state reported 90 cases in Boone, but local officials have only reported 83 of those.
The state reported 20 cases in Callaway County compared to 19 reported by local authorities. The state reported 41 cases in Cole County, while local authorities reported only 40, up from 38 the night before.
All but seven of the deaths are in people age 50 and older.
St. Louis County continues to lead the state in both cases and deaths.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Missouri Hospital Association reported 589 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized. Wednesday numbers had not yet been posted.
More than 200 new cases were reported Monday this week and the increase jumped to about 300 on Tuesday.
Last Wednesday the state reported 3,328 cases.
UPDATE 1:14 P.M.: Columbia Community Development closed a COVID-19 recovery loan program hours after the applications became available.
Randy Cole with community development said the Microenterprise Recovery Loan Program received the maximum number of applications Wednesday afternoon. The loan applications went live at 8 a.m.
Cole said $90,000 was available through the program to decrease the impact of COVID-19 on businesses five or fewer employees. Qualifying businesses could apply for loans up to $5,000.
The city announced the loan program on Monday. According to the city's website, it could two weeks for people to receive the money.
Jefferson City Medical Group to close California clinic
UPDATE 12:20 P.M.: Jefferson City Medical Group will temporarily close its California, Mo., clinic at the end of June because of business lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.
JCMG spokesperson Jamie Patterson said a reopening date has not been determined. Patterson said the clinic is sending out letters to patients about the pending closure.
The company says it is working with staff to determine employment options in the weeks ahead. JCMG "will continue to serve patients and offer other options during and after this transition," Patterson wrote in an email.
The medical office announced March 26 that it had laid off 38 workers because patient visits and procedures were down 60 to 70 percent.
Physician shareholders also voted to decrease their pay 50 percent.
Businesses across several economic sectors have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic as governments issued social distancing and stay-at-home orders. Unemployment claims have hit record levels and U.S. retail sales saw their steepest decline ever in March.
UPDATE 11:15 A.M.: Miller County has now joined the list of those with COVID-19 cases.
The county health department said in a Facebook post Wednesday that the county has registered its first case of COVID-19. The case is in a man in his 30s who is now quarantined at home, health officials said.
The department said it will identify people exposed to the man and contact them. No more information will be released to the public, the post said.
State health officials reported Tuesday afternoon that 4,686 cases of COVID-19 have been reported statewide with 133 deaths -- up 19 from the day before. The Missouri Hospital Association reported 589 hospitalizations.
Now only two Mid-Missouri counties remain without cases according to the state's count -- Audrain and Monroe.
The county enacted a stay-at-home order April 6 to comply with Gov. Mike Parson's order.
UPDATE 10:50 A.M.: Missouri's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked up one percentage point in March but the state says the full impact of COVID-19 on employment won't be clear for another month.
The Missouri Department of Economic Development said Wednesday that the unemployment rate jumped to 4.5 percent in March from 3.5 percent in February. Employment decreased by almost 21,000 jobs in March.
Twelve-month employment growth was less than the March 2019 figure, the department said.
A statewide stay-at-home order did not go into effect until April 6. Unemployment claims increased sharply starting in late March as local orders went into effect along with statewide social distancing guidelines that forced restaurants to close their dine-in sections.
UPDATE 10:07 A.M.: Burger's Smokehouse confirmed Wednesday that an employee tested positive yesterday for COVID-19.
Smokehouse president Steven Burger said the employee hadn't been at work for about a week before their test came back.
According to a news release, the employee and workers with close-contact with the employee have been quarantined. Crews were called in to sanitize the smokehouse.
The company said employees had daily temperature checks and travel restrictions in place before Tuesday.
"Burger's Smokehouse will continue to follow CDC guidelines and work with the Moniteau County Health Center to protect employees," Burger said.
As of Wednesday morning, at least six people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Moniteau County. The health department announced Tuesday two more people had tested positive.
United Way opens Cole County COVID-19 helpline
The United Way of Central Missouri announced Wednesday morning that it opened a COVID-19 assistance helpline in Cole County.
According to a news release from the organization, county residents in need of groceries, pharmaceuticals or other services can request those goods through the helpline.
The organization said the helpline was based on similar programs in Camden, Miller and Morgan counties.
A representative at the United Way will take requests for services from community residents and then connect them with other organizations to fulfill the requests, United Way of Central Missouri President Ann Bax said.
“This helpline will help connect those who need services during this time with those volunteers who can assist," Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin said.
Cole County residents can call the helpline at 573-634-6999. The line is operated from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
