New Boone County stay-at-home order takes effect

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone County is now under a new stay-at-home order that relaxes restrictions on businesses deemed non-essential.

The county health department said in a news release that the order took effect at 8 a.m. Friday and expires at the end of the day May 3, coinciding with an extended state stay-at-home order.

“The prevalence of new COVID-19 cases has decreased to the point that I feel comfortable in starting to slowly open up some retail businesses,” Stephanie Browning, director of Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services, said in a news release.

The county has registered several days straight of no to few new COVID-19 cases. As of Thursday only eight active cases were reported in Boone County.

All retail businesses, including those that were deemed non-essential, may begin taking orders and fill those by shipping, curbside pickup or delivery. 

According to the stay-at-home order, restaurants and other food establishments may continue providing customers with curbside pickup, drive-thru or delivery options. Dine-in services are still not allowed. 

What types of nonessential retailers does the new order allow to resume some sales?

"If you are a retailer downtown and you sell products,” Boone County Commissioner Fred Parry said. “Someone can call you and buy the product on the phone, and then you can deliver to them on the curbside."

Parry said this will now allow some of these smaller retailers to get back up and start generating revenue.

Parry believes this is a turning point, but that people now need to safely support local businesses that have been closed.

“Try to be intentional about working with that local retailer and getting something ordered and bought from an organization or a business where the dollar is right here in Columbia," Parry said.

Taking proper safety precautions is important to prevent a spike in cases, he said.

“If things continue as they are right now,” Parry said. “I'm pretty sure that the health director is going to feel very confident about reopening up more of Columbia."

Parry hopes to soon allow some in-restaurant dining, as he believes many people are looking forward to getting out and about, again. 

Parry said people will be able to make their own choices whether or not they feel comfortable going into a restaurant but he believes if restaurants put some precautions in place they should be able to accommodate guests once again.

Business Loop Community Improvement District director Carrie Gartner said Friday the reopening has to occur slowly and protect customers and employees.

Gartner's district covers much of Business Loop 70. She said the district has an assortment of essential businesses that never closed. She praised the new order that allows other businesses to start curbside and delivery sales.

Gartner said social distancing guidelines that were already in place for essential business should translate over to non-essential retailers and that limiting interaction between the customer and the employee is vital.

The new stay-at-home order requires that all businesses must still follow the social distancing requirements of keeping people 6 feet apart. 

“I do want to emphasize how important it will be for everyone to continue to practice social distancing and good hygiene so we don't see a resurgence in cases," Browning said in the release.

According to the release, a plan for what happens after the order expires will be made public Monday.