MONDAY UPDATES: Jefferson City Council extends four emergency proclamations
COVID-19 case numbers might differ among state and local health authorities because of issues with reporting and address verification.
UPDATE: 7:00 P.M.: The Jefferson City Council voted to extend four of eight emergency proclamations at its meeting Monday night.
The Council voted to extend the following proclamations through June 1:
- Proclamation that cancels city board commission and committee meetings
- Proclamation that allows businesses who have altered operations, additional signage, so that they can inform the public
- Proclamation that suspends door-to-door sales within the city
- Proclamation that extends the deadline for liquor license renewals until June 30
The Council said that four other proclamations were either already terminated or would expire Monday night.
Council members also passed a resolution approving an application for the a grant to assist firefighters with COVID-19.
According to meeting documents, the grant could provide up to $99,000 worth of personal protective equipment.
Fire Chief Matt Schofield told the Council that the grant is very competitive.
"There's made available $100 billion nationwide but remember that, you know, we're in the same situation that many other municipalities and organizations are so we are competing for these funds" Schofield said.
Schofield also said the grant could be useful beyond the current coronavirus outbreak.
"I guess I would say that from a personal protective equipment standpoint,
we're trying to plan, not only for this particular situation that we're in,
but also for the future," Schofield said.
UPDATE 5:15 P.M.: Health officials in Boone, Callaway and Cole counties reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Monday.
Both counties have seen little to no growth in cases in recent weeks. In each county, most of those infected with COVID-19 have recovered.
Boone County remains at 96 cases total with 91 people released from isolation and four active cases.
Cole County reported 51 cases, with only one active case.
Callaway County reported 22 cases Monday with 16 patients having recovered.
One person had died from COVID-19 in each county.
UPDATE 2:16 P.M.: The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced on Monday that statewide COVID-19 cases increased by the largest margin during the COVID-19 pandemic on the same day the state started its first phase of reopening.
The health department said 8,754 state residents have tested positive for COVID-19 and there are 358 virus-related deaths.
It's an increase of at least 368 cases and six deaths.
As of Monday, at least 341 people in Buchanan County have tested positive for COVID-19.
More than 1,000 novel coronavirus cases were reported across the Kansas City area and about 4,700 cases have been confirmed across the St. Louis area.
The bulk of coronavirus-related deaths have been reported in St. Louis County with at least 177 confirmed on Monday afternoon.
UPDATE 12:50 P.M.: The largest school district in Audrain County, which has reported only a single case of COVID-19, has announced its plans for graduation and prom.
Mexico School District No. 59 said in a letter to parents last week that it will hold a prom July 10 and high school graduation July 12. The district made the announcement as a statewide stay-at-home order was set to expire. The order was replaced Monday with a reopening order.
The district said 96 percent of families who responded to a survey said they wanted a traditional graduation ceremony. The district warned families that changes in COVID-19-related restrictions could change plans.
Audrain County has reported only one case of COVID-19 during the pandemic. That case is no longer active.
Last week the county health department released a reopening plan that relies on state rules and guidelines.
UPDATE 12:31 P.M.: Columbia community leaders asked Boone County law enforcement to update their COVID-19 policies in a letter sent on Monday.
The letter from Faith Voices of Columbia was addressed to the Boone County Sheriff, and the police chiefs around the county.
The letter demanded changes to jail policies to lessen the impact of COVID-19:
- Lower the jail census by not arresting and booking people who are not a threat to themselves or the public.
- Prioritize the release of people awaiting trial and who are: 55 years old or older, pregnant, immunocompromised.
- Release inmates detained for non-violent offenses, and those incarcerated for parole or technical violations.
- Stop holding immigrants or undocumented individuals on behalf of ICE and CBP.
- Provide free phone calls, video calls and email at least twice per week if desired.
- Follow CDC guidelines within law enforcement facilities.
- Document health department inspections at the facilities.
- Communicate clearly whether testing and medical costs are waived for those incarcerated if they have been treated for virus-related medical issues.
- Provide regular updates to the community on the health status of jail staff and detainees related to COVID-19 exposure/infection.
The letter was also signed by Race Matters, Friends, Mid-Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation, the Social Action Team of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia, CoMo for Progress and the Columbia Trial Office of Missouri State Public Defenders.
UPDATE 11:51 A.M.: SSM St. Mary's hospitals in Jefferson City and Mexico began limited elective procedures on Monday.
SSM said patients should call their healthcare providers to see if their appointments need to be held in-person or by video chat. Regional president Mike Baumgartner said top priority is being given to patients who have essential, non-urgent treatment that was delayed because of COVID-19.
COVID-19 measures are still in-place at the hospitals:
- Universal masking of all patients, staff and visitors.
- Testing all patients prior to their scheduled procedures.
- Screening all employees, visitors and contractors.
- Grouping patients with COVID-19 together within the hospital.
- Maintaining strict visitor policies.
UPDATE 11:15 A.M.: Columbia Public Schools announced Monday its plans for small gatherings to celebrate high school graduation as COVID-19 limitations continue.
The district in a letter to seniors' families said because of the continuing limits on gatherings in Boone County, the district will have to take a non-conventional approach to ceremonies.
The district laid out the new procedure in the email:
- Graduation will be held in-person in small groups with social distancing. Schools will have multiple ceremonies to accommodate the large numbers of seniors.
- The small group, in-person ceremonies will take place from July 30 through Aug. 2.
- Details on how the ceremonies will be organized will be available after July 15.
There are no plans for a virtual graduation if the district is unable to hold small group ceremonies, the district said. There will be no prom or virtual prom.
Boone County remains under a reopening order indefinitely that limits the size of gatherings and imposes capacity limits on large buildings.
The CPS plan hinges on the easing of restrictions on crowd sizes and capacity. The health department has set out a tiered plan to ease those restrictions and says each tier could take three to four weeks.
The first step currently in effect limits gatherings to 10 people. The second step increases that to 50 people; 100 in the third step and 250 in step four.
UPDATE 10:17 A.M.: The University of Missouri said Monday morning that a researcher with the College of Veterinary Medicine has found four possible antiviral drugs that could treat COVID-19.
A release sent out at 9:25 a.m. said the drugs include Remdesivir, which was originally developed as a treatment for Ebola.
The university said associate professor Kamlendra Singh and his team looked at Remdesivir, 5-fluorouracil, ribavirin and favipiravir. The researchers said all four drugs stopped the virus from replicating itself.
“These antiviral drugs, if they turn out to be effective, all have some limitations. But in the midst of a global pandemic, they are worth taking a deeper look at because based on our research, we have reason to believe that all of these drugs could potentially be effective in treating COVID-19.”
Kamlendra Singh, University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine
More laboratory testing is needed to evaluate the treatments, according to the university. MU included that the virus which causes COVID-19, like all viruses, can mutate and develop resistance to antiviral drugs.
ORIGINAL: Missouri entered the first phase of it's reopening plan Monday morning.
The statewide stay-at-home order ended at 12:01 a.m. Monday and a statewide reopening order took its place.
Under the new order, some businesses across the state can reopen as long as they can maintain social distancing and follow capacity limits.
Restaurants can start dine-in service under the reopening order with some restrictions. Tables must be six feet apart, there can't be any communal seating and no more than 10 people at one table.
Boone County's own reopening order went into effect Monday morning.
Some differences from the state's order include limiting public and private gatherings to 10 people or less and requiring face coverings for anyone utilizing personal care services such as hair and nail salons.
