Parson says only small portion of total COVID-19 cases active
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Gov. Mike Parson on Wednesday emphasized that most of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Missouri have recovered from the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Parson, speaking at his daily COVID-19 briefing in the Missouri Capitol, said that about 9 percent to 10 percent of the state's 10,142 cases are active, meaning those people are still infected with the virus. As he has several days during his briefings, Parson noted that the total was a cumulative number from the start of the pandemic.
Watch a replay of the briefing in the media player below.
Parson said he read reports Tuesday night saying the state had more than 10,000 positive cases, labeling them "inaccurate."
The governor said the state has tested more than 124,000 people, stressing the importance of testing to recovery.
"Testing has been a primary focus of this pandemic," Parson said. "We knew testing capacity would give people the confidence needed to get back to a more normal."
The data on COVID-19 continues to reflect recovery, Parson said.
The state said Wednesday that 542 people had died from the virus and state health director Dr. Randall Williams said the state was below the per capita average in deaths nationwide.
Parson was joined by a representative from Quest Diagnostics, who said his company has performed about 48,000 of the state's tests.
The state has identified testing priorities of early identification of outbreaks, rapidly deploying testing resources to local areas and providing testing for health care workers, first responders and other essential workers, Parson said.
Access to testing and primary care doctors following relaxed state guidance for who can be tested are key to the state's reopening after a stay-at-home order expired 10 days ago, Parson said.
"To protect our families, our businesses and our citizens, we have to ensure access to testing and follow responsible social distancing requirements," Parson said.
Parson said in order for recovery to proceed the state must be able to fight the novel coronavirus while restarting its economy.
Parson plans to visit two businesses in southeastern Missouri on Thursday morning. The governor's office said he will go to a tire business and the Cape Girardeau Police Department as part of his COVID-19 recovery plan.
The governor tweeted Wednesday afternoon the Missouri National Guard has been holding medical screenings throughout the state including at the state Capitol.
