State lawmakers ask public to avoid Capitol
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) -
Missouri lawmakers asked citizens on Tuesday to avoid the Capitol over concerns of the coronavirus.
House and Senate leaders asked the public to reconsider visiting the Capitol unless they are directly involved in legislative business.
"It is out of an abundance of caution that the General Assembly is taking the preventative steps to minimize the risk of an outbreak in Missouri,” said House Speaker Elijah Haahr. “While the General Assembly continues to conduct business as normal, we will closely monitor the situation to take necessary actions to maintain a safe environment that will ensure the health and wellbeing of all those who work in, and visit, the Capitol.”
Lawmakers also ended public access to the House chamber and some other public spaces.
“Schools, advocacy groups, and the public at large should strongly consider the reality that a large and diverse population travels to and from the Capitol on a daily basis,” said Senate President Pro-Tem Dave Schatz. “Most people will not be at risk but, as with any other infectious disease, we need to remain vigilant because populations we may come in contact with, such as the elderly or those with weakened immune systems, are at risk.”
Haahr said lawmakers will continue conducting business as usual.
The outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by novel coronavirus, has prompted measures by several public organizations. On Wednesday, the University of Missouri announced it would cancel in-person classes through the end of the week. Classes that are normally in-person will be held remotely next week.
The decision came the same day Missouri S&T in Rolla said it was canceling its massive yearly St. Patrick's Day celebration and the NCAA said it would limit crowds at its men's and women's basketball tournaments.
The day before, a journalism organization with offices at MU said it's employees and some journalism students had attended a conference in New Orleans with a person who tested positive for the virus.
In a letter to House members Wednesday, Haahr said five people who attended the conference worked in the Capitol on Monday and Tuesday. Haahr said legislative leaders asked the conference attendees to record how they spent their time in the Capitol.
Lawmakers plan to communicate with those the conference attendees came in contact with inside the Capitol, Haahr wrote.
