Governor Parson expected to release guidance Friday on how state will reopen

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The governor is expected to release more information about what reopening the state will look like on Friday.

The "Stay Home Missouri" order is set to lift on May 4th. Parson said another order with guidance on how businesses will resume will likely take it's place. He mentioned it may be a 30 day order, ending sometime in June.

Parson said the key to the order will be keeping up with social distancing. More specific guidance for businesses that it may be difficult to be socially distant, like salons and restaurants, is also expected.

He said re-opening will look different across the state, as local leaders may extend orders for their specific communities.

"I think what we have to do at the state level is give somewhat broad guidelines for the local levels because, at the end of the day, they are the ones that are going to have to decide what is it you really want in your communities."

As state's across the county begin to look at how they are reopening, Parson said he is focused on where Missouri stands on testing and hospital capacity.

"You have to be able to fight the virus and you have to reopen the econony," Parson said. "Those two things have to happen for the state of Missouri."

He said part of the plan to reopen that state was the expanding testing, including targeted mass testing to areas they may see outbreaks.

"If we need to go into a large scale area to test all employees, or again I'll use a nursing home or a large business, we have the ability to do that," Parson said.

He is expected to talk about the new rules and guidelines at his virtual briefing on Friday. You can stream that conference on our website.