State hopes to do mass testing in Saline, Moniteau counties over weekend
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The state hopes to start mass testing of workers at plants in Saline and Moniteau counties which have been part of the sharp increases in COVID-19 cases there.
Dr. Randall Williams, director of the state Department of Health and Senior Services, told reporters Thursday at the Missouri Capitol that if equipment arrives in time testing in both counties could take place Saturday.
You can watch a replay of the news conference in the media player below.
Burgers' Smokehouse in Moniteau County suspended production Wednesday for the second time in a week after 21 employees tested positive for COVID-19. Moniteau County health authorities on Wednesday reported 33 cases and another 19 likely positives.
Saline County reported 106 cases on Wednesday and has one of the highest rates of infection in the state. Employees at two meat processing plants there have tested positive for COVID-19.
Williams said the state wants to do special rapid testing in Moniteau and Saline counties.
The testing at the plants is possible after the state adjusted its testing guidelines, state officials said.
Increased testing is a major plank of Gov. Mike Parson's strategy to reopen businesses around Missouri as his stay-at-home order lifts May 4. About 60,000 Missourians had been tested as of Wednesday, but Parson's administration hopes to greatly increase that number.
"Part of the plan is to reopen is that we can target certain areas if we needed to," Parson said. "If we need to go into a large ... area to test all employees or ... a nursing home or a large business, we have the ability to do that."
Parson also says he hopes to have business reopening guidelines ready for public review Monday, giving businesses one week to prepare for the end of the stay-at-home order.
Parson's daily briefing Thursday took place live in front of reporters in the Capitol. Parson has started to alternate between Facebook live news conferences with questions emailed in and live, in-person news conferences.
On Thursday, Missouri's COVID-19 case total increased to 6,321 from 6,137 cases reported on Wednesday.
The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations also reported Thursday that unemployment claims were down last week. The claims topped out at 59,271, down from more than 100,000 the week before.
Parson also tweeted Thursday afternoon that Missouri Secretary of State Scott Fitzpatrick created a website to stay up-to-date on funding from the CARES Act.
