Parson previews new guidelines for opening Missouri business

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Gov. Mike Parson hinted on Friday at some of the economic and social sectors that will operate under special rules when his stay-at-home order lifts next month.

You can watch a replay of the news conference in the media player below.

Parson, speaking at his daily COVID-19 briefing on Facebook live on Friday, said guidelines that will be in place starting May 4 will be released Monday. Guidelines will be released for large and small business, manufacturing, restaurants, personal services such hair salons and for religious services.

Parson said in response to a question from a reporter that personal care services that cannot adhere to social distancing will be able to open May 4. Some safety guidelines will be put in place, possible including use of protective equipment, he said.

"I don’t think you’re going to need government to dictate everything about how you run your business," Parson said. He said customers will not go to businesses where they feel unsafe.

Parson said the state is also considering rules for summer youth sports and for graduations for high school seniors. Events such as weddings will also be addressed in the guidelines, he said.

"While we will gradually reopen the economy during this first phase of our plan, it will still be important to maintain some measures of social distancing to protect both ourselves and others," Parson said.

Parson emphasized that local leaders can keep their stay-at-home orders in place if they choose.

A state emergency declaration will stay in place through June 15, but the declaration does not require business to close or people to stay at home.

"I want to be clear, that is not an extension of the stay-at-home order," Parson said. The extension of the order allows the state to continue suspensions and waiver of certain regulations and laws as the state continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state health department announced Friday that a technical difficulty led to a spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases and coronavirus-related deaths.

Parson tweeted Friday that he spoke with Vice President Mike Pence about how the state is battling COVID-19.

Parson extended the statewide stay-at-home order through May 3 on April 16. It was originally scheduled to expire on Friday.