Missouri governor says COVID-19 hospitalizations down in most regions

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Gov. Mike Parson presented evidence Tuesday that the COVID-19 pandemic was slowing in Missouri and emphasized the need for business to resume operations.

Parson, speaking in front of reporters at his daily COVID-19 news conference in the Capitol, said hospitalizations have gone down in every region of the state except for St. Louis.

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

Missouri's peak day for hospitalizations was April 7, when 1,242 people were hospitalized. Between then and Saturday, Parson said, hospitalizations have gone down 38 percent in central Missouri and 41 percent in the Kansas City region. Similar drops were seen in other regions.

However, Parson said they are up 8 percent in the St. Louis region.

"This is why we have to evaluate numbers locally and regionally, not just on a statewide scale," Parson said.

Parson said the reduction shows Missouri is ready to reopen businesses on Monday. Every business in the state will be able to resume operations when a new statewide order takes effect Monday, Parson said.

Dan Mehan, chairman and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, said the reopening is badly needed to help businesses.

A chamber survey showed more than 400,000 Missourians have lost their jobs during the pandemic and businesses expect to lose a quarter of their revenue, Mehan said.

"These are staggering numbers but we believe if we come together we can turn this around," he said.

About 15 percent, primarily small employers, will go out of business, Mehan said.

Greg Hunsucker with the Missouri Restaurant Association said the state's restaurants are taking social distancing measures and will be cleaner than they have ever been.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said on Tuesday more than 130 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed as well as 26 new coronavirus-related deaths.