Missouri leaders tout signs of normalcy returning amid COVID-19 pandemic
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
State officials said Monday that signs are showing the beginning of a return to normal after COVID-19 lockdowns but cautioned against Missourians letting down their guard.
Sandy Karsten, head of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, said Monday at Gov. Mike Parson's daily COVID-19 briefing that emergency radio traffic is rebounding.
You can watch a replay of the news conference in the media player below.
Traffic had been down significantly compared to last year as stay-at-home orders meant to slow COVID-19 contributed to a drop in public safety-related calls, Karsten said. Radio traffic last week was up about a quarter from late March, she said.
The change is an unfortunate sign of the start of a return to normalcy, Karsten said.
Karsten said traffic deaths are up 6 percent this year. Karsten speculated that the increase is because of more drivers flouting speed limits, with the Missouri State Highway Patrol reporting a 55 percent increase in people driving 26 mph or more over the posted speed limit.
To watch for those increased traffic violations the patrol has pulled troopers who usually work in casinos and put them in marked cars for traffic enforcement, she said.
Parson said the state has made progress is slowing down the novel coronavirus but warned the fight is far from over.
"This is going to be the new normal for a while," Parson said of measures such as social distancing. "And to keep moving forward we must continue to follow the guidelines and make smart, responsible decisions. Remember, our actions today will have an effect weeks and months from now."
Parson encouraged people who need to seek medical care to do so. Hospitals and medical clinics had sharply limited their services at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic but have started to resume those services.
Parson said he had two family members who experienced severe health problems because they had to put off care.
Dr. Randall Williams, head of the state Department of Health and Senior Services, said Monday that the state has received doses of remdesivir, an antiviral drug that has shown promise in treating COVID-19 patients. Those doses will be rationed out to patients with the most severe COVID-19 cases, Williams said.
Monday marks one week since the state started its reopening plan. Over the past week, many businesses including restaurants have been allowed to partially reopen.
On Monday, Missouri reported its smallest COVID-19 case increase in more than a month. Health department officials said 74 more cases were added since Sunday. Nearly five times as many cases were reported on May 4.
