State officials say Hearnes Center scouted as emergency hospital
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Gov. Mike Parson said Tuesday that an inter-agency group including several state departments and the Missouri National Guard have scouted the Hearnes Center as a possible emergency hospital to treat COVID-19 patients.
You can watch a replay of the governor's news conference in the media player below.
Parson said during his daily COVID-19 briefing Tuesday streamed online that sites have also been scouted in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Independence, Joplin and Cape Girardeau. A team was in Kansas City on Tuesday scouting two more sites, he said.
The sites would only be used if the need arises, Parson said.
The Missouri National Guard posted on Facebook on Saturday photos showing the Hearnes Center. The post said Guard members met Friday with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state officials to discuss sites for use as "Alternative Health Care Facilities."
Parson administration officials also discussed efforts to prevent COVID-19 infections in state prisons. Parson rebuffed calls to release some inmates because of the risk of COVID-19 spreading through the prison population.
"I want to be clear – we have no intention of releasing incarcerated individuals at this time," Parson said.
Anne Precythe, director of the state's Department of Corrections, said one state prison inmate has tested positive for COVID-19 but the prisoner was in a hospital at the time of the positive test. The inmate is now virus-free but remains in a hospital for other reasons, she said.
Two corrections employees also tested positive, but they did not work in prisons, she said.
Precythe said the state has taken steps to prevent COVID-19 from spreading through the prison system, including ending visits with inmates and implementing strict sanitation guidelines.
As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, at least 1,327 state residents have tested positive for COVID-19. The Department of Health and Senior Services said at least 14 people have died related to coronavirus.
At least 296 more people tested positive for novel coronavirus since Monday.
County health departments in Boone and Camden counties reported more confirmed cases of COVID-19 Tuesday afternoon.
Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services officials said at least 63 people have tested positive. The City of Columbia website shows there are 39 active cases and 23 people have recovered.
The Camden County Health Department said 14 people have tested positive for novel coronavirus. At least three more people have confirmed cases since Monday.
