Thread by @GovParsonMO

On March 21, I ordered a STATEWIDE “social distancing” Order requiring social gatherings be no more than 10 people.

This is exactly where Missouri needed to be at that time.

As of today, out the 24,727 people that have been tested in Missouri’s total population of approximately 6 MILLION, there have been 2,113 positive cases of COVID-19.

Of the Missouri citizens who tested positive, approximately 22 percent have required hospitalization.

This means the remaining 78 percent are recovering at home or have already recovered.

I am saddened to report Missouri has 19 deaths at this time. Our hearts go out to their families and their loved ones.

Fortunately, Missouri’s COVID-19 death rate is still below 1 percent as of today.

To stay ahead of the battle, as the Governor of the State of Missouri, I am ordering a statewide “Stay Home-Missouri” Order for ALL Missourians beginning at 12:01 a.m., Monday April 6 until 11:59 p.m., Friday April 24.

This Order requires:

○ Individuals currently residing within the State of Missouri shall avoid leaving their homes or places of residence.

○ All individuals in the State of Missouri shall avoid social gatherings of more than ten (10) people.
○ All public and charter schools must remain closed.
○ This order also covers the timeframe of existing municipal and county orders.

This state means so much to me. There are 6 million of us that call Missouri home.

We live in small towns and large cities, and our diversity is one of the greatest advantages we have as a state.

It is not just about encouraging people to stay at home.

It is about having the power as Governor to pick winners and losers … and whether I feel it is appropriate for me to use that power by determining who is essential and who is not.

This power is something I think should be rare for government to ever take advantage of … and for one person to make the decision for 6 million Missourians without due process, jeopardizing their liberties.

Over one hundred THOUSAND people have filed for unemployment, and I’m sure they all would tell you they thought their jobs were essential.

Their spouses, families, and everyone who depends on them, thought their jobs were essential.

Many orders were put into place early on in other states and many cities without thinking about the un-intended consequences.

Hundreds of businesses were declared essential and THOUSANDS were declared non-essential.

Medical experts have told us is that some essential businesses have become hotbeds for transmission as people flock to those locations and risk spreading the virus even further.

Therefore, my order will provide a clear framework to allow businesses to operate, but they will have to follow social distancing measures.

By tightening the exemptions that led to an unintended funnel effect, my order goes further than ANY directive in the state.

This is not about any one individual person.

This is about our families, friends, and neighbors. This is about the ENTIRE state of Missouri.

To WIN this battle against COVID-19, it is going to take EACH ONE OF US doing our part.

For the sake of ALL Missourians, be smart, be responsible, and FOLLOW THIS ORDER.

STAY-AT-HOME MISSOURI!

God bless the great state of Missouri!

Read the news release: governor.mo.gov/press-releases…

Read the order: governor.mo.gov/priorities/sta…