KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Barely 1% of Missouri residents have been tested for COVID-19 since the outbreak started in the state, but Gov. Mike Parson plans to allow businesses to reopen May 4 — and he’s putting the responsibility to remaining safe on business owners and customers.
Parson said Friday during his daily press briefing that even businesses that can’t be done while adhering to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended social-distancing guidelines of six feet — places like nail salons, barber shops and gyms — will be allowed to reopen 10 days from now.
The governor’s office plans to release guidelines for reopening businesses next, which will include suggestions for safety or protective gear, but he is putting the bulk of the onus on owners and customers to take appropriate safety measures.
“I don’t think you need government to regulate how you run your business,” Parson said, adding that employees and customers who don’t feel safe won’t work at or patronize those businesses.
At the same time, Parson said the state has yet to determine whether a worker who doesn’t feel returning to a particular job will remain eligible for unemployment benefits after the May 4 reopening.
“That’s going to be between the employee and the employer to decide whether it’s safe,” he said.
Parson did acknowledge that the issue merits ongoing conversation at state level, but he wouldn’t commit to ensuring coverage for those workers.
Next week’s guidelines will include recommendations for small and large businesses; retail and manufacturing operations; bars and restaurants; churches; and the barber shops, nail salons and gyms among other businesses.
The state also plans to announce guidelines from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for “a process for graduation” in addition to state guidelines for weddings, funerals and youth/summer sports among other activities.
“While we gradually reopen the economy during this first part of our plan, it will still be important to maintain some measure of social distancing,” Parson said.
He expects some communities will be able to open at a faster rate than others and said local government and health leaders will have the freedom to add to the state’s guidelines, including extensions of stay-at-home orders like the ones in effect through May 15 in the Kansas City area.
Parson also announced he is extending the state’s emergency declaration through June 15.
“I want to be clear, that is not an extension of the stay-at-home order,” he said. “We will be reopening Missouri on May 4. ... “We know that COVID-19 will be around for a while, but we must find ways to adapt and move forward.”
The emergency declaration is a procedural move that keeps the tap for federal dollars turned on and keeps waivers or suspensions of more than 450 state statutes and regulations in place.
Parson said more than 65,000 Missouri residents have now been tested for COVI-19. There are more than 6.1 million residents in the state, but Parson said a revised outlook for the virus’ impact on the state gives him confidence in restarting the economy May 4.
While Parson acknowledged there almost certainly will be COVID-19 spikes as a result of that decision, he believes the state understands enough about the virus now to contain it without overwhelming hospitals.
Department of Health and Senior Services Director Dr. Randall Williams said he estimates that 80% of COVID-19 patients in Missouri recover without requiring additional care and around 6% of patients wind up requiring a ventilator.
Parson also said he expects $700 million will need to be trimmed from the state budget.
“Everything’s on the table,” Parson said.
That may include eliminating some programs.
“There’s going to be some drastic ... changes in the budget,” Parson said.
