KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri auditor and democratic gubernatorial candidate Nicole Galloway announced a “Rebuild and Recover” plan Monday to help Missourians fight and cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The plan “lays out concrete steps to protect public health amidst a deadly pandemic, ensure Missouri’s local governments and communities can rebuild, and put the state’s economy on the path to a strong recovery,” according to a statement from Galloway’s team.
Galloway said Gov. Mike Parson’s strategy in the fight against COVID-19 isn’t working and the state’s positivity rate is too high.
Her plan focuses on acting with urgency to control the spread of the virus while keeping the economy open, Galloway said.
“Missouri needs a reset on our coronavirus strategy - and fast,” she said. “By focusing on protecting public health and economic recovery, my action plan is aimed at tackling COVID-19 in Missouri in order to prevent new restrictions and avoid shuttering new businesses.”
Galloway’s plan places importance on protecting public health, community recovery and rebuilding the economy, according to the statement.
Under those three key areas, Galloway’s specific proposals include:
- “Implementing a statewide mask mandate -- as recommended by Dr. Deborah Birx and Springfield Mayor Ken McClure
- Engaging surrounding states to cooperate on the purchase of rapid testing supplies and equipment
- A data-driven approach for safely reopening schools that recognizes the risk that community transmission poses to keeping fully in-person school on-track
- Creating an Emergency Medical Task Force, who would brief the public daily on the condition of COVID-19 in Missouri, provide recommendations of executive actions to the Governor and serve as a hub for COVID-19 data, including hospitalization data
- Ensuring relief for workers who contract COVID-19
- Reorganizing the Department of Economic Development to include a department of Minority Business that will be charged with ensuring vulnerable small businesses in Black and Brown communities are able to withstand economic uncertainties
- Creating an Economic Relief Council composed of labor members, business leaders, and small business owners to advise the Governor on economic stabilization in the short term and economic recovery in the long term
- Assigning a state-level response team to help counties spend their CARES act money — with a focus on contact tracing and PPE
- Support for community health centers”
