KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As part of an executive order Thursday, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has issued a public health warning as the number of COVID-19 cases has stressed the state’s health systems.
In a press release, the public health warning outlines expectations Gov. Parson has for the state’s residents, though earlier Thursday, the governor said he was opposed to any state-level mandates pertaining to masks.
Instead, Gov. Parson said he plans to meet with mayors, county commissions and local leaders around the state to help them implement “appropriate guidance.”
In addition to wearing a mask, social distancing and following hand hygiene, the governor’s public health warning includes several other guidelines:
- Limit interactions with others to less than 15 minutes;
- Limit regular group interactions to a small group of 10 people or less of family members
- Minimize travel outside of Missouri
- Consider occupancy limits “reflective of social distancing.”
Parson says the public health warning guidelines do not intend to limit in-person learning at schools.
“This is a critical time for our state. Everyone is affected. Every community is at risk, and until a vaccine is widely available to the public, the best weapon we have against COVID-19 is prevention,” Parson said in the release. “This means that we all have to step up and do the right thing.”
The executive order issued Thursday also extended Missouri's state of emergency through March 31, 2021.
