Governor Mike Parson issued a statewide stay-at-home order during his daily press conference this afternoon.
. The statewide stay at home order begins at 12:01 a.m. Monday, April 6 and ends at 11:59 p.m. April 24.
Parson said this order requires individuals currently residing in the State of Missouri to avoid leaving their homes or places of residence. All Missourians are ordered to avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people.
Parson said all public and charter schools must remain closed.
This order also covers the timeframe of existing municipalities and court orders.
Governor Parson additionally indicated that essential businesses have become “hotbeds” for the virus as people “flock” to the businesses and spread the virus further.
For this reason, Parson said his order will provide a “clear framework” to allow businesses to operate. But, they will have to follow the social distancing measures the order requires.
Parson said his order goes farther than any order in the state. However, Parson is allowing local authorities to tighten the restrictions if they see it fit to do so.
Parson said this decision “weighed heavily” on him because it was a decision to be made for 6 million Missourians who are “so diverse.”
Parson said he, his administration, and the Department of Health and Senior Services have been planning for COVID-19 for weeks prior to Missouri receiving notification of its first positive case.
Since the first positive case, Parson said he has coordinated with all levels of government and “continually ordered Missourians to stay home.”
Parson said of the 2,113 Missourians who have tested positive for COVID-19, 22 percent have required hospitalization.
“This means the remaining 78 percent are recovering at home or have already recovered,” Parson said.
8.5 percent of those tested have tested positive for the virus. Parson also stated that there is at least one positive case in 76 of the 114 counties in Missouri.