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Missouri state of emergency extended through March

By Madison Parry

A new executive order from Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has put an extension on the state of emergency for an additional four months. Signed in response to a rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the order provides guidance and leaves any mask mandates to local governments.

For the rest of November and the next four months, Missouri’s state of emergency will remain in effect.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed an executive order Thursday in response to a rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across the state and Midwest region.

The order extends through March 2021 and provides social distancing guidance for Missouri residents and visitors to the state.

Although some groups have made a push for Parson to issue a statewide mask mandate, the governor has decided to leave that decision up to county and local governments.

“Missouri and the Midwest region remain central to the extreme COVID-19 outbreak our country is currently experiencing,” Parson said Thursday. “If we do not slow the spread of the virus, our health care system will quickly become overwhelmed. This creates a major risk not only for COVID-19 patients but anyone requiring health care support, from emergency situations such as car accidents to the treatment of serious health conditions such as cancer.” 

As the winter season quickly approaches, the increased risk of spread of the flu and other respiratory illnesses was a large factor in the signing of Executive Order 20-19.

Guidance included in the order recommends the usual proper hand hygiene and social distancing measures, and adds the following:

  • Limit interactions with others to less than 15 minutes 
  • Limit regular group interactions to a small group (10 or less) of family members
  • Minimize travel outside of Missouri
  • Consider occupancy limits reflective of social distancing