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The latest news from every corner of the state, including policy emerging from Missouri's capitol.

Governor Parson Addresses Coronavirus Response in Columbia

(From left) Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams, Mayor Brian Treece and Governor Mike Parson stand in Columbia City Hall for a press briefing Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
Sebastián Martínez Valdivia / KBIA
(From left) Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams, Mayor Brian Treece and Governor Mike Parson stand in Columbia City Hall for a press briefing Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

 

(From left) Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams, Mayor Brian Treece and Governor Mike Parson stand in Columbia City Hall for a press briefing Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
Credit Sebastián Martínez Valdivia / KBIA
(From left) Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams, Mayor Brian Treece and Governor Mike Parson stand in Columbia City Hall for a press briefing Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

Just hours before announcing the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Boone County, Columbia Mayor Brian Treece hosted Missouri Governor Mike Parson at Columbia City Hall to discuss the local and state response to the ongoing pandemic. Parson and Treece, along with Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams, heads of area hospitals and emergency response personnel talked testing and economic relief, among other things.

Parson kicked off the press briefing following the meeting by promising ramped-up COVID-19 testing efforts. He estimated the state will be able to administer around 10,000 tests per day by April 1st.

As of Monday night, 215 people in Missouri have been administered the COVID-19 test – that’s fewer tests than in any neighboring state.

Parson also touched on plans to distribute personal protective equipment to frontline healthcare workers around the state, using some of the $7 million made available after the governor’s emergency declaration on Friday. 

He said state officials are also in the process of getting newly-released federal emergency funding to cope with the pandemic. 

At the press briefing, Parson also defended his choice to leave school closure decisions to local leaders — citing varying availability of childcare throughout the state. 

The Governor’s office did, however, intervene to close the state’s 13 casinos on Tuesday morning.

Copyright 2020 KBIA

Zia Kelly