covid-19

Updated at 2:20 p.m. Nov. 12 with the call for a special legislative session to include COVID-19 liability protection

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced Thursday that students and teachers exposed to the coronavirus do not need to quarantine as long as masks were worn.

“Because transmission within our schools appears to be low and masks continue to be effective in slowing the spread of the virus, Missouri is modifying its guidance,” Parson said at his COVID-19 press briefing.

The State of Missouri is issuing new guidance for schools related to COVID-19.  Governor Mike Parson announced Thursday that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education now advises that close contacts of a person with COVID-19 in a school setting don’t have to quarantine if all individuals were wearing masks.

The guidance applies in school districts and charter schools that have mask mandates in place and when all parties were wearing their masks correctly at the time of exposure.

The Missouri House gave final approval Tuesday to a $1.2 billion supplemental budget bill, most of which comes from the federal government.

The legislation gives the governor appropriation authority to ensure the state has access to additional coronavirus relief funds.

Missouri lawmakers began a special session on Thursday to authorize Gov. Mike Parson to spend federal money aimed at fighting the coronavirus.

But some Republicans want to do more than just approve Parson’s supplemental budget request. They also want to pass legislation to curb lawsuits against businesses that are related to the virus.