HeplerBroom understands how staying abreast of the latest developments related to COVID-19 is important to your business and planning for the future. We have assembled some of Missouri’s additional executive, legislative, and regulatory actions related to COVID-19 that may affect you and summarized them below.

HEALTH

• Emergency room doctors in Missouri are saying that COVID-19 has not reached its peak. In fact, doctors in the state are predicting that COVID-19 will not reach that peak for another two weeks. While the stay-at-home orders should help lessen the impact, hospitals still have plenty to prepare for in the coming weeks.

 SOCIAL/CIVIC LIFE

• The mayor of Jefferson City issued an emergency proclamation allowing for city, county, and state level violations of the Cole County stay-at-home order. In fact, it goes as far as stating that city business licenses and liquor licenses can be revoked if businesses are found in violation.

• Governor Parson stated on Monday, March 30 that the practice of social distancing could extend into May. Although the Governor does not plan to issue a statewide stay-at-home order, he expressed that preventing groups larger than 10 persons must be extended beyond April 6, 2020. Parson continues to remind citizens of the importance of remaining at least six feet apart and remaining independently diligent in preventing the further spread of COVID-19.

 TRAVEL

• Like a stack of dominos falling over, so is the collapse of many government projects as a result of the pandemic. With more people working from home or not working at all, and less travel overall, Missouri is seeing a drop in gas tax revenue. For example, St. Louis and Kansas City alone are seeing a traffic decrease of 49%. Generally, the gas tax revenue is used to fund building bridges, filling potholes, and repaving roads, all of which are now being delayed. In fact, Missouri transportation officials state that they may have to delay as much as a million dollars’ worth in road construction as a result.

A public emergency such as the one we are experiencing with COVID-19 is unlike anything any of us has ever experienced. In an effort to continue to keep citizens safe, Missouri has also worked to keep many businesses and services running. Like many, HeplerBroom attorneys are diligently working from their homes to keep both clients and the community at large updated as to executive, legislative, and regulatory actions in the midst of COVID-19.