Today’s update discusses:

• Clay County moving on to Phase 2 Step 2 next week
• Governor Parson disputing the claim that COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Missouri in early February
• Missouri community testing continuing this week and next
• CVS working on opening 22 sites across the state

 ECONOMY

• Officials in Clay County (which includes part of the Kansas City metro area) announced it will move into a new phase of recovery starting next week. The Clay County Public Health Center created a multi-phase and multi-step recovery plan for businesses to reopen and activities to resume. Next week, the county will move into Phase 2 Step 2, allowing bars, restaurants, gyms, and churches to operate at 50% capacity with a 50-person limit on gatherings. In addition, pools can open at 25% capacity and parks and playgrounds may open with social distancing implemented.

 HEALTH

• Yesterday’s update referenced a report that Missouri may have had COVID-19 cases as early as February 2020. Governor Parson disputes that report. During his daily briefing, he stated that about 50 people reported having symptoms before the first confirmed case on March 7, “but it is not confirmed that these earlier symptoms were due to COVID-19 diagnosis” and that “the dates on [Missouri’s] dashboard from early February represent the onset of symptoms, not the date they tested positive.” While the governor noted it is possible the virus was in Missouri in February, it is “pure speculation” whether those symptoms at that time were related to COVID-19.

 RESOURCES

• As a reminder, Missouri begins “community testing” this week, and will continue testing into next week at the following locations:
  • Boone County
    • June 1-2, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Hickman High School, Columbia
  • Cape Girardeau County
    • June 5, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Arena Park, Cape Girardeau
  • Greene County
    • June 4-5, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, Springfield
  • Jackson County
    • May 26-30, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Silverstein Eye Center Arena, Independence
  • Jefferson County
    • June 1-2, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Faith Community Church, House Springs
    • June 3, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Hillsboro Civic Center, Hillsboro
  • Charles County
    • May 26-28, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., St. Charles County Public Health Department, St. Charles
    • May 29-30, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.. The Youth Activity Park, Dardenne Prairie

Testing is free; the only requirement is that the individual is a Missouri resident.

• Continuing the nationwide mission of opening testing centers, CVS has announced that 22 drive-thru testing sites will open in Missouri. Residents who go to these testing sites will remain in their cars and will self-administer the tests, with results to be expected within 3 days. Unlike the Missouri testing sites mentioned above, CVS testing centers require individuals to meet CDC guidelines.