Parson to reopen state fully July 16
By Tyler Schneider
On Thursday, June 11, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced a hard ceasefire on statewide COVID-19 restrictions, beginning June 16. Meanwhile, Missouri’s Emergency Declaration will be extended through December 30 in order to utilize CARES Act funding and to “give Missourians time to adjust as we reopen and work toward the recovery process,” Parson said.
“I want to be clear: Just because we’re fully reopening the state does not mean that the steps we’ve taken so far should be forgotten. The virus is still out there — and it is still important for everyone to continue social distancing,” Parson added. “We need to be proactive, avoid large crowds. If you can’t social distance, take extra precautions to protect yourself and those around you.”
Parsons thanked Missourians for “using their common sense” in the roughly three months since the coronavirus lockdown began in March. To facilitate the transition going forward, Parson also made it known that he would be extending four previously enacted Executive Orders:
- 20-04: Waives over 530 regulatory burdens.
- 20-06 Mobilizes national guard in statewide response efforts.
- 20-08 Waiving requirements for a person to be physically present in front of a notary public.
- 20-05 Extending sale of unprepared restaurant foods to public (mixed drink included).
“We are prepared to deal with any potential outbreaks or hotspots. Now is the time to get Missourians back on their feet, and back to work,” Parson said, before giving the stage to Rob Dixon, Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
“We’re seeing a decline in the ongoing unemployment claims. They were at a historic peak of 440,000 to now falling under 350,000,” Dixon said. “At the end of April, only 5 percent of small businesses saw an increase in revenue. Now it is at 15 percent spending and revenue.”
In short, the economy is on the uptick, according to Dixon, but the effect of the closure will still be felt by many. Some small businesses will never recover. The efforts to minimize this impact will continue for the remainder of the year, at the very least, said Dixon.
Parson took back the mic to address this summer’s state fair.
“The Missouri State Fair has only been cancelled one time in 100 years, following World War II. As an ‘ag governor’, I guess I want to say, I don’t want it to be the second time, on my watch, that it’s cancelled. It may need to have shorter hours, less days, but we will have some form of state fair,” Parson said.
The governor closed the session with a call for individual accountability from Missourians.
“At some point, the government just has to get out of the way and leave people to live their lives and regulate their own selves. We are at that time in the state of Missouri. I know, I know that Missourians will continue to do the right thing,” Parson said.