Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced on Monday phase one of the state’s plan to reopen the economy.
Starting May 4, the Show-Me Strong Recovery Plan would see businesses, including retail stores and restaurants, as well as places of worship, reopen, as long as visitors maintain six feet of distance. Some businesses will also see restrictions on the number of people allowed inside based on square footage. There are currently no restrictions on the size of social gatherings in the plan.
Phase one of the Show-Me Strong Recovery Plan will extend through May 31. In a statement, the governor’s office did say the plan allowed for “flexibility based on changing situations.”
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page have both issued indefinite stay-at-home orders. Those supersede Parson’s Show-Me Strong Recovery Plan. On Monday, Page announced that county parks will be reopening with certain restrictions to allow for social distancing. Nearly 700 signs placed along trails will remind visitors to stay six feet apart.
In a release, the Parson said that phase one of Show-Me Strong will include the following goals:
1. Rapidly expand testing capacity and volume in the state, including testing for those who are currently contagious and those who have developed immunity to the virus
2. Expanding reserves of personal protective equipment (PPE) by opening public and private supply chains, and continuing to utilize Missouri businesses in that effort
3. Continuing to monitor and, if necessary, expanding hospital and health care system capacity, including isolation and alternate care facilities for those that cannot self-quarantine at home
4. Improving the ability to predict potential outbreaks using Missouri’s public health data
All Missourians, when leaving the house, are required to practice social distancing, maintaining at least six feet of space from others. Schools in Missouri will remain closed through the end of the academic year. Missourians will not be allowed to visit nursing homes, except in end-of-life circumstances.
Parson said in the release that businesses—whether they are essential or nonessential—are able to resume business on May 4 if they follow certain guidelines. Those include monitoring employees with temperature checks, providing protective equipment, and sanitizing common areas. Businesses are also required to modify workspaces to maximize social distancing and are encouraged to allow employees to work from home where possible.
Retail spaces must limit the number of customers in each store. For locations under 10,000 square feet, they must maintain 25 percent or less of the authorized occupancy. For locations 10,000 square feet or more, they must maintain 10 percent or less of the authorized occupancy.
Restaurants will be allowed to open their dining rooms but must space tables six feet apart. Places of worship will also be allowed to open, but congregants must follow social distancing measures. These same measures will apply to “amusement parks, concerts, funerals, museums, school graduations, and weddings.”
Childcare facilities will continue to operate but are encouraged to follow Centers for Disease Control guidelines.
Summer camps will operate this season.
You can read the full phase one plan and frequently asked questions here.
