Reopening the Show-Me State
On Tuesday, June 16, Missouri officially reopened. This is a moment we’ve been working up to for quite a while, and I’m glad we’ve finally made it to this point. It’s been over three months since the first case of the COVID-19 virus in Missouri was confirmed. Despite countless other cases, I believe Missourians have persevered and worked hard to flatten the curve and get our state to where we are today.
So what does it mean now that Missouri has reopened? Well for starters, it means that there is no longer a statewide health order affecting the daily lives of all Missourians. While several statewide restrictions have been lifted, many of the governor’s executive orders remain in place. In my opinion, these orders are meant to allow flexibility in deploying resources around the state to continue addressing the effects of the virus. While statewide restrictions are being lifted, local rules, regulations and ordinances may still be in effect, depending on where you live. Businesses are allowed to open again, and I believe this will prove to be an important step in our state’s attempt to recover from the virus.
While things are beginning to reopen, it’s important to keep in mind that the coronavirus isn’t gone yet. There are still areas of our state and around the country that are dealing with outbreaks and other challenges associated with the virus. As doctors and researchers work to develop a vaccine against the virus, I believe it’s a good idea for at-risk individuals to continue to take precautions. If you are considered to be at a high risk of contracting the virus, please continue to maintain social distancing when out in public, avoid large crowds and practice good hygiene. I’m confident that as long as people continue to use some common sense, things will continue to improve for us all.
Additionally, you can keep up with case counts in your community by visiting the Missouri COVID-19 Dashboard. There you can find information on statewide and county cases, demographic information and more.
It’s no question this pandemic has been a challenging time for us all, but let’s not forget those on the frontlines of the fight against the coronavirus. I want to thank all the health care professionals, sanitation workers and other essential personnel who have been working so hard to keep our communities safe and healthy. We couldn’t have gotten to this point without you, so once again, thank you.
Please feel free to contact my office at (573) 751-2076. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Bernskoetter.