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April 8, 2020
UPSP 213-200 Vol. 155, No.46
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No confirmed COVID-19 cases in county; Emergency Order authorizes enforcement Daviess County continues to be COVID-19 free, with no confirmed local cases of the virus officially reported by the county’s health department. As of this morning (April 8), state health officials report 3,037 positive cases of the virus in Missouri including 53 deaths. In nearby counties, neighboring Clinton County listed eight confirmed virus cases, Harrison County four, and single cases in Caldwell, Dekalb, Gentry and Livingston counties. No cases are reported in Grundy County. The counties with the most virus outbreak are St. Charles County (221 confirmed, six deaths) and Jackson County (154 confirmed, one death). Cheryl Alexander, administrator of Public Health for Daviess County Health Department and Health Officer of Daviess County, signed a Public Health Emergency Order effective Monday, April 6. This order locally implements the “Stay-at-Home” order announced by Missouri Gov. Mike Parsons late Friday. At that time Missouri had at least one positive case in 76 of the state’s 114 counties. Over half of the total positive cases are in the St. Louis region. The safety measures to apply to individual persons are the same as previously announced. But now safety measures in the fight against COVID-19 carry
overtones of penalties of fines or even jail time for those in noncompliance. The local Emergency Order signed by Ms. Alexander “shall remain in place until such time as the emergency has been abated. Review of necessity for this order shall take place no less than weekly. Extension or rescission of this order shall be made in conference with the Daviess County Board of Trustees, Daviess County Commissioners, and the Emergency Management Director. Violation of this order constitutes an imminent threat to public health and shall be in violation of RSMO 192.300 (4) and/or RSMO 320. A violation of this order may be punished criminally as a misdemeanor and subject to jail and fines. The state’s “stay-at-home”
order establishes the minimum requirements that must be complied with statewide. Local health authorities may enforce more restrictive public health requirements for businesses or individuals. To summarize, these health measures are now locally in effect with violators subject to legal prosecution. ALL PEOPLE SHALL: 1. To the maximum extent possible, shelter in place by remaining in their respective residences or regular places of abode, avoiding contact with people with whom they do not reside, and avoiding public places except as necessary to obtain food, supplies and medical treatment. 2. Remain at home if you are sick or ill, except to seek medical treatment from a licensed medi(continued on page 10)
Amish heeding government guidelines as the impact of COVID-19 continues Freeman Detweiler, with the Jamesport Farm Supply store, says the Jamesport Amish community is taking the coronavirus outbreak every bit as seriously as their “English” neighbors. “We respect what the government and authorities are asking us to do,” he says. “I tell my family to not go to gatherings and to stay away from sick people. We use sanitizers, wash our hands,
In regards to COVID-19 Order enforcement: “Ultimately, the goal is education over prosecution,” says Daviess County Prosecutor Annie Gibson. “If the health department or law enforcement receives information about a possible violation, the first response will likely be educational in nature. Continued and willful violations of the emergency order might lead to a complaint being sent for prosecution. Violations could include offenses such as gatherings of more than ten persons, refusal to abide by the 6-foot social barrier, or a business that is not abiding by the occupancy restrictions. “This is definitely new territory for the health department, law enforcement, and emergency management. I do believe that deliberate and continued violations might lead to the health department or law enforcement asking my office to proceed with criminal charges. But again, I emphasize that the first component of this is educational, and I’m confident the citizens of Daviess County are absolutely able and willing to abide by the orders of the Daviess County Health Department and Governor’s office.”
and stand six feet apart. We do what they’re saying we should do.” Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on March 21 directed Department of Health and Senior Services Director Dr. Williams to require social distancing statewide and prohibit the public from gathering in groups of more than 10. The order stops short of ordering businesses to close, instead directing offices and workplaces that remain open to ensure that workers “practice good hygiene” and work from home where feasible. Mr. Detweiler says he can’t speak for everybody in the Amish community, but community leaders are working to make sure everybody heeds stipulations. “I don’t know if everybody, one hundred percent, is going by the rules, but I know we definitely don’t want the virus and we are trying to do our part to prevent it from spreading.” On March 19, all 555 of Missouri’s public-school districts and charter schools reported closure. Mr. Detweiler says all (continued on page 10)
Clerk encourages absentee balloting Due to the ongoing outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, Daviess County Election Authority and County Clerk Ronetta Burton strongly encourages all Daviess County residents who want to vote in the General Municipal Election now scheduled for June
2 to contact her office to receive an absentee ballot so you may remain sheltered at home and still cast your ballot. Absentee voting will continue by mail until May 27 and by email or curbside at the courthouse until June 1. Please call 660-663-
3300, ext. 500, to request your ballot, or for more information. Remember, to be allowed into the Daviess County Courthouse you must have an appointment, pass the health screening, and come through the security scanner to gain entry.
No admittance continues at Regional Jail Edmon Howard, Director of the Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail, is continuing the “no admittance” procedures for the jail, which is located at Pattonsburg. “As everyone is aware this is a trying time in our country, our community, and in the jail as well,” Director Howard noted. “We have had to make sacrifices and faced the challenges head on. We will continue to do so in every aspect of our jobs. Hard
decisions are being made every day with the staff, the detainees, and the legal system to continue working in some sort of normal fashion and to keep everyone safe.” On April 3, 2020, Governor Parsons issued a stay at home order for the state of Missouri which went into effect April 6. This is in effort to control the spread the COVID-19 virus. It would allow for essential staff to
work and for all others to minimize their travels outside the home. As Director of the Daviess DeKalb Regional Jail, Mr. Howard wants to assure the board, the public, and the staff that the administration will continue to try and make the jail a safe environment for them and the detainees that have to be there. To do so, he is going to con(continued on page 10)
[source: Daviess County Health Department, posted April 6]
To further combat the spread of COVID-19 in Missouri, Governor Parson directed Dr. Randall Williams, Director of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, to issue a Stay-atHome Order which is effective April 6, 2020. This Order directs all Missourians to avoid leaving their residences unless necessary and to practice social distancing when they need to travel outside their homes to work, access foods, prescriptions, health care, and other necessities, or to engage in an outdoor activity. This Order does not require all businesses statewide to close or cease operation. Here are some examples of things you can do under this order: • Go to grocery, convenience, or warehouse stores • Go to the pharmacy to pick up medications and other healthcare necessities • Go to medical appointments (check with your doctor or provider first) • Go to a restaurant for take-out, delivery, or drive-thru • Go to a place of worship – just make sure that no more than 10 people are in any single space at one time and keep 6 feet of distance between you and others • Take a walk, ride your bike, hike, fish, hunt, golf and be in nature for exercise – just keep six feet of distance between you and others • Receive deliveries from any business which delivers • Individuals shall not do the following things: • Visit state office buildings that are closed to the public • Stand closer than 6 feet of distance from others • Visit loved ones in nursing homes, long term care facilities, and assisted living homes, unless you are providing critical assistance Do work places that do not qualify as “essential” businesses have to close? No. Businesses that are not covered by the guidance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) discussed in the Order may remain open but must comply with the social gathering and social distance requirements of the Order. This means that no more than 10 individuals can occupy a single space, this includes both employees and customers. Individuals must also maintain at least 6 feet of distance between themselves and others. Employees must also practice good hygiene and sanitation to limit the spread of COVID-19. Businesses are also encouraged to allow individuals, where feasible, to work from home to achieve optimum isolation. Businesses can seek a waiver of the social gathering requirements from the Director of the Department of Economic Development. What businesses are “essential” under this Order? The Order refers businesses to guidance by CISA to assist them in determining whether the work their employees do is considered “essential” during the COVID-19 response period. Some examples include, but are not limited to: • Healthcare workers and caregivers • Law enforcement, fire fighters, and first responders • Government operations • Mental health and Social Service workers • Pharmacy employees • Workers supporting groceries, pharmacies and other retail sales of food and beverage products • Restaurant carryout and quick-serve food operations and food delivery employees • Farmworkers • Electricity and Utility Industry Employees • Critical Manufacturing Employees (medical supply chains, energy, transportation, food, • chemicals) • Petroleum, Natural and Propane Gas Workers • Transportation and Logistics Workers • Communications and Information Technology Employees Workplaces that qualify as essential under the guidance may remain open. Workers onsite should take all necessary precautions to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, including practicing social distancing except when performance of job duties require otherwise. Are there restrictions on essential businesses? Yes. Workplaces that qualify as essential under CISA guidelines and are engaged in retail sales to the public must limit the number of customers in each retail location to the following standards based on the workplace’s fire or building code occupancy: • For smaller locations (less than 10,000 square feet), they must maintain 25% or less of the authorized occupancy; • For larger locations (10,000 square feet or greater), they must maintain 10% or less of the authorized occupancy. (continued on page 10)