Editor's note: This is a daily briefing updating the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic at 4 p.m. each day.
As the number of cases around Missouri and locally continues to climb, area officials want to stress that everyone can help slow the spread of COVID-19.
The best way to prevent that, according to health officials, is social distancing.
"Everybody needs to stay home, around home. They don't need to be visiting anyone, especially if they're sick," said Amanda Fitzwater of the Butler County Health Department.
Symptoms include a fever, cough and shortness of breath, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that studies have suggested the virus may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.
That's why social distancing is so important.
"We've seen people gathering and going to parks and they're doing the six feet distancing. We're just saying don't even do that, just stay home," Fitzwater said. "Also, avoid shopping at peak hours, maybe try going in different times.
"They just need to remember to stay home," Fitzwater added. "I know it's beautiful outside and everybody wants to get out but do it at home, in your own yard."
Remember cover, clean and contain.
"Cover your mouth when you cough because if you're not covering your mouth you're letting those droplets out," Fitzwater said. "And that's the infectious part of it, especially if you have a fever."
Washing hands, especially after touching any frequently used item or surfaces, not touching your face and disinfecting frequently used items and surfaces as much as possible can also help slow the spread, the CDC says.
"It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object, like a packaging container, that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads," according to the CDC website. "In general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from food products or packaging."
Missouri is one of a handful of states that is not under a statewide stay-at-home order or a shelter-in-place order.
As of Thursday afternoon, 38 counties in Missouri have issued stay-at-home orders with Stoddard County as the only one in Southeast Missouri.
Residents can still go out for essential needs food, medical, banking and some businesses under a stay-at-home order but still need to be practicing social distancing.
"COVID-19 is affecting everyone and it may seem like there is no end in sight," Gov. Mike Parson said during his daily press briefing in Jefferson City. "However, we will overcome this.
"But people must stay at home, as much as possible in order to do that. This means staying at home, unless absolutely necessary to get out."
Parson added there has been a state-wide order in place since March 21 for social distancing.
"We know many people have been following this order and staying home and we greatly appreciate that," Parson said. "For those who haven't, you're putting everyone at risk."
That order ends Monday and the governor suggested that subject was to be addressed Friday.
Emily Goodin was named administrator for the Butler County Health Department.
Goodin had been acting as interim administrator since January when the previous administrator died. Robert Hudson had served in the role since 1997.
Ozark Ridge Golf Course in Poplar Bluff will be closed starting today, the Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department said.
"After consultation with Butler County emergency Management and the Butler County Health Department, Ozark Ridge Golf Course will close until further notice," the department said in a release.
The Red Cross will host a blood drive from 12-6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Black River Coliseum For more information, and to sign up, go online to www.redcrossblood.org.
Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center put out a request for anyone in the community that may have N95 masks or surgical masks and gowns to donate them due to limited resources.
Parson said the state is getting 100,000 calls a day for unemployment claims.
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A look at three stories from the Associated Press:
Economic fallout mounts, along with competition for gear
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A record 10 million sought US jobless aid in past 2 weeks
Latest coverage from AP.
As of 2 p.m. Thursday, April 2:
US DEATHS: 5,648
Mo. Deaths: 19
Mo. Cases: 1,834
Cases by area county:
Butler County: 2
Carter: 3
Stoddard: 6
Reynolds: 2
Ripley: 2
Wayne: 0
Perry: 19
Cape: 15
Scott: 6
Dunklin: 6
St. Francois: 9
Pemiscot: 3
Bollinger: 1
New Madrid: 1
From the AP: For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. The vast majority of people recover.
Here are the symptoms of the virus compared with the common flu.
One of the best ways to prevent spread of the virus is washing your hands with soap and water. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends first washing with warm or cold water and then lathering soap for 20 seconds to get it on the backs of hands, between fingers and under fingernails before rinsing off.
You should wash your phone, too. Heres how.
The Missouri coronavirus information hotline is 877-435-8411.
Wednesday, April 1
Tuesday, March 31
Monday, March 30
Sunday, March 29
Saturday, March 28
Friday, March 27
Thursday, March 26
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