Editor's note: This is a daily briefing updating the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic at 4 p.m. each day.
As county health officials announced a new positive test of COVID-19 in Butler County, officials got a glimpse into the discussions a group of statewide business leaders are telling Gov. Mike Parson's administration about reopening Missouri on May 4.
Poplar Bluff businessman Herman Styles is serving on a recovery task force for Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe. The 21-member group has been charged with helping the state recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
Styles said he was not representing Kehoe's office or the task force during his presentation at the county's daily briefing. As a business owner and member of the Missouri Restaurant Association, of which he was a board member, Styles said there are a lot of moving parts to reopen business. It would take three to five days to get the supply line moving again.
The biggest question, he said, is how will the public react.
A national survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 16% of Americans think it's very or extremely likely that their areas will be safe enough in a few weeks for restrictions to be lifted. Another 27% think it's somewhat likely.
"We don't know what to expect," Styles said. "And that makes it really complicated as a businessman."
A survey by the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce has found that businesses have averaged a 50% reduction in revenue since the start of the virus. Steve Halter, president of the Chamber, said they are still collecting information from area businesses.
More than 4.4 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, raising the total since the virus hit to 26 million.
Styles said the Missouri Restaurant Association has proposed a tiered system in which local health officials determine what kind of restrictions are in place.
"It would be our understanding that the health department would be more appropriate as the date to determine that for the city or county they're over," Styles said.
He added that nothing has been finalized and that the group is scheduled to meet again Monday.
The Butler County Health Department announced a 24th positive test Thursday morning, the first new COVID-19 case since Sunday.
Emily Goodin, health department administrator, said a contact tracing investigation is continuing.
The county still has two patients in the hospital while 12 have recovered. Of the 24 cases, 13 are between the age of 50-69 while seven are between the age of 20-39.
Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley said that his officers delivered a letter from the Health Department to a person who was instructed to be in a self-quarantine but was not following the guidelines.
"(They) seemed receptive to it," Whiteley said. "It went good."
Anyone waiting for a test result or who may have been in contact with a COVID-19 case but does not show symptoms is asked to self-quarantine 14 days to keep from spreading the virus.
There has been research suggesting that as many as 1 in 4 people with COVID-19 may show no symptoms.
While there has been a drop around Missouri in the number of new positive cases, deaths have not. There were 10 new deaths reported Thursday, bringing the total in Missouri to 218. The New York Times database counts 240 deaths. It was the third straight day — and the 11th in 19 days —that Missouri saw 10 or more people die.
Missouri reported 6,321 total cases with 184 new positive tests announced Thursday.
The state tally lists Butler County with 26 positive cases. Goodin said that may be because the state total reflects two tests that came back positive on previously-tested individuals.
Locally, the seven-day average of new cases has remained the same but testing has been limited to only those showing symptoms.
The state's criteria for testing was revised Wednesday, allowing health care professionals more opportunities to submit tests.
Health care providers and first responder agencies will be able to safely decontaminate N95 masks for reuse, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced Wednesday.
Starting next week, the Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System will be available to take in used N95 masks from around the state. There will be 13 drop-off and pick-up sites that will bring items to Jefferson City by a biohazard courier. The masks are returned to the original site approximately 72 following drop-off.
Approved for use by the federal Food and Drug Administration, the system uses a process of "vapor pass hydrogen peroxide to decontaminate the masks" and any one mask can be used up to 20 times without impacting its integrity.
There is no cost to state agencies and will be provided for at least six months. The system is federally funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Butler County Emergency Management Director Robbie Myers said Perryville, Cape Girardeau and West Plains will be drop-off points.
---
A look at stories you might have missed from the DAR:
• Health Department accounts 24th positive test in Butler County • Many in region make first time unemployment claims in March • National Guard to provide Cape schools with meal-issuance support
---
A look at three stories from the Associated Press:
• Virus pushes US unemployment toward highest since Depression • Ravaged nursing homes plead for more testing • Governor: Antibody survey shows wide exposure to virus in NY Latest coverage from AP.
---
As of 2 p.m. Thursday, April 23:
US DEATHS: 47,178 Mo. Deaths: 218 (+10) Mo. Cases: 6,321 (+184)
Cases by area county: Butler County: 24 Carter: 3 (1 death) Dunklin: 19 (2 deaths) Stoddard: 19 Ripley: 4 Reynolds: 2 Wayne: 0 Scott: 59 (1 death) Perry: 38 Cape: 42 (1 death) St. Francois: 25 (1 death) Pemiscot: 18 (1 death) New Madrid: 9 Bollinger: 3 Mississippi: 3 Madison: 1 Clay, Ark.: 1
---
Cloth face coverings are recommended for everyone by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Do not use surgical masks or N95 masks. Those are critical supplies needed for health care workers and first responders.
Be sure that the face covering "fits snugly but comfortably against the side of the face; secured with ties or ear loops; include multiple layers of fabric; allow for breathing without restriction; be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape." (CDC)
Instructions for sewn cloth face coverings can be found here.
Don't know how to sew? Click here to watch a short video on how to make a face covering.
To donate masks in Butler County, text or call 573-714-4197. Someone will come pick up the masks and distribute them where needed.
---
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. Here’s how.
The Missouri coronavirus information hotline is 877-435-8411.
---
Wednesday, April 22 Tuesday, April 21 Monday, April 20 Sunday, April 19 Saturday, April 18 Friday, April 17 Thursday, April 16 Wednesday, April 15 Tuesday, April 14 Monday, April 13 Friday, April 10 Thursday, April 9 Wednesday, April 8 Tuesday, April 7 Monday, April 6 Sunday, April 5 Saturday, April 4 Friday, April 3 Thursday, April 2 Wednesday, April 1 Tuesday, March 31 Monday, March 30 Sunday, March 29 Saturday, March 28 Friday, March 27 Thursday, March 26