Counties prepare for next step after stay-at-home orders

In the days leading up to the expiration of Missouri’s stay-at-home order on Sunday, counties with similar orders also are making preparations.

On Tuesday, Reynolds County rescinded its stay-at-home and limited entry for non-residents orders, which were to be in effect until May 11. A travel advisory for Reynolds County residents will go into effect on Monday.

Carter County’s stay-at-home order already has expired, while Wayne County’s order will expire simultaneously with the state’s order, and Stoddard County’s order has been amended to match state guidelines.

“At this point, what we determined was that people are listening more to what the governor has to say than what the individual counties have to say,” said Francie Vermillion, Reynolds County Health Department administrator. “ … We felt like we should be in conjunction, more collaborative with the governor at this point.”

Vermillion said Reynolds County’s stay-at-home order did work “to a degree. It did lessen some of the traffic, but not all. We saw multiple people here for turkey season.

“We have seen people from Alaska, California, Utah, the East Coast. You wouldn’t believe it. It’s been unreal. They’re just coming down here to get away.”

Vermillion said she got calls from several out-of-the-area people asking if they could come to Reynolds County.

“It’s difficult; how do you say no,” she said. “We have this order, but you’re an adult.

“I can’t tell you what to do. I asked them if they did come to bring all their stuff to be contained, bring all your food, bring all your gas to go home. That way you don’t have to stop anywhere.”

Vermillion said she also received several calls supporting the efforts being made.

“I did not receive one call that was mean or hateful,” Vermillion said. “That was surprising.”

Everyone, she said, was positive and proactive, and as a result, no enforcement was necessary.

“I always felt like it was best if I could talk to people and make them understand, (then) there was no reason to force people,” Vermillion said.

The issuance of a travel advisory, Vermillion said, is just for “our county people.”

Vermillion said the advisory includes recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control that says older adults and people, of any age, with serious chronic medical conditions should consider postponing nonessential travel to most global destinations.

“Our population here is primarily elderly, and we wanted everybody to remember to take this seriously,” Vermillion said. “If you’re going to St. Louis, wherever you’re going, be mindful of it.

“Do all the precautions that you need to do. Don’t travel if you’re sick or travel with someone that is sick.”

The advisory, Vermillion said, also includes a list of what to do for protection when leaving home.

It includes:

• Limit the number of people leaving the house; identify only one person to leave to get groceries and other essential products;

• Practice social distancing; pay attention when standing in line, avoid large groups;

• Face covering can help protect you and others; if used, the face covering should be used properly; and

• Stop hand shaking/practice good hygiene; use other non-contact methods of greeting. Increase habits and reminders to avoid touching your face and cover coughs and sneezes.

“We just felt like (the advisory) was something we wanted to address to make people aware that we are still under a concern,” Vermillion said.

While it’s not a “bar the door” situation anymore, Vermillion said, it’s also not a “let’s go out and do our thing.”

Citizens, she said, need to be mindful of others.

Vermillion said the travel advisory will remain in effect until June 15, which the governor’s state of emergency is slated to end.

Carter County

In Carter County, its stay-at-home order expired on Friday, said County Clerk Leona Stephens.

“We’re just under the governor’s stay-at-home order now,” said Stephens.

Health department officials, she said, asked the commission to extend the order, but the commission chose not to.

While the order was in effect, Stephens said, there were no enforcement issues.

“Everybody is being very good,” she said. “I think everything was pretty quiet.”

Wayne County

Wayne County’s stay-at-home order also was set to expire Friday, but “we extended it,” said Presiding County Commission Brian Polk. “We extended it to the same as the state, which would be Sunday night.”

Once it expires, Polk said, the county will “follow along with the state guidelines.”

Polk said a couple of complaints were made while the order was in effect, but “they were followed up with letters, and everybody was compliant.”

Stoddard County

Stoddard County officials amended the county’s stay-at-home order on Wednesday, said Presiding County Commissioner Danny Talkington.

“Pretty much, we’ll be following the guidelines that the governor had put out,” he said.

The governor’s guidelines, he said, are related to maintaining social distancing and occupancy limitations inside buildings.

Like Wayne County, Talkington said, Stoddard County didn’t really have much enforcement of its order “other than to go talk to people (and tell them) ‘you really don’t need to be doing this; stop doing it.’

“We’ve had good response from everybody, and they’ve done that. We’ve not had to take any kind of legal action,” Talkington said. “People have worked very well with us.”