Today’s update discusses:

• Governor Parson's and Mayor Krewson’s responses to those defying social distancing guidelines
• A salon in Springfield exposing many clients to COVID-19
• New data showing the first cases of COVID-19 in the state came in February

 HEALTH

• After some officials expressed concern over the holiday weekend festivities at which participants ignored social distancing guidelines, Governor Parson commented, “[w]hen social distancing is not followed, it is potentially dangerous for EVERYONE[.]” In addition, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson encouraged individuals that think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 to self-quarantine for two weeks and to contact the Department of Health. Despite the infractions that occurred during the holiday weekend, those who may have been exposed can still help prevent further spread of the virus.
• Last week, a Springfield salon stated that an employee worked for eight days with COVID-19 symptoms, exposing 84 clients and 7 employees. This week, the salon reports a second hairstylist tested positive, exposing 56 more clients. The city has stated that the hairstylists are the only two who have tested positive at this time, but anyone who may have been exposed at the salon will be offered tests. The health department has been in contact with individuals who had close contact with the stylists and will continue to trace other contacts.
• The Missouri Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed that Missouri had its first COVID-19 case over a month before many originally thought. Presently, the department does not fully know where the February cases originated, but it is working on providing data to residents “to help Missourians make the best decisions for their health care possible.”