Today’s update discusses:

• Jackson County opening an isolation center for recovering COVID-19 patients
• Platte County moving on to Phase 2 Step 2 of reopening
• Some casinos opening, with more to open in upcoming weeks
• More budget cuts made as pandemic continues to affect state economy
• St. Louis officials planning to distribute masks for upcoming protests in effort to prevent spread of COVID-19

 HEALTH

• Jackson County has collaborated with the Salvation Army and the Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness to open a 40-bed isolation center for residents in the Kansas City metro area to recover from the virus. Residents who have tested positive for the virus will be able to recover without exposing other individuals to the virus. The center will allow a comfortable, temporary living situation, providing three meals a day, showers, and restrooms. A referral process must be followed before securing a spot at the center.

 ECONOMY

• On June 3, Platte County (in the Kansas City metropolitan area) moved into Phase 2 Step 2 of reopening. In this phase, residents who can work from home should.  Businesses of 10,000 square feet or more are to limit gatherings to 50 people or 25% of capacity, whichever is greater, and outdoor gatherings are limited to 250 people. The guidelines for Phase 2 Step 2 are expected to be in place until June 16.
• Some casinos in Missouri are reopening this week after being closed for more than two months. The reopenings come weeks after the Missouri Gaming Commission reached an agreement with the state’s casinos, which will require extra cleaning, opening every other slot machine, and face coverings for employees. While other area casinos across the state are reopening, St. Louis County casinos will not reopen until June 15.
• This week Governor Parson announced more cuts to the state’s budget due to impacts from the pandemic. He eliminated an additional $209 million, over half of which is related to education, which affects K-12 public schools, four-year public colleges, and community colleges. Missouri expects to receive $187 million in federal funding for K-12 schools, which will hopefully offset some of the cuts..

 RESOURCES

• St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson plans to distribute masks for protests taking place within the city in an effort to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. The head of the St. Louis Pandemic Task Force, Dr. Alex Garza, also is strongly encouraging individuals to wear masks while protesting, stating, “any time that you get more people together in a more confined space, it’s always going to increase your probability of the risk of transmission.” While officials grow more concerned about the spread of the virus, they respect the right to protest but ask that individuals doing so continue to practice social distancing, wear masks, and practice good hygiene.