Feds Put Missouri in the Red Zone for COVID-19

With over 100 new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population last week Missouri finds itself in the "red zone" in the Federal Government's weekly report on the states' response to the coronavirus.

The report obtained by the New York Times contains the following summary on the coronavirus in Missouri:

• There has been an increase in new COVID-19 cases and stability in testing positively over the past week.
• St. Louis County, Jackson County and St. Charles county have the highest number of new cases in the past three weeks. These counties represent 47.9% of new cases in the state.
• From July 18 - July 24 69 confirmed and 251 suspected patients with COVID-19 were newly admitted to Missouri Hospitals each day.
• Missouri had 131 new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population in the past week. It's still lower than the national average of 140 cases.

Here are some of the recommendations in the report:

• Continue to promote physical distancing and the wearing of masks. Mandate and enforce the wearing of masks in counties with seven days of positive COVID-19 tests above 5%.
• Close bars and gyms and enforce strict social distancing within restaurants in counties with seven days of positive COVID-19 tests above 10%. Also gatherings should be limited to ten or less people.
• Protect those in nursing homes and long term care facilities by testing staff weekly and requiring them to wear masks.
• Meat packing plants and other crowded workplaces should firmly enforce social distancing and wearing of face masks. Additionally, these businesses should implement clear protocols for thorough case investigation and contract testing.
• Increase messaging of the risk of serious disease in older people and in all age groups with pre-existing medical conditions.

For more information on the coronavirus and how you can keep you and  your loved ones safe you can check out the CDC website here.