Missouri DHSS – COVID-19 Outbreak Statistics – April 7, 2020 – 2:00 p.m.

07 Tuesday Apr 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

Tags

Corona virus, COVID-19, DHSS, MHA, missouri, pandemic, statistics

The current statistics on the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak for Missouri from the Department of Health and Senior Services:

Cases in Missouri: 3037
Total Deaths: 53
Patients tested in Missouri (by all labs): approximately 33,820

8.98% of all COVID-19 tests in Missouri are positive. 1.75% of all COVID-19 cases in Missouri result in a fatality.

From the Missouri Hospital Association:

[….]

These data indicate that the number of cases of COVID-19 continue to climb in Missouri.

Hospital utilization for COVID-19 is growing as well, with an increasing number of admissions among confirmed cases and patients under investigation. These data will change daily as individuals are admitted or released, Persons Under Investigation are confirmed or cleared, and related public health measures that influence the spread of the virus begin to bend the curve

[….]

Stay Home. Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. Good luck to us all.
#FlattenTheCurve

Johnson County, Missouri – COVID-19 Testing – as of April 5, 2020

06 Monday Apr 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Corona virus, COVID-19, Johnson County, missouri, pandemic, statistics, testing

Released late Monday morning.

Statistics as of Sunday evening from Johnson County, Missouri Emergency Operations:

Tests administered: 911
Negative: 702
Positive: 33
Recovered: 7
Deaths: 0

That’s a positive testing rate of 4.5% (not counting tests awaiting results).

1.7% of Johnson County residents (a population of approximately 53,000) have been tested to date.

Stay Home. Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. Good luck to us all.
#FlattenTheCurve

The Queen’s speech

05 Sunday Apr 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Corona virus, COVID-19, pandemic, Queen Elizabeth

“…We will meet again…”

Today:

Queen Elizabeth: I’m speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time, a time of disruption in the life of our country. A disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many, and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all.

I want to thank everyone on the NHS front line as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the home in support of us all. I’m sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times.

I also want to thank those of you who are staying at home, thereby helping to protect the vulnerable and sparing many families the pain already felt by those who have lost loved ones.

Together we are tackling this disease and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute then we will overcome it. I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge, and those who come after us will say the Britons of this generation were as strong as any. That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet good-humoured resolve, and a fellow-feeling still characterized this country. The pride in who we are is not a part of our past it defines our present and our future.

The moments when the United Kingdom has come together to applaud its care and essential workers will be remembered as an expression of our national spirit and it’s symbol will be the rainbows drawn by children.

Across the Commonwealth and around the world we have seen heartwarming stories of people coming together to help others be it through delivering food parcels and medicines, checking on neighbours, or converting businesses to help the relief effort. And those self isolating may at times be hard many people of all faiths and of none are discovering that it presents an opportunity to slow down, pause, and reflect in prayer or meditation.

It reminds me of the very first broadcast I made in 1940 helped by my sister. We as children spoke from here at Windsor to children who had been evacuated from their homes and sent away for their own safety. Today, once again, many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones. But now as then we know deep down that it is the right thing to do.

While we have faced challenges before this one is different. This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavor, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal.

We will succeed and that success will belong to every one of us. We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure better days will return. We will be with our friends again, we will be with our families again, we will meet a again. But for now I send my thanks and warmest good wishes to you all.

Gov. Mike Parson (r): Did the Donald finally give his permission?

03 Friday Apr 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri Governor

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Corona virus, COVID-19, executive order, governor, Mike Parson, missouri, pandemic, stay at home order, Too little too late

Just asking.

After interminable hand wringing, Missouri Governor Mike Parson (r) has issued a statewide “Stay at Home” order.

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

Governor Parson Issues Statewide “Stay Home Missouri” Order to Control, Contain, and Combat COVID-19
April 3, 2020

Jefferson City – Building on Missouri’s efforts to control, contain, and combat COVID-19, Governor Mike Parson today issued a statewide “Stay Home Missouri” Order effective beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2020, until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2020.

The Order explicitly states that individuals currently residing within the state of Missouri shall avoid leaving their homes or places of residence unless necessary.

“First and foremost, I want everyone to know that I love this state and the people of this state,” Governor Parson said. “The people of this great state clearly define who we are in Missouri, and as Governor, I have no greater responsibility than to protect the health, well-being, and safety of all Missourians.”

In order to protect public health and prevent the further spread of COVID-19, Governor Parson’s Order includes specific guidance for staying home, social distancing, businesses and employees, schools, restaurants, firearm sales, and state government buildings.

Among other guidelines, the Order requires the following:

Individuals currently residing within the state of Missouri shall avoid leaving their homes or places of residence.
All individuals in the state of Missouri shall avoid social gatherings of more than ten (10) people.
All public and charter schools must remain closed for the duration of the Order.
Any entity that does not employ individuals to perform essential worker functions, as set forth in guidance provided by the federal government, shall adhere to the limitations on social gatherings and social distancing.
Any entity that employs individuals to perform essential worker functions, and that is engaged in retail sales to the public, shall limit the number of individuals in any particular retail location as follows:
Twenty-five (25) percent or less of the entity’s authorized fire or building code occupancy, as set by local authorities, for a retail location with square footage of less than ten thousand square feet (10,000 ft²);
Ten (10) percent or less of the entity’s authorized fire or building code occupancy, as set by local authorities, for a retail location with square footage of ten thousand square feet (10,000 ft²) or more.
The Order does not prohibit Missourians from accessing essential services, such as grocery stores, gas stations, and banks, or engaging in outdoor recreation, provided that necessary precautions are taken and maintained to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, including observing the social gathering and social distancing requirements set forth in the Order.

The Order shall be observed throughout the state and enforced by all local and state health authorities. Local public health authorities are directed to carry out and enforce the provisions of the Order by any legal means.
“There comes a time when we have to make major sacrifices in our lives. Many of us make sacrifices each and every day, but now more than ever, we must all make sacrifices,” Governor Parson said. “This is not about any one individual person. This is about our families, friends, neighbors, and the entire state of Missouri. For the sake of all Missourians, be smart, be responsible, and stay home, Missourians.”

As of today, Missouri has 2,113 positive COVID-19 cases out of 24,727 tested in a total population of 6 million Missourians. This data shows that 8.5 percent of those tested have been positive.

Of the 8.5 percent of Missouri citizens who have tested positive, approximately 22 percent have required hospitalization. This means the remaining 78 percent are recovering at home or have already recovered.

Missouri has at least one positive case in 76 of Missouri’s 114 counties. Over half of the total positive cases are in St. Louis region.

Also as of today, Missouri has 19 COVID-19 related deaths. Based on the state’s current data, Missouri’s death rate is still below one percent.

[….]

It took him long enough.

“…Based on the state’s current data, Missouri’s death rate is still below one percent….”

The “Stay at Home” order via Missouri DHSS [pdf]: Missouri Stay at Home Order DHSS April 3 2020

Representative Crystal Quade (D) – House Minority Leader [2019 file photo].

From House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D):

I am thankful for Governor Parson’s decision to impose a statewide stay-at-home order. I’m also thankful for the countless medical professionals and Missourians across the state who contacted his office in recent weeks urging him to take this action.

While the governor kept insisting urban and rural areas must be treated differently for economic reasons, the truth is we are all at risk regardless of where we live. This decision is necessary, and if it had been done sooner fewer Missourians would be at risk.

“…if it had been done sooner fewer Missourians would be at risk.”

James Baker @jspencebaker
.@GovParsonMO gets no cheers or accolades for turning in his paper late.
5:27 PM · Apr 3, 2020

Yep.

Claire McCaskill @clairecmc
AND FINALLY AT 5 central, Missouri Gov issues statewide stay at home order. FINALLY. Gross incompetence.
[….]
5:46 PM · Apr 3, 2020

“…Gross incompetence.”

Uh, yep.

Tony Messenger @tonymess
This is unbelievable. @GovParsonMO just accused other governors and mayors of issuing previous stay-at-home orders without considering the consequences. You hear that @GovMikeDeWine ?
5:07 PM · Apr 3, 2020

Yep.

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

Stay Home. Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. Good luck to us all.
#FlattenTheCurve

Previously:

Gov. Mike Parson (r): Do the right thing (March 23, 2020)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): “What, me worry?” (March 26, 2020

Gov. Mike Parson (r): Still wringing your hands, eh? (March 28, 2020)

Are you smarter than Missouri’s governor? (March 31, 2020)

Are you smarter than Missouri’s governor? – part 2 (March 31, 2020)

Are you smarter than Missouri’s governor? – meta (April 1, 2020)

Are you smarter than Missouri’s governor? – A priority! (April 2, 2020)

Are you smarter than Missouri’s governor? – A priority!

02 Thursday Apr 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri Governor, social media

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

conceal carry, Corona virus, COVID-19, executive order, Mike Parson, missouri, pandemic, social media, Twitter

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (r) still has not issued a “stay at home” order for the state. Because, we don’t know, “rural, something, something.” But, he does have priorities:

Governor Mike Parson @GovParsonMO
Today, I signed our SIXTH Executive Order in response to COVID-19.

This EO suspends late penalties for concealed carry license renewals. This EO not only promotes public health and social distancing, but also frees up local law enforcement officers from administrative tasks.
3:02 PM · Apr 2, 2020

And that is what passes for “leadership” in Missouri.

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

Johnson County, Missouri – COVID-19 Testing – as of April 1, 2020

02 Thursday Apr 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Corona virus, COVID-19, Johnson County, missouri, pandemic, statistics, testing

Yesterday evening, from Johnson County, Missouri Emergency Operations:

Tests administered: 566
Negative: 452
Positive: 26
Recovered: 1

Stay Home. Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. Good luck to us all.
#FlattenTheCurve

SB 509 (May 6, 2014): Now what, assholes?

01 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Governor, Missouri House, Missouri Senate

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Budget cuts, COVID-19, governor, incompetence, Mike Parson, missouri, pandemic, SB 509

SB 509: the moment when all hope for the future of Missouri died (May 6, 2014)

The final vote to override Governor Jay Nixon’s veto of SB 509. Representative Jeremy LaFaver (D) (left) – bearing witness, Representative Keith English (center) – casting the 109th vote necessary for the override, and Representative Ron Hicks (r) (right) – his escort on and off the House floor. May 6, 2014.

For a nicer office location.

This won’t be the last story on SB 509 (May 9, 2014)

….Moreover, the revenue triggers in the legislation only apply until the tax cuts are fully phased-in. After that time, under the legislature’s own estimates, there would be at least $620 million less in general revenue available each and every year, regardless of whether revenue collections are going up or down. In addition, the legislation’s annual cost would continue to grow above the legislature’s $620 million annual estimate because the income bracket adjustments in the bill for increases in the consumer price index would continue indefinitely. See Section 143.011.3. This provision alone would result in an additional $128 million in annual revenue reductions ten years after the legislation is fully phased-in, increasing each year in perpetuity….

That was then, this is now:

Governor Mike Parson @GovParsonMO
Between now and June 31st, we are estimating an over $500 million shortfall.

We have had to take a hard look at our budget and make some very difficult decisions.
3:11 PM · Apr 1, 2020

Governor Mike Parson @GovParsonMO
*June 30th
4:18 PM · Apr 1, 2020

Yep. Really rich people got a big windfall in 2014. Now what?

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

Missouri Democratic Party: lead, or get out of the way, Governor Parson (r)

01 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Corona virus, COVID-19, governor, Jean Peters Baker, Mike Parson, Missouri Democratic Party, pandemic

“…Issue a statewide “Stay at Home” order, to help combat the spread of Covid-19…”

Jackson County Prosecutor and Missouri Democratic Party Chair Jean Peters Baker [2019 file photo].

Today:

The Missouri Democratic Party Executive Committee is calling for the immediate implementation of a plan for the State of Missouri to help contain and address the spread of the coronavirus throughout Missouri.

“Missourians are looking for clarity and leadership as we face a truly unprecedented challenge as a state. Missourians need to know that our leaders are working together to leverage every available resource to keep us safe and to stabilize our economy. Missouri Democrats are stepping up, showing leadership, and addressing this crisis at the local and statewide level.” – Missouri Democratic Party Officers Hon. Jean Peters Baker, Hon. Clem Smith, Hon. Reverend Darryl Gray, and Cydney Mayfield

Missouri Democrats are offering a health and economic plan that calls for:

Health:

The State of Missouri should rapidly expand coronavirus mobile testing centers in each of Missouri’s 114 counties, especially in medically underserved communities, such as in rural and minority communities.

Identify all coronavirus hot spots in Missouri for increased immediate medical intervention and containment.

Issue a statewide “Stay at Home” order, to help combat the spread of Covid-19.

Request the appropriate funds from the state and federal government to fund increased testing, PPE, and when hot spots are identified, that the State provides additional resources for intervention and containment in hot spots, such as financing testing and other vital resources, such as mobilizing additional personnel.

Ensure that essential first-responders have the Personal Protective Equipment they need when they need it. Government should pursue every available means to secure essential PPE items, such as N95 masks, goggles, gloves, and gowns.

Funding to provide reimbursement to providers for treating the uninsured for coronavirus.

Implement a no-excuse vote-by-mail option to mail in or drop off a hand-marked paper ballot for all elections.

Funding to enable organizations to provide food to free and reduced price lunch eligible students while schools are closed.

Funding to provide corrections facilities with overtime pay for workers, food, sanitation and hygiene supplies.
Funding to provide inmates with access to free emails and calls until visits resume.

Funding to support state hourly wage workers across the executive, legislative, and judicial branches who are impacted by the coronavirus.

Issue a waiver for copays and other shared costs for testing and telehealth services, including for the uninsured.

Ensure that no essential health service is denied to a Missourian in need. That means no more kicking kids off their health insurance, making sure the uninsured are cared for, and that families can access the services they need regardless of their ability to pay.

Economic:

Form an emergency economic relief council to advise the state government on economic stabilization in the short term and recovery, as well as advise the government on the economic fallout of coronavirus and convene government and business leaders to marshal state programs and agencies to address coronavirus.

Ensure the economic relief council is empowered to transparently report how all federal and other funds are being used by the state of Missouri in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Suspend statutory hurdles to get unemployment payments to displaced workers quickly by ensuring all workers affected by coronavirus may receive unemployment payments, increasing the number of weeks workers are eligible to receive benefits, expanding the types of workers who are eligible, loosening restrictions on means testing to receive unemployment, and increasing the statutorily allowed amount of state unemployment payments.

Suspend foreclosures, evictions, and utility shut-offs including water, gas, electrical, and cell phones.

Leverage every available avenue to rapidly expand lending to businesses impacted by the pandemic.

Provide paid sick leave that at least matches the paid sick leave provisions in the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and, to the extent possible, have the state expand sick leave beyond the provided federal level.

“…Issue a statewide “Stay at Home” order, to help combat the spread of Covid-19…”

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (r) still has not issued a “stay at home” order for the state. Because, we don’t know, “rural, something, something.”

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

Are you smarter than Missouri’s governor? – meta

01 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in meta

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Corona virus, COVID-19, governor, incompetence, meta, Mike Parson, missouri, pandemic, right wingnuts, stay at home order, trolling

“…Come on, do the right thing. Delay just means more death and suffering. Flatten the goddamned curve…”

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (r) still has not issued a “stay at home” order for the state. Because, we don’t know, “rural, something, something.”

Meta.

Yesterday morning on Show Me Progress I put up a post titled “Are you smarter than Missouri’s governor?,” highlighting the Lafayette County Commission’s “stay at home” ordinance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – as opposed to the refusal of Missouri Governor Mike Parson (r) to do the same. There has been a precipitous rise in cases in Lafayette County.

The post caused a significant traffic spike. Significant as in the largest number of daily “hits” in almost five years of operating on this platform.

With a traffic spike comes comments and trolling. Show Me Progress is set so that I must personally approve all comments before they’re posted. I see the IP address and the e-mail of the commenter, along with their typed remarks.

I try not to engage right wingnuts directly. By any definition of their thought processes and ideology, it’ a colossal waste of time. I generally delete their comments as they’re in moderation. There’s an old music adage: “You can’t teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and it annoys the pig.” So, I tend to delete trolling comments and ignore them.

Unless it amuses me.

Yesterday morning I received the following, unedited (it went into the trash):

All the armchair warriors .. Your not in charge!
Till you are in control if your (R) or (D) sit back and be quiet.
Your time to comment comes at the polling station.
Since we don’t have all the information we must assume the decisions are best for the majority
Even if it’s not good for you..

A champion of the First Amendment, eh? And don’t start with, “wait, aren’t you censoring this person?” Don’t be an idiot. The First Amendment applies to government action. If trolls want to spew stupidity on the Internets they are perfectly free and able to start their own blog. A place where people can freely choose to read their drivel, or not.

You think they kept their opinion and counsel, not speaking out, from January 2009 to January 2017? Right…

“Even if it’s not good for you..” Seriously, someone believes that. “The needs of the 1%, outweigh the needs of the many” is quite a moral perversion.

That deference to authority figure(s) “…[s]ince we don’t have all the information…” is the ultimate laziness in the Information Age. Such laziness as a foundation for all other social behavior is so 21st century.

Grammar and incoherence aside, somebody should inform this poor person that the current governor of Missouri was not elected to that office.

This (unedited) also went into the trash:

Your article is a hit piece not news. Governor Parsons is doing a great job. In case you are not aware of this we live in a federal style of government. Therefore the local towns can issue a stay at home order when necessary. The whole state does not need to shut down. Show some respect.

Show some respect, learn to spell your governor’s name.

Something, something, Federalism backwards. Ignore actual expertise (science! math!). Ignore the problems in a pandemic (science! math!) generated by a patchwork of responses from county to county, and town to town, because, you know, people don’t ever travel from one place to the other. [That’s how a fucking pandemic works.] Ergo, tautology. Deference to authority, no matter how incompetent. Obvious ignorance of the concept of exponential growth. And willfully ignoring that rural Missouri doesn’t have the health care capacity to deal with the exponential growth of cases of COVID-19 to come.

If I’d bothered to answer this one directly it would have been: “Fuck off, you Neolithic self-righteous sociopathic prig. How’s that for the respect you deserve?”

There are hotspots across Missouri. Urban, suburban, and rural. The whole state does need to shut down. Lives are at stake.