JEFFERSON CITY – Today, during a press conference at the State Capitol, Governor Mike Parson announced an end to the COVID-19 crisis in Missouri and that the state will be shifting to an endemic phase of the pandemic on Friday, April 1, 2022.
A whole-of-government COVID-19 emergency response was taken for more than two years, an effort that responded to the needs of all Missourians during the global pandemic and sustained state operations as more was learned about the novel virus. Vaccines, testing resources, and treatments are now readily available for all Missourians, and much of the population now has some immunity to the virus. [….]
The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, is expected to continue to circulate in communities, meaning it will be considered endemic like many other diseases. The endemicity also means that surveillance priority will change from monitoring case numbers to monitoring disease severity and societal impact as new waves of infection come and go. This transition does not minimize the continued importance of public health surveillance, investigation, and response activities, as is necessary to mitigate any disease.
[….]
“…Vaccines, testing resources, and treatments are now readily available for all Missourians, and much of the population now has some immunity to the virus…”
That’s not particularly reassuring.
“…it will be considered endemic…”
It will be? If it isn’t yet, then why state it? By the way, we’re pretty sure the Governor of Missouri doesn’t get to make that determination.
[CDC – national data] Interpretive Summary for April 15, 2022
[…]
Reported Cases
As of April 13, 2022, the current 7-day moving average of daily new cases (31,391) increased 19.1% compared with the previous 7-day moving average (26,357)…
[….]
New Hospital Admissions
The current 7-day daily average for April 6–April 12, 2022, was 1,446. This is a 1.3% increase from the prior 7-day average (1,427) from March 29–April 4, 2022…
[….]
Testing
The percentage of COVID-19 NAATs (nucleic acid amplification tests)* that are positive (percent positivity) is increasing in comparison to the previous week. The 7-day average of percent positivity from NAATs is now 4.1%.
[….]
JEFFERSON CITY – Today, Governor Mike Parson joined 25 other Governors in signing a memorandum of understanding establishing the American Governors’ Border Strike Force. The strike force will help increase collaboration and improve intelligence sharing and analyses across participating states to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations and cartels, combat human smuggling, and stop the flow of illegal drugs to states.
“The Biden Administration has failed to secure our nation’s Southern Border, allowing millions of migrants and hundreds of thousands of pounds of illegal drugs to pour into the United States,” Governor Parson said. “Time and time again, Governors have tried to work with the White House to discuss real solutions to secure the border. Instead, our concerns have been ignored, crime is out of control, and illegal drugs continue to infect our communities and harm our kids. Today, Governors are stepping up once again to do what the federal government refuses to do: secure our communities and protect our citizens.”
The American Governors’ Border Strike Force will coordinate participating states’ efforts to partner at the state fusion center level and amongst state law enforcement around the following actions:
Share criminal justice information to improve investigations in the border region and nationwide, especially in communities adjacent to or crossing state boundaries.
Coordinate and improve interdiction on interstates to combat drug trafficking and human smuggling.
Co-locate intelligence analysts in border states to improve collaboration, real time response, intelligence sharing, and analysis connected to border security.
Assist border states with supplemental staff and resources at state fusion centers, such as on rotation assignments and to share information obtained both on the border and/or in other states.
Send law enforcement to train in border states to detect, track, and curb border-related crime.
Target cartel finances that fund criminal activity in the border regions to seize the tools used to assist the cartels.
Monitor cybersecurity issues that may increase vulnerability along the Southern Border, such as criminal networks that operate on social media to recruit traffickers.
Review state criminal statutes regarding human trafficking, drug trafficking, and transnational criminal organizations to ensure the laws deter, disrupt, and dismantle criminal activity.
Review state criminal justice statistics and information to determine crimes that can be traced to the Southern Border.
Develop interstate procedures to fill any identified gaps or identified inconsistencies in existing plans to address border crime.
This action by Governors comes as more than 221,000 migrants were encountered at the Southern Border in March 2022 – the highest number in 22 years. Additionally, next month, the Biden Administration is preparing to revoke Title 42, which is expected to lead to 18,000 or more migrant encounters per day at the border.
Under the Biden Administration, more than 2.3 million migrants have been encountered at the Southern Border. In the past six months, reports indicate that there have been 300,000 known “gotaways” – migrants who were not apprehended by border agents and did not turn themselves in – at the Southern Border.
“The crisis at our Southern Border is out of control. In the absence of federal leadership, we will do what is required to help solve this growing problem and protect the people of Missouri,” Governor Parson said.
The Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety will be Missouri’s designee on the American Governors’ Border Strike Force. The agreement does not obligate states to expend funds.
[….]
“…allowing millions of migrants and hundreds of thousands of pounds of illegal drugs to pour into the United States…”
This just started now?
“…more than 2.3 million migrants have been encountered at the Southern Border…”
Uh, that’s a cute turn of phrase. “Encountered”? What does that mean, specifically?
“…reports indicate…”
What specific reports? Cite source(s).
“…The agreement does not obligate states to expend funds…”
So, it’s a publicity stunt.
All this for Arkansas?
What happens if guns get smuggled across the border?
Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Missouri House Bill 85 Makes Enforcement of Federal Firearms Laws More Difficult, Thereby Impeding Law Enforcement Efforts to Combat Violent Crime
The Department of Justice has today filed a lawsuit to prevent the State of Missouri from enforcing House Bill 85 (H.B. 85). Signed into law in June 2021, the Missouri law declares five categories of federal firearms laws “invalid” and deters and penalizes their enforcement by federal, state and local law enforcement officers. The government’s complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief prohibiting enforcement of H.B. 85 and further clarifying that state and local officials may lawfully participate in joint federal task forces, assist in the investigation and enforcement of federal firearm crimes, and fully share information with the federal government without fear of H.B. 85’s penalties. Specifically, the complaint alleges that H.B. 85 is invalid under the Supremacy Clause, is preempted by federal law, and violates the doctrine of intergovernmental immunity.
“This act impedes criminal law enforcement operations in Missouri,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The United States will work to ensure that our state and local law enforcement partners are not penalized for doing their jobs to keep our communities safe.”
“A state cannot simply declare federal laws invalid,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This act makes enforcement of federal firearms laws difficult and strains the important law enforcement partnerships that help keep violent criminals off the street.”
The complaint alleges that the restrictions imposed by H.B. 85 have hindered cooperation and other activities that assist federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts. Federal law enforcement agencies within the state report that enforcement of federal firearms laws in Missouri has grown more difficult since H.B. 85 became effective. The penalties associated with H.B. 85 have prompted state and local agencies and individuals within those entities to withdraw support for federal law enforcement efforts, including by not sharing critical data used to solve violent crimes and withdrawing from joint federal task forces. The complaint challenges the constitutionality of the law and seeks to enforce the supremacy of federal law. Dozens of state and local officers have resigned from federal joint-task forces in the state as a result of the law. According to Missouri’s own statistics, nearly 80% of violent crimes are committed with firearms.
According to the complaint, Missouri enacted H.B. 85 despite its conflict with the fundamental constitutional principles of supremacy of federal law, preemption, and intergovernmental immunity. The restrictions imposed by the statute are premised on a declaration that several categories of federal statutes are “invalid,” but a state may not lawfully declare federal law invalid under the Constitution. In addition to penalizing individuals for working on joint federal-state law enforcement task forces, the statute penalizes current federal employees by barring them from state employment if they enforced the purportedly invalid laws. The statute further directs the state judiciary to “protect” against the federal laws declared invalid.
[….]
“…the restrictions imposed by H.B. 85 have hindered cooperation and other activities that assist federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts…”
U.S. Rep. Billy Long @USRepLong
I’m glad a federal judge threw out the ridiculous #mask mandate for commercial air travel. We shouldn’t be mandating masks for air travel while every other part of our lives are mask optional. 2:40 PM · Apr 18, 2022
Eric Schmitt @Eric_Schmitt
It’s almost as if all the fear mongering around COVID was just one big power play. 1:36 PM · Mar 12, 2022
Sociopath.
Some of the responses:
Jason Kander @JasonKander
Replying to @Eric_Schmitt
Are you vaccinated? Did you get the booster? 3:24 PM · Mar 12, 2022
It’s as if the claim about fear mongering around COVID is just another example of Schmitt’s stupidity.
950,000 US deaths; 19,500 MO deaths. Many with long haul COVID and our healthcare system almost breaking. No one should worry about that.
What a ghoul!
20k dead constituents could not be reached for comment.
Help me understand this. I’m not supposed to care about something factual, but whatever you’re selling is legit. Just how much is your snake oil and where can I purchase some?
What is wrong with you? [….]
Day drinking and tweeting again Eric? What’s this even about? See this is why you lose so many lawsuits; all accusation, no context.
It’s almost as if all the COVID-denialism (almost 1 million US deaths!) was just one big power play… (as you, for example, run for senate)
It’s hard for me to understand an elected politician being so openly dismissive of nearly a million dead Americans as @Eric_Schmitt seems to be.
Kinda like “build a wall” bullshit right???
My father died of Covid. You are a horrible person.
So the people who died from COVID were just part of a huge fear mongering power play? You are an idiot.
It’s almost as if you’re a #PoliticalHack.
People have tried to explain the science behind the measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID pandemic to you but obviously you cannot comprehend. So now we just have you spewing forth your vomit of lies and misinformation.
Do you LIKE playing the miserable SOB who people loathe with a passion?
Right, f*ck those petty people that buried family and friends.
So, everyone who has died from Covid don’t really exist? Brick shy of a load Schmitt.
You’re an idiot. Millions have died. What a pathetic existence you live.
Tell that to everyone who lost people. Asshole.
Or you’re just an idiot
My god. What the actual fck is wrong with you? Are you seriously so desperate for attention you sit there and make lists of the most vile things you could say? A lot of people died. A lot are suffering long term effects. This is disgusting and your family should feel shame.
How many of your constituents died from it last week, you monstrous shit?
“…No more mask mandates! No more vaccine mandates!…” So much to be frightened of.
Some of the responses:
How utterly embarrassing when Ukraine is under siege
There’s that.
MO never had state-wide mandates.
This is embarrassing at any time, but esp when men too delicate to wear masks are in the headlines at the same times as grandmas fighting Russian aggression.
What constitutional freedoms are we currently being deprived of?
What about duct tape mandates? [….]
I guess the “emergency” on the Mexican border was on hold today for a joyride where we pretend to be Canadians minus the universal healthcare.
Or, a small number of Canadians pretending to be American right wingnuts, just with universal healthcare.
There aren’t mandates. You are fighting nothing. And if you want to fight real oppression, this isn’t it.
If a face mask is anti-American – what about tying up a beautician?
Pretty sure it’s also absolutely unsafe to film while driving. Clearly, he doesn’t mind MO being one of the only two states where this foolishness won’t get him pulled over and ticketed for reckless, distracted driving. Embarrassing. Pity the camera didn’t fall.
Pretty sure you used to be ok with masks.
You’re probably vaccinated and boosted so hush
Did the hairdresser want her freedom?
This aged poorly.
Anybody tied up in the back seat?
Stay TF away from my daughters.
We all want freedom. Some of us think about others, and not just ourselves, narcissist.
Idiot?
Please don’t let the state line stop you… you should share your unique brand of desperate-psycopath with one of the surrounding 8 states…please?
Any women gagged and bound in your trunk?
Are you the same Eric Greitens who tied up a woman and took sexually explicit photographs of her without her consent? Just checking.
You get indicted for any new crimes lately?
LOL. Americans have moved on from your protests and little convoys. Read the room and try to keep up. Thanks man! [….]
The woman you tied up in your basement wanted freedom, too.
Damn…embarrassing
Do you realize how ridiculous this looks in the face of REAL threats to freedom? Go get a job (not representing me or any human on earth) or disappear back under a rock.
It takes a special kind of stupid to celebrate your freedom to catch a disease and die. Good for you, Potatoe.
Oh yeah let’s remove masks and vaccines that have saved countless lives that’s fuckin smart
Occasionally a post here will generate a lot of traffic. With that we sometimes get rambling illiterate responses posted as comments. There appears to be a correlation.
When anyone posts a comment here at Show Me Progress their email and IP addresses are attached to the comment.
All comments are held in moderation until approved. Illiterate responses are held in perpetuity – they won’t appear with the original post. However, we can and have devoted “Meta” posts mocking such content.
Early this morning:
[….] you are and idiot you need to go live with BRAINDEAD biden because if this covid was so bad where is all the contamination barrels at so that all the contaminated mask and shit can be put because you see them laying on the ground and in shopping carts and they have them laying out where everyone walks by them so all those germs get on them and it is funny how certain people get it and alot don’t I have never wore a mask never been tested never been sick and guess what I am from Missouri you all are a bunch of snowflakes that worry way to much we would rather live our life free from mask and all the bullshit than to hear all the democrats saying you have to do this forcing people is not American so if you want live like that move to where you can live in communism go
Last night, after right wingnut republicans in the Missouri Senate refused to confirm Governor Mike Parson’s (r) nominee as Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) – during a pandemic:
Governor Mike Parson @GovParsonMO
Missourians know that I share these beliefs and would not have nominated someone who does not share the same Christian values. Yet, Senators chose to believe baseless rumors and outright lies on social media rather than the facts in front of them. 6:02 PM · Feb 1, 2022
“Missourians know that I share these beliefs and would not have nominated someone who does not share the same Christian values…”
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
….that no person shall, on account of his or her religious persuasion or belief, be rendered ineligible to any public office or trust or profit in this state, be disqualified from testifying or serving as a juror, or be molested in his or her person or estate; that to secure a citizen’s right to acknowledge Almighty God according to the dictates of his or her own conscience, neither the state nor any of its political subdivisions shall establish any official religion….
That no person can be compelled to erect, support or attend any place or system of worship, or to maintain or support any priest, minister, preacher or teacher of any sect, church, creed or denomination of religion; but if any person shall voluntarily make a contract for any such object, he shall be held to the performance of the same.
It’s possible Mike Parson (r) has read the words. It’s clear he doesn’t comprehend them.
Occasionally a post here will generate a lot of traffic. With that we sometimes get rambling illiterate responses posted as comments. There appears to be a correlation.
When anyone posts a comment here at Show Me Progress their email and IP addresses are attached to the comment.
All comments are held in moderation until approved. Illiterate responses are held in perpetuity – they won’t appear with the original post. However, we can and have devoted “Meta” posts mocking such content.
One from today:
We are doing well here in Branson Missouri! And if you go to the local hospitals here where are the patients that are deathly ill??? Empty as empty can be!!! I believe you have an agenda for writing your post as well sir and your vote we can do without!! If it’s a deadly virus then we should be properly disposing them instead of wearing the same ones daily lol come on now we all should know how viruses spread and wearing masks is not the answer here and also we wear the same clothing weekly in and out of schools, Walmart, hospitals and wow nothing is being said on how to properly wash our clothes or disposing of our own clothes lol sad people think that wearing a masks and getting the 50th shot is going to stop a deadly virus as the dummies of the white house is stating lol and did you read where biden has exempt his own staff from the vaccine?? Okaaayyy please use what brain cells you all have left and really look at what’s happening!!
Governor Mike Parson @GovParsonMO
During these past 22 months, we have never wavered in our opposition to COVID-19 mandates and will always stand for Missourians’ rights and freedoms.
(6/9) 2:56 PM · Jan 31, 2022