JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (KMOX/AP) - Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced he is extending his emergency declaration in the state to June 15.
"Extending the Emergency Declaration simply allows us to continue utilizing our resources and deploying them around the state, even as we move into recovery," Parson tweeted. "This also enables us to keep waivers/suspensions of state statutes & regulations in place while adjusting to reopening."
Parson also stressed that this order is not an extension of the stay-at-home order in Missouri.
"We will be reopening Missouri on May 4," Parson says.
He originally signed the executive order on March 12.
Today, I am extending the Emergency Declaration in the state of Missouri through June 15.I want to be clear that this is NOT an extension of the Stay Home Order. We will be reopening Missouri on May 4.
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) April 24, 2020Parson also says next week he will announce the plan to reopen businesses in the state.
"I want to be clear that none of these decisions have been made alone. We have been in constant communication with leaders at federal, state & local levels to develop our recovery plan," Parson stated in a tweet. "We have also received input from our hospitals, health care providers, public health experts, emergency personnel, mayors, county commissioners, religious leaders, businesses and employees. I want to thank everyone who has provided their advice & expertise throughout this process."
You can watch the full press conference from Parson on Friday, here:
The shutdown of businesses due to the spread of COVID-19 has forced hundreds of Missouri businesses to close. Nearly 400,000 Missourians have filed for jobless benefits over the past five weeks.
Among the businesses Parson wants to get open again are nursing homes. Several nursing homes and assisted care facilities across the state have seen outbreaks. Among them is Frontier Health and Rehabilitation in St. Charles, where the 13th death was reported late Thursday — a woman in her 60s.