Health officials in an area county have extended a COVID-19 order the rest of this month.
A release from Pettis County Health Center Administrator JoAnn Martin outlines the order that will be in effect through May 31.
Pettis County is currently in the acceleration phase of the number of cases being reported to the Pettis County Health Center for the past several weeks.
This does not meet the Federal guidance for relaxing stay-at-home orders based on 14 days of decreasing cases, although there has been a downward trend in the State of Missouri. The State Public Health Order grants local public-health authorities the authority to create public health orders with more stringent requirements.
The Administrator of the Pettis County Health Center acting in the capacity as the County Health Officer for Pettis County, finding it necessary to protect public health and prevent the further spread of COVID-19, pursuant to the authority granted under section 192.020, RSMo, and 19 CSR 20- 20.040, hereby orders several restrictions, which will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. on May 4 until 11:59 p.m. on May 31, unless extended by further order of the County Health Officer.
The specifics are:
1. When individuals leave their homes or places of residence to work, to access food, health care, necessities, or to engage in other activities, they should at all times practice social distancing.
2. In accordance with the guidelines from the President and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every person and business in Pettis County shall abide by social distancing requirements, including maintaining six feet of space between individuals. This provision shall not apply to family members or individuals performing job duties that require contact with other people closer than six feet. Individuals performing job duties that require contact with other people closer than six feet must take enhanced precautionary measures to mitigate the risks of contracting or spreading COVID-19 including the use of masks, hand sanitation and enhanced cleaning of surfaces. This provision shall apply in all situations, including, but not limited to, when customers are standing in line or individuals are using shared indoor or outdoor spaces.
3. In accordance with the guidelines from the President, the CDC, and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, people shall not visit nursing homes, longterm care facilities, retirement homes, or assisted living homes unless to provide critical assistance or in end-of-life circumstances. Elderly or otherwise vulnerable populations should take enhanced precautionary measures to mitigate the risks of contracting COVID-19.
4. Any entity that employs individuals that is engaged in retail sales to the public or conducts any type of public gathering shall limit the number of individuals in any particular location as follows: (1) 25 percent or less of the entity’s authorized fire or building code occupancy, as set by local authorities, for a location with square footage of less than 10,000 square feet;
(2) Ten percent or less of the entity’s authorized fire or building code occupancy, as set by local authorities, for a location with square footage of 10,000 square feet or more.
(3) For those facilities without an authorized fire or building code occupancy, the number of individuals in a location is limited to one person per 30 square feet.
(4) Limits on the occupancy of a retail location will be posted or communicated and enforced by an employee of the organization. Each retail location is required to maintain the six-foot distancing requirement among individuals waiting to enter the facility.
5. In accordance with the guidelines from the President and the CDC, schools shall remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic school year. At the discretion of the school district, nothing in this Order shall prohibit school teachers, school staff, students, and parents from reentering school buildings in order to work, retrieve personal belongings, or return school property as long as limitations on social distancing are properly adhered to. Summer school may proceed under guidelines set forth by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Notwithstanding section 2 of this Order, nothing in this Order shall prohibit day cares, child care providers, or schools from providing child care in accordance with CDC guidelines. Further, this Order does not prohibit schools from providing Food and Nutritional Services for those children that qualify.
6. Restaurants may offer dining-in services, provided that the limitations on social distancing and other precautionary public health measures, including proper spacing of at least six feet between tables, lack of communal seating areas to parties that are not connected, and having no more than 10 people at a single table, are properly adhered to. Food service establishments which are permitted by the Pettis County Health Center will submit a plan for the reopening of dining-in areas and will require the approval of the plan prior to reopening. Any food establishment operating a dining-in facility without the required approved will be considered an imminent health hazard and will be addressed in accordance with the Food Ordinance. The continued use of drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options is encouraged throughout the duration of this Order.
7. Religious services may be conducted as long as social-distancing and occupancy requirements are followed. Congregations are requested to develop plans to protect individuals attending services to include enhanced sanitation of common areas, facilitating the use of masks, decreasing crowded spaces and maintaining social distancing during religious services and associated activities. Access to religious services via electronic or other non-contact means are strongly encouraged to promote the safety of members of the congregation.
8. Outdoor activities including sporting events, youth sport leagues, use of recreational spaces and swimming pools must maintain the social distancing requirements of six feet between participants and spectators. Operators of such facilities must maintain enhanced sanitation of common spaces and/or shared equipment. Any contact between participants less than six feet must be brief in nature and there must be plans to reduce contact to a minimum.
9. Any facility that provides a space for public gatherings such as event centers, venues, social clubs and organizations, theaters, recreational facilities and funeral chapels must maintain the social distancing requirements of six feet between participants and adhere to the occupancy standards defined in the order.
10. Events such as auctions, garage sales or other similar events are included in the social-distancing requirements.
11. Pursuant to section 44.101, RSMo, this Order shall not be construed to prohibit or restrict the lawful possession, transfer, sale, transportation, storage, display or use of firearms or ammunition during the declared state of emergency, subject to the provisions set forth herein.
Pursuant to section 192.290, RSMo, this Order shall be observed throughout the county and enforced by local health authorities. Local public health authorities are hereby directed under the State of Missouri Public Health Order to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Order by any legal means.