Missouri number one in nation for new Covid-19 cases

When I read that headline, as both a Missourian and a nurse, I am disheartened. 

 

Rural counties seem to be the areas of the State that were hit the hardest in the past several weeks. While many states have continued to see a steady decrease in cases, Missouri has seen a 72% increase. This is the highest percentage increase in the nation for the week it was recorded in July.

 

While this might be shocking for some, for healthcare workers, it is not. Missouri never had a state mask mandate. Governor Parsons has failed time and time again as he stumbled his way through this pandemic. He criticizes the federal government's plans but enacts none of his own. He has claimed that he requested that Missourians "take personal responsibility" but has minimalized the crisis on many levels once stated in an interview, "I don't think there is doomsday for the State of Missouri or the United States over COVID-19. It's something we have to be concerned with. But to try to put that into a fear category is wrong. This is like viruses we've dealt with before." But Parsons was wrong, and this virus was NOT like something we have dealt with in many decades. 

 

Instead of focusing on solutions to the crisis, he recently signed a law limiting what public health officials can do during this pandemic. This legislation tied the arms of the healthcare workers that are so desperately trying to save lives. Hospitals in Joplin and Springfield are filling up quickly, and with the new Delta variant, we are not sure how fast this 1000+ new cases a day could turn into several thousand. And with low vaccination rates and virtually no mask compliance in rural areas, this virus could spread even faster than before. 

 

We do not need to hurt Missouri's economy to stop this outbreak. We need to enact a straightforward strategy three-step strategy.

One, Missouri needs a statewide mask mandate, effective immediately.

Two, lift all restrictions on health departments and grant emergency funds to hire staff for testing, trace, and resources needed to contact those potentially exposed so they may self isolate.

Three, fund education and outreach on the effectiveness of vaccines, more people will take them if they understand that in the last several months, only about 0.01% of hospitalizations from Covid-19 were vaccinated, the other 99+% were unvaccinated, simply stated: vaccines work. And more Missourians should be aware of that fact.

Parson's shaky response to the pandemic and his current plan has failed Missouri and cost the lives of thousands of Missourians. Instead of his administration focusing on the science of viral spread and investing in programs and entities that could easily combat this disease, he instead is vehemently protecting organizations from any Covid-19 related lawsuits. 

 

 "I hope the first piece of legislation to hit my desk this year is a clean COVID-19 liability protection bill," Parsons stated during his State of the State address several months ago. He continued with: "Missouri businesses, manufacturers, health care providers, schools, churches, and many other entities across the state did not hesitate to step up and help their communities in the fight against COVID-19," he said. "None of these groups should be penalized for their efforts to help." 

 

Why would an organization be penalized for helping during a pandemic? If organizations and businesses did the right thing (offered testing, required masking & social distancing in the workplace, etc.), they would not have to worry about possible litigation. 

 

But we see instead another conservative protecting the rights of businesses and churches over individual's rights. It shows us the true nature of Parsons and his administration. 

 

Like many republicans nationwide, Parsons will never admit to a blundered pandemic response that costs the lives of thousands of Missourians. A pandemic that strained hospital systems statewide, all while refusing help or aid from the federal government. His legacy for Missouri will be one of unnecessary loss of life. Hundreds of thousands of families impacted in Missouri by this virus, from family members being hospitalized or dying from Covid-19 to the thousands of healthcare workers and their families strained by the workload. Finally, all of the families are negatively affected financially by this pandemic. All of whom Parsons has willfully ignored. And that will be his legacy.

Resources for vaccinations in Missouri here:

https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/

Information on tracking the spread of Covid-19 here:

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/09/01/816707182/map-tracking-the-spread-of-the-coronavirus-in-the-u-s