Missouri Governor declares State of Emergency due to coronavirus

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson declared a state of emergency in response to the new coronavirus.

“I want to be clear that the declaration has not been made because we feel our current healthcare system is overwhelmed or unprepared,” Gov. Parson said Friday at an evening news conference..

“I also want to make it clear that the declaration is not intended to close public schools,” he added.

He said school districts should seek the guidance of local health officials when thinking about closing.

Gov. Parson said the state now has four cases of coronavirus, as of Friday evening.