93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
The governor says the COVID crisis is over in Missouri and that the state will shift to an endemic phase starting Friday morning.
Governor Mike Parson made Wednesday’s announcement in Jefferson City, telling Capitol reporters that average daily COVID cases have declined by more than 98 percent. He also says hospitalizations are down 86 percent since mid-January’s Omicron peak.
“COVID-19 transmission is at the lowest level we have seen since March 23, 2020, the very beginning,” Parson says.
The state Department of Health and Senior Services’ (DHSS) website says more than 3.9 million Missourians have initiated COVID vaccination, which is about 64 percent. About 3.5 million Missourians have completed vaccination, which is about 57 percent.
Governor Parson says the COVID crisis is over in the Show-Me State.
“The vast majority of Missourians have received protection from the virus either through vaccination or past infection. Thanks to our balanced approach and common sense, we believe the need for COVID-19 crisis response has come to an end,” says Parson.
He says vaccines, testing resources and treatments are now readily available for all Missourians. He says the endemic phase means surveillance priority will change from monitoring case numbers to monitoring disease severity.
