County Officials Taking Cautious Approach To Reopening Economy

Ste. Genevieve County Presiding Commissioner Garry Nelson said at last Thursday’s County Commission meeting that he will meet with Ste. Genevieve Mayor Paul Hassler and other officials on Wednesday, May 6, to discuss how to orchestrate a “soft start” to reopening the local economy.
There has been plenty of talk lately about how soon counties, states and the nation as a whole can safely reopen most businesses and lift shelter at home orders without bringing about a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson said in an April 20 news conference that he would like to see much of the state reopen in May.
Sandra Bell, administrator of the Ste. Genevieve County Health Department, expressed her concerns during the April 20 commission meeting. If Ste. Genevieve County reopens for normal business before surrounding counties do, Bell said she feared an influx of traffic could be a problem.
“If word gets out that we’re open, people in counties that are still spreading [the virus] will come,” Bell said. “That scares me a lot.”

See complete story in the April 29 edition of the Herald.