KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There is currently no Missouri statewide stay-at-home order in place.
At a news conference Thursday, Gov. Mike Parson said he's evaluating the current order banning groups of 10 or more people, along with social distancing.
He said he expects to make an announcement about the next move for the state on Friday.
Parson only addressed the issue after a question from the news media.
The governor began his news conference by stating he signed an executive order suspending fines for late renewals on concealed carry permits for guns.
Responding to why there's currently no statewide stay-at-home order in Missouri, Parson said, "Our state is so diverse, every segment of the state is different. It's very difficult sometimes to just put a blanket order in place."
Meanwhile, a website is tracking cell phone and other electronic device data to determine how well or how poorly states are doing when it comes to social distancing guidelines to help contain the COVID-19 virus.
Data experts and academics are tracking decreases in travel and trips to non-essential businesses to come up with a letter grade from "A" to "F," similar to a school report card.
While Missouri is not under a statewide stay-at-home order, according to the website, the state gets a "C" grade on social distancing.
Kansas does have a statewide stay-at-home order, but gets a "C-" grade.
However, a closer look at the data shows there's definitely room for improvement in both states.
While there's a metro-wide stay-at-home order on both sides of the Missouri-Kansas state line, a closer look at the data shows that of Missouri's 114 counties, 73 of them, or 64%, are getting a "D" or "F."
And there's no Missouri county with a grade higher than "B."
In the metro on the Missouri side, Platte County leads the way with a "B" on social distancing.
Jackson County, with the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the metro, gets a "C."
Clay County gets a "C-" while Cass County gets a "D-."
"The core question we ask ourselves is what can we do to keep our community safe," Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said on Wednesday.
On the Kansas side, the highest social distancing grade for any county, like Missouri, also is a "B."
In the metro, Johnson County, which leads Kansas in COVID-19 cases, gets the highest grade with a "B."
Wyandotte County gets a "B-." Miami and Leavenworth counties each get a "D."
Health officials in both states say it's likely going to be at least a couple of weeks before the number of cases start to flatten out.
And they say the key to keeping that number as low as possible is for everyone to stay at home as much as they can.
