CAMERON, Mo. — The coronavirus has no boundaries as it continues to infect people across the U.S.
As cities in the Kansas City metro brace for an influx of new coronavirus patients, rural areas also are preparing.
In Cameron, Missouri, there isn’t a mandate for people to stay at home; however, residents there are urged to follow Gov. Mike Parson’s guidelines, including limiting groups to 10 people or less and staying at least 6 feet away from others to help stop the spread of the virus.
"We haven’t gotten a directive that they need to close, but what I told them was, 'well, you can’t have more than 10 people there and you can’t be closer than 6 feet, and I don’t know how you cut somebody’s hair from 6 feet away,” Cameron City Manager Steve Rasmussen said.
The recommendations have received some pushback from those who live there.
"People have said, 'Don’t you think maybe you’re overreacting?' My answer is, 'I sure as heck hope so,'" Rasmussen said.
For the most part, the streets in Cameron are clean and the sidewalks are empty.
Several businesses have closed up shop, with signs on the door alerting customers that they hope to open again soon.
Tub Creek Barbeque is one business that is open, but only for pickup, delivery and curbside service.
It’s a change the restaurant is adapting to.
"I’m not used to being out here. I’m normally running around by the tables helping customers, stuff like that, so answering phones has become my new normal, which is scary sometimes,” said Jenny Brownlee, the restaurant's front lines supervisor.
The business is trying to find ways to give staff hours, even though they have had to cut back.
Community members who are exhibiting symptoms can be tested for coronavirus at Cameron Regional Medical Center.
In case the number of patients increases more than the capacity at the local hospital, Rasmussen said they are looking at alternative places.
"The big state penitentiary here was recently closed up and they’ve been looking at different things there, so there is some space that’s available," Rasmussen said.
