KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With news that the COVID-19 outbreak has reached Kansas and Missouri, political leaders and health officials tried to reassure residents about the government's preparation and allocation of resources to combat the disease.
“While Missourians will understandably be concerned about today’s announcement, there is no need to panic,” Sen. Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican, said in a statement. “Governor Mike Parson and St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page are well prepared to meet this public health challenge.”
Parson and Missouri state health officials said a St. Louis County woman in her 20s who recently traveled to Italy has tested “presumptive positive” for COVID-19.
That is the official name for the global coronavirus outbreak, which was first identified in the Hubei Province of China in December 2019.
Kansas announced Saturday that a woman under the age of 50 in Johnson County also has tested “presumptive positive” for COVID-19.
The federal government authorized $8.3 billion in emergency funding this week for COVID-19, which will be distributed to states for testing and other efforts to contain the outbreak’s spread in the U.S.
“Under the law, Missouri will receive at least $9.9 million to support response efforts, including additional test kits, protective equipment and other necessary supplies,” Blunt said in a statement.
Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, said Thursday on Twitter that Kansas will receive $67 million “of the supplemental funding package to bolster the state’s efforts to protect against the coronavirus.”
The threat of coronavirus is serious, and today, the Senate took an important step to ensure our federal, state and local governments have the tools necessary to help protect against the spread of the virus.
— Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) March 5, 2020
Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, praised the Show-Me State’s response and preparation around COVID-19.
Appreciate @GovParsonMO quick response and the excellent work of medical professionals in St Louis County & across the state. Gov Parson & I are in regular contact, and am also working closely w/ MO health officials. Fed resources are on the way https://t.co/7vW8roxoPD
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) March 8, 2020
Hawley and Blunt said they will remain in contact with Parson and Missouri health officials “to ensure they have what they need to respond,” Blunt said Saturday in a statement.
