JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The number of people in the hospital due to the coronavirus is down almost 17% from the peak in early April, state officials said Tuesday.
"That decline has been more pronounced in regions other than St. Louis, where we are, not where we are seeing a pronounced flattening, but not a steep decline," said MO HealthNet Director Todd Richardson during the regular COVID-19 briefing Tuesday afternoon.
Richardson also said testing volume has increase, which accounts for the overall increase in cases. He added emergency departments at hospitals across the state are seeing fewer patients with symptoms associated with the virus.
"Overall, Missouri has significantly reduced the rate of transmission. It does not show that this event is over or that it is behind us," Richardson said.
Richardson also urged people to continue to practice social distancing.
Also during the briefing Governor Mike Parson and other state officials are encouraging Missourians to buy local, asking them to support the "Buy Missouri" movement.
"Missouri-based businesses — this will be the key to the future of opening up our state and getting our economy back in Missouri," Gov. Mike Parson said. "But it will be driven by Missourians who are willing to shop local."
There have been 9,086 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the state and 395 deaths, as of May 5.
The state is in phase one of its reopening plan, which began Monday.
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page is expected to release a timeline Wednesday for the reopening of the county.