The Hon. Michael L.

Parson
Governor of Missouri
P.O. Box 720
Jefferson City, MO 65102

March 27, 2020

Dear Governor Parson,

Thank you for all that your administration is doing to respond to the COVID-19
emergency. Among numerous actions you have taken to date, your steps to close the gaming
boats, implement statewide social distancing, transition bars and restaurants to take-out or
delivery only, and seek a federal major disaster declaration will help keep more Missourians
healthy and expedite our economic recovery.

COVID-19 represents one of the greatest challenges the general population has faced in
our lifetimes. An emergency of this scale requires that we take extraordinary action to ensure
that our hospitals and frontline healthcare providers can continue to care for patients without
overwhelming capacity and putting medical personnel at even greater risk.

As you know, the St. Louis and Kansas City regions and the City of Springfield and
Greene County are currently operating under “stay at home” orders implemented by local
officials. These orders require people to stay at and work from home, as much as possible. The
orders do allow certain essential businesses to continue to operate, and citizens are able to visit
grocery stores, pharmacies and other services that meet basic needs. In recent days, governors
in Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia and other states have issued similar orders.

As our major healthcare systems watch with alarm the growing number of cases
confirmed both nationally and locally, they urgently warn that we also must implement a
uniform, statewide “stay at home” order across Missouri. A statewide order is necessary because
the catchment area for the major health systems in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield extend
far beyond those immediate metropolitan areas and into rural communities across much of
Missouri. Acute COVID-19 cases in those rural communities will likely be transferred to
hospitals in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield. Without a statewide “stay at home” order
and adequate mitigation, a rush of cases from rural communities could further exacerbate a
crisis in terms of beds, ventilators and critical supplies. This crisis could appear in the coming
weeks, so the time to act statewide is now. Every day saved is an extra day to prepare.

Implementing a statewide “stay at home” order is vital. Please act today so that we can
mitigate the human toll of COVID-19. The sooner we can contain the virus, the sooner we can
move toward the long-term work of economic recovery. Please let us know how we can support
your administration during this emergency.

Missouri is stronger when we all act together.

Governor Parson
Page 2
March 27, 2020

Sincerely,

Tom Chulick Richard Liekweg

President & CEO President & CEO
St. Louis Regional Chamber BJCHealthCare
St. Louis St. Louis

Steven Edwards Laura Kaiser

President & CEO President & CEO
CoxHealth SSM Health
Springfield St. Louis

Melinda Estes Matt Morrow

President & CEO President & CEO
St. Luke’s Health System Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Kansas City Springfield

Jason Hall Kathy Osborn

CEO & Co-Founder President & CEO
Arch to Park Regional Business Council
St. Louis St. Louis

Steve Johnson Tom Santel

President & CEO President
AllianceSTL Civic Progress
St. Louis St. Louis

Jeff Johnston
Senior Vice President & Regional President
Mercy
St. Louis