Auditor Nicole Galloway Releases New COVID-19 Action Plan

Auditor Nicole Galloway released “Rebuild and Recover: An Action Plan to Address COVID-19 in Missouri” — a plan that lays out concrete steps to protect public health amidst a deadly pandemic, ensure Missouri’s local governments and communities can rebuild, and put the state’s economy on the path to a strong recovery.

Read Auditor Galloway’s COVID-19 action plan here.

In Missouri, the state’s positivity rate is too high, cases are higher than they were a few months ago, and many schools are not able to reopen. Unlike Governor Mike Parson, Auditor Galloway would act with a sense of urgency to control the spread of the virus, support small businesses and workers, and ensure every community can rebuild from this crisis.

“Missouri needs a reset on our coronavirus strategy - and fast. Governor Parson’s strategy isn’t working. Cases continue to be significantly higher than they were in the spring. School districts across the state are delaying their reopenings. The lingering effects of the pandemic threaten to hobble a full economic recovery,” said State Auditor Nicole Galloway. “By focusing on protecting public health and economic recovery, my action plan is aimed at tackling COVID-19 in Missouri in order to prevent new restrictions and avoid shuttering new businesses."

The plan would focus on three key areas: protecting public health, ensuring Missouri’s communities and local governments can recover, and rebuilding the state’s economy. Specific proposals include:

Implementing a statewide mask mandate -- as recommended by Dr. Deborah Birx and Springfield Mayor Ken McClure

Engaging surrounding states to cooperate on the purchase of rapid testing supplies and equipment

A data-driven approach for safely reopening schools that recognizes the risk that community transmission poses to keeping fully in-person school on-track

Creating an Emergency Medical Task Force, who would brief the public daily on the condition of COVID-19 in Missouri, provide recommendations of executive actions to the Governor and serve as a hub for COVID-19 data, including hospitalization data

Ensuring relief for workers who contract COVID-19

Reorganizing the Department of Economic Development to include a department of Minority Business that will be charged with ensuring vulnerable small businesses in Black and Brown communities are able to withstand economic uncertainties

Creating an Economic Relief Council composed of labor members, business leaders, and small business owners to advise the Governor on economic stabilization in the short term and economic recovery in the long term

Assigning a state-level response team to help counties spend their CARES act money — with a focus on contact tracing and PPE

Support for community health centers