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Greene County doctors are asking Gov. Mike Parson to order more restrictive measures to prevent hospitals from being overrun by coronavirus patients.

Citing one model endorsed by Stanford University, Greene County Medical Society President Kayce Morton wrote people need to stay at home except to go out for "vital necessities" such as medication, medical care and food for at least three months to make sure medical providers aren't overwhelmed.

"We anticipate that we may be overrun starting May 1st if we do not expand our action beyond 'social distancing' recommendations," according to the letter.

Currently, the state has prohibited gatherings of more than 10 people, which applies to most places including restaurants and bars.

But even keeping those restrictions for three months would mean Missouri hospitals would become overloaded — meaning not have enough beds or equipment — by May 5., based on the model. An estimated 87,000 people would die.

If the state adopted so-called shelter-in-place measures, which means people would be stuck at home as if trapped in a major snow storm, estimated deaths would be contained to fewer than 1,000 people, according to the model.

Doctors are also preparing for a shortage of N-95 masks, which protect the wearer from airborne particles and liquid that could infect them with disease. Those masks are only good for about 4-6 hours until they become saturated.

Morton said physicians needed to be able to order those from a centralized location and have overnight delivery, if needed.

"We are underestimating the potential magnitude of disease and how many people will be severely ill at this time," Morton wrote.

The letter also asks for additional methods to sterilize and decontaminate other, single-use surgical masks that for many small clinics are the first line of defense when not doing airborne procedures.

"The use of ultraviolet light to decontaminate the masks we have may be a way that may be researched at this critical time," she wrote. "There are others. We need permission and protocols to do this."