Katie Kull | Springfield News-Leader

CoxHealth's President and CEO Steve Edwards took to Twitter on Saturday evening to urge Greene County and the City of Springfield to order stricter isolation requirements as the coronavirus rapidly spreads in the U.S.

"In an epidemic we are generally making decisions two (weeks) behind (given the incubation period)," he wrote. "By this time in about 7-10 days COVID will be endemic and our hospitals will start to fill. Act right now!"

Courtesy photo

Hours before his call, St. Louis County and city ordered people to "shelter-in-place" except to get groceries, health care or other critical household duties for a month starting Monday. The state of Illinois took similar action, as did New York, California and Connecticut.

Springfield-Greene County Health Department Director Clay Goddard said officials are already planning on their next step, according to his Twitter.

“Our City and County leaders are currently working on a plan. Please support them and focus on pushing for more statewide approaches,” Goddard stated.

The best advice people can do is to stay home, Goddard said.

“It seems counter intuitive, but the way many of you can help is by doing nothing,” Goddard wrote. “It is critical that we look at this regionally because our health care systems receive patients from a larger area. If not we are putting fingers in a leaky dike. My advice is to stay at home, except to get groceries, health care or other critical household essentials.”

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Last week, city and county officials put restrictions on gatherings of more than 10 people, effectively restricting restaurants to drive-thru, delivery or curbside pickup. On Saturday, Gov. Mike Parson ordered the same thing statewide, resisting calls to take further action.

Edwards' call mirrored those contained from an organization of local public health officials led by Springfield-Greene County Public Health Director Clay Goddard.

In a letter obtained by the News-Leader on Friday, the Missouri Center for Public Health Excellence asked Parson to, among other things:

limit non-essential gatherings throughout the state to 10 or fewer people;

close all schools until further notice;

require residents to stay in their homes unless they're going to work or getting food, medical care, or medical supplies

and limit all retail business to drive-thru, curbside pickup and online order except for grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacies.

In response to a question about potential parameters, Edwards said he' like to see many of those restrictions put in place locally, though noted a state order would have more impact.

"There would be less pressure if the state would mandate effective measures statewide," he said.

As of 9 p.m. Saturday, there were 90 confirmed cases of COVID-19 statewide, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Ten of those were found in Greene County.

Public health officials are urging people to stay home if at all possible, especially if they fall into a "high risk" category of sickness or death. Those people are those over 60 or with chronic health conditions such as heart or lung disease, diabetes or cancer.

The local health department is encouraging those people to take extra precautions, including:

Staying home as much as possible and avoiding unnecessary travel

Having a plan if you get sick

Having extra supplies, such as medications, food and household supplies, on hand

At-risk people should also follow guidance directed toward the general population, such as:

Washing hands for 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer

Avoiding close contact with people who are sick

Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and then throwing the tissue in the trash

Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe