Missouri Governor Mike Parson, who has refused to take basic steps to fight the coronavirus pandemic, has tested positive for COVID-19. His wife has tested positive, too. Just days before, over the weekend, Parson had appeared at a campaign rally in Springfield, MO, where he spoke on an indoor stage, maskless, alongside multiple elected officials.
Parson has repeatedly refused to require all Missourians to wear masks in public places to help reduce the spread of the virus. This has resulted in spotty and ineffective protection against the deadly pandemic which is currently raging in some parts of the state.
In fact, it's so bad in Missouri that it’s caught the attention of the White House Coronavirus Task Force and have been singled out for our high rate of new cases. Missouri has more than 118,000 coronavirus cases and is still battling a steady increase in infections, but the governor has been an outspoken critic of mask mandates and has often chosen not to wear one in public.
“You don’t need government to tell you to wear a dang mask,” he previously said. “If you want to wear a dang mask, wear a mask.”
According to the White House, Missouri was among the top five states for new COVID-19 cases last week and the task force reports that Missouri is currently in the “red zone” for infections and would benefit from “mask utilization statewide.” Parson, who just loves sucking up to Donald Trump, has talked about the dangers of the coronavirus but refuses to take the steps that even the White House recommends.
He’s also uninterested in leading by example. He’s repeatedly flaunted the fact that he prefers to go maskless at events, including ones where he brings his wife to accompany him.
According to a news release, Parson still feels OK and will continue running the state from the governor's mansion in Jefferson City. There have been 118,560 cases reported in Missouri and 1,977 Missourians have died as a result of COVID-19.