10 • June 7-9, 2020 STATE OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (AP) — No additional cases of the new coronavirus have been reported stemming from the crowded pool parties at Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks over the Memorial Day weekend, the state’s top health official said. Camden County Health Department reported Friday that a person from Boone County who had attended the parties tested positive for the virus. Speaking at a news conference Crowds of people gather at Coconuts Caribbean Beach Bar & Grill in Gravois Mills, Missouri, Sunday, May 24, 2020. (Shelly Yang/Kansas City Star via AP) in Jefferson City on Wednesday, Dr. Randall Williams, the director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, said no more cases have been uncovered since, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Social media postings of the event showed large crowds of mostly young people without masks and not adhering to social distancing guidelines at pools along the central Missouri lake that is a popular weekend getaway spot. The pictures and video of crowds at the lake prompted a public outcry and led health officials to urge anyone who attended the parties to self-quarantine for 14 days. Officials have been trying to trace anyone who may have come into contact with the one person who has tested positive, releasing a brief timeline of their whereabouts bransonglobe.com Health official: No new COVID-19 cases from Missouri parties including stops at a bar called Backwater Jacks, a bar and restaurant that has a pool, as well as a dining and pool venue called Shady Gators and Lazy Gators. For some infected people, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause severe illness or death. But for most people, it causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. Missouri on Wednesday reported 192 additional positive cases, bringing the state’s total to nearly 13,800, and three additional deaths, increasing the toll to 786. Law expands absentee voting in Missouri during pandemic COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday signed a bill into law that will allow people to vote by mail this year if they’re concerned about the coronavirus. Voters currently can request absentee ballots only if they provide an excuse for why they can’t vote in person. Illness is one option, but the law isn’t explicit on whether the illness excuse covers healthy voters concerned about catching or spreading COVID-19. Under the new law, people considered at-risk of the coronavirus — those age 65 and older, living in a long-term care facility or with certain existing health problems — could vote absentee without needing to have their ballot notarized. Anyone else could cast a mailin ballot but would need to get it notarized. “Any Missourian affected by COVID-19 should still be able to vote, including those who are sick or considered at-risk,” Parson said in a statement. The law expires at the end of this year. Also on Thursday, Parson said there have been no new reported outbreaks of the coronavirus at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities for two days. But 13 inmates at the jail in Saline County have tested positive, said Sheriff Cindi Mullins. Only one of the inmates who tested positive reported symptoms, Mullins said. No staff members tested positive, KMIZ reports. Statewide reported cases of COVID-19 reached 14,057 Thursday, up 290 cases from the day before. At least 786 people have died from the virus. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. Parson said the state sent SEE VOTING, PAGE 13
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