By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Missouri Governor Mike Parson says too much focus has been placed on one step to hold down the spread of COVID-19 and he sees a political motivation behind it.
Parson has been criticized for not issuing a statewide mask mandate. He, instead, has left that up to local officials.
Still, Parson says he encourages Missourians to wear masks.
“The mask issue has become the most political issue,” Parson tells reporters during a recent visit to St. Joseph, “but, it’s not one out of three. It’s social distancing, don’t be around anybody for more than 15 minutes and don’t get around large gatherings. Wear a mask; personal hygiene. I think we’ve tried to make it into a one issue, but it’s really not. It’s all of the above protects Missouri citizens. But I encourage it, ever since I stood up there in March, I encouraged people to wear a mask and I will continue to do it."
Parson tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after First Lady Teresa Parson tested positive. While the First Lady experienced mild symptoms, Parson remained asymptomatic throughout two weeks of isolation in which he remained in the governor’s mansion in Jefferson City.
His first public appearance was last week during a ribbon cutting on the Missouri Western State University campus.
Parson says contracting the coronavirus gave him first-hand knowledge about the virus.
“But you know, the thing about it is, what you learn from having it yourself, for me and the First Lady, you’re like every other Missourian, you know that risk is out there. You know you’re the governor of the state of Missouri, the First Lady, and your risk is higher, simply because of the jobs we have,” according to Parson. “I wish it was as simple as just going home and locking the door and saying I’m not going to go to work, but the reality of it is as governor you can’t do that.”
Parson says the experience had an impact.
“What it did for me? It just makes me realize that everyday people are going to get this virus and we’re going to have to sure try to do everything we can to make it safer, do more testing in the state and we’re doing that every day.”