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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">1005 W. Worley St. <br />Columbia, MO 65203</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">July 10, 2020</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Lucio Bitoy IV
<br />Community Relations Specialist
<br />Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services
<br />573.874.7632
<br />Lucio.Bitoy@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Public Health and Human Services Director extends Reopening Plan - Phase 2, Step 3</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display: inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) announced that the health order outlining Phase 2, Step 3 of the reopening plan has been extended. <br /><br />Stephanie Browning, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Director of PHHS, has issued Order No. 2020-08 and order 2020-08(c) to extend the current step of reopening until 11:59 p.m. on August 10, 2020, unless otherwise extended, rescinded or modified. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All restrictions under the current health orders (Order 2020-07 and 2020-07(c)) remain in effect. No additional restrictions or modifications have been issued. Phase 2, Step 3 of the reopening plan authorized businesses to reopen with the implementation of social distancing requirements and limiting large gatherings to 100 persons. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This extension has been issued because Boone County is not meeting all of the criteria to signal that it is safe to move into the next step of reopening. The following criteria of reopening are not being met due to the rapid increase in new cases of COVID-19:</span></p>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Public health can maintain active disease investigation, contact tracing, and monitoring.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">All symptomatic people can be tested.</span></li>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Based on the numbers we have seen in the last couple of weeks, we need to pause our original reopening plans," said Browning. "The plan we outlined was for the best-case scenario and we just aren't there right now. Extending the current step allows us to get a handle on this virus so that we can try to avoid moving backward in our response." </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Please be mindful that any public outing, especially those in large group settings, can increase your risk of being exposed to the virus. Help fight the spread of COVID-19 in Boone County by:</span></p>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Staying home if you are sick.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Avoiding close contact with others by social distancing from individuals outside of your household.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wearing a mask when around others. MaskUpComo</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following all guidelines when visiting businesses in Boone County.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Covering coughs and sneezes.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Contacting your primary care physician or local health care system immediately if you begin to experience any symptoms of COVID-19.</span></li>
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<div class="attachments">This release has the following attachments:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/downloadfile.php?id=2468">Boone County Order No. 2020-08C</a><br /><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/downloadfile.php?id=2469">City of Columbia Order No. 2020-08</a></div>
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