Reopening the Show-Me State
Over the course of the past four months, our state has gone to great lengths to minimize the effects of the COVID-19 virus. Many of us have made significant personal sacrifices in order to protect vulnerable friends, family, neighbors and, of course, our health care professionals. As a result, I am happy to report that our state is moving forward with its plan to reopen the Show-Me State.
On Tuesday, June 16, Missouri entered phase 2 of the “Show-Me Strong Recovery Plan.” During this phase of the state’s recovery, Missourians will no longer be under a statewide health order. Stores and restaurants are reopening, employees are going back to work and individuals are starting to travel again. Essentially, Missouri is open for business. While statewide COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, local communities will still be able to enact rules or regulations to mitigate the effects of the virus. This is a smart move in my opinion because each community is different and solutions tailored to meet local needs will be more effective and less disruptive overall. As families and businesses begin the process of returning to normal life, I believe it’s important to remember that the virus is not gone. Now, more than ever, we must continue to practice good hygiene and take the necessary precautions to protect ourselves and our family.
As I said earlier, each of us have made important sacrifices to get to this point. I believe the timing is right to reopen our state, but we must continue to use common sense and take personal responsibility for our actions. If you are feeling under the weather, please stay home and reach out to your doctor. Now is not the time to take unnecessary health risks. For more information about the spread of the virus and ongoing developments, visit cdc.gov. I also encourage you to utilize the state’s comprehensive COVID-19 dashboard. It includes data regarding testing, hospitalizations and more, and much of the information is broken down by county and other demographics such as age, gender and race. To view the dashboard, visit http://mophep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=8e01a5d8d8bd4b4f85add006f9e14a9d.
Redesigning our State’s Driver’s Licenses and ID Cards
Beginning June 22, the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) will begin issuing a new version of our state’s driver’s license. Designed to pay tribute to Missouri’s upcoming bicentennial, the updated driver’s license includes enhanced safety and security features. These features include designated header colors for different license types, ghost images, an updated laser perforation in the shape of a dogwood flower and more. According to DOR, these features are designed to deter counterfeiting and fraud, while also helping to protect Missourians from identity theft.
Individuals renewing their driver’s license or ID card will not have to pay any additional fees in order to receive the redesigned license. However, those requesting a new license or ID card outside of their normal renewal period and solely for the purpose of obtaining the new design will have to pay the standard duplicate processing fees.
It is an honor to serve you in the Missouri Senate. As our community continues to navigate the ongoing pandemic, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (573) 751-3678 or by email at dave.schatz@senate.mo.gov if you have any questions or concerns about state resources available for those suffering during these uncertain times. Together, we will get through this!