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Jefferson City police Monday said there were no problems from the public during a stay-at-home ordered issued last week due to the COVID-19 emergency, but officers did contact several businesses that failed to close as required under the order.
"People are still out and about, and we had no issues," Jefferson City Police Department spokesman Lt. David Williams said. "As we previously said, there are no travel letters being issued by law enforcement, and any documentation given to you by your employer is by choice and not a requirement of law."
But authorities are contacting several businesses regarding failure to close as directed by the order, Williams said in a news release Monday afternoon. He did not say what types of businesses or how many had been contacted.
Cole County Sheriff John Wheeler said deputies did make one arrest early Saturday morning after going to a party in the county where 15-20 minors were being served alcohol. The person who was in charge of the party was cited for serving alcohol to minors, as well as having more than 10 people at a function at a private residence in violation of the county health department order.
Essential activities allowed to continue under the stay-at-home order include working in essential businesses, obtaining supplies or necessary services, seeking medical care, caring for a family member, and exercising and maintaining personal health. Essential businesses include those people who need to provide safety for themselves and their families, such as grocery stores, fuel stations, hardware stores, construction, vehicle repairs and supply stores.
The Cole County Health Department issued the order, which took effect Saturday evening, after tests indicated there was community spread within the county. Community spread occurs when people are infected with the virus without having traveled to a location where the virus is known to be or having come in contact with someone who has traveled to such a place.
There were 24 positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Cole County as of Monday night. Of those, 21 are still being treated and three have recovered.
"Our health care system can't handle a situation if everyone gets sick at the same time," Cole County Health Director Kristi Campbell said Monday. "Only essential trips should be taken. It's going to be hard on everybody, but we're trying to prevent more cases from occurring by doing this."
The county's stay-at-home order is to last until 5 p.m. April 11.
Under the order, all public and private intentional gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit are prohibited. Any intentional gathering of more than 10 people in a single space or room is prohibited, with the exception of members of the same household or residence.
"We will enforce the restrictions in this order if they are flagrantly violated," Williams said. "We're not going to be riding around looking to write tickets, and we're not telling officers to go write tickets. We allow for the officers to have their interpretation of a situation just like with everything else that they do. If somebody needs to have a ticket written up, they'll get one. The simple message is: Abide by the order, and you won't have to worry."
In Jefferson City, a person found to be in violation of the stay-at-home order could receive a citation and a fine of up to $1,000.
Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson said if someone were to break a quarantine order they would face a misdemeanor charge of violating quarantine. The range of punishment for that offense is up to a year in the county jail and/or a fine of up to a $2,000.
Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin issued a proclamation Monday to note violation of the county order is a violation of city law, as well as county and state law.
"This means the violation case could go to the city or county prosecutor," Jefferson City Counselor Ryan Moehlman said.
Under the stay-at-home order, restaurants may continue to provide pickup, drive-thru or delivery services. They cannot serve food to customers inside the restaurant.
The city proclamation notes any business or organization with a city business license or liquor license faces suspension or revocation of those licenses if they are found to be in violation.
A full list of categories of businesses considered essential, along with answers to frequently asked questions, is available on the Cole County Health Department website, colehealth.org. The website also offers a form to request a case-by-case determination of whether a business is essential, Campbell said.