COVID-19 Updates

February 10, 2021

During the February 8 City Council meeting, City Council voted to return to holding meetings in person. The following guidelines and/or restrictions will be in place for those in attendance:

• All in attendance are required to wear a face covering or mask. Some exemptions apply.
• Seating will be limited in the Council Chamber as social distancing will be enforced. Additional viewing areas will be available.

February 9, 2021

• Declaration and Order February 9, 2021 (PDF)

February 5, 2021

Eligible members of the public who have no online means in which to register for the COVID-19 vaccine will soon be able to do so via telephone. Beginning Monday, February 8, eligible members of the public who are unable to register online can call 816.271.4613 to get signed up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Phones will be staffed Monday through Friday from 8am-4pm for registration. Please be patient if there is a wait time to talk with a registration assistant. Call volume may cause a slight delay.

When calling to register for the vaccine, please have the following information ready:
-Name
-Address
-City, State, Zip
-Last four digits of your social security number
-Birthdate

February 2, 2021

The city is providing public access to the online vaccine registration website through terminals located in the lobby of City Hall, available Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm. This registration places residents on the Appointment Request List for the COVID-19 vaccine who fall under the current open phases and tiers established by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. 

January 29, 2021

The city of St. Joseph and Mosaic Life Care announce a new way to “get in line” for COVID-19 vaccine. We have heard the feedback of the community and will now be using an Appointment Request List for pre-registration. Watch the announcement.

January 22, 2021

The city of St. Joseph in partnership with Mosaic Life Care is excited to announce the opening of the community COVID-19 vaccination clinic. Watch the announcement. Stay tuned for more information and details.

January 15, 2021

The city of St. Joseph is partnering with Mosaic and the Region H Healthcare coalition to provide a coordinated effort on the vaccine rollout to our community members. Details regarding the vaccination process and how to register will be released soon. Information will be available on our website, social media, cable channel 19 and to the media.

January 13, 2021

The St. Joseph Health Department received its first shipment of Pfizer vaccine and began the process of vaccinating individuals in Phase 1A today. Approximately 175 persons received the first round of shots and two more clinics will be held this week with anticipation of vaccinating approximately 600 people. Once Phase 1A is done and the state authorizes moving forward, those in Phase 1B will begin receiving shots. Watch for more updates on the process as information becomes available.

November 20, 2020

• Amended Declaration and Order November 20, 2020 (PDF)
• Amended Declaration and Order Press Release November 20, 2020 (PDF)

November 16, 2020

In a continued effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, City Council has extended the Declaration and Order regarding face coverings and masks through February 14, 2021, during the Monday, November 16, City Council meeting.

A Special Declaration and Order for City Council meetings and Work Sessions also passed with the following guidelines and/or restrictions in place through February 14, 2021:

• All in attendance are required to wear a face covering or mask. Some exemptions apply.
• Temperature checks will be administered.
• Those exhibiting symptoms or who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 in the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter.
• Seating will be limited in the Council Chamber as social distancing will be enforced. Additional viewing areas will be available.

November 13, 2020

• Special Declaration and Order November 13, 2020 (PDF) for the November 16, 2020, City Council meeting.

October 13, 2020

• Amended Declaration and Order October 13, 2020 (PDF)

October 6, 2020

• Declaration and Order October 6, 2020 (PDF)

September 15, 2020

• Declaration and Order September 15, 2020 (PDF)
• Declaration and Order Press Release September 15, 2020 (PDF)

July 14, 2020

• Revised Declaration and Order July 14, 2020 (PDF)

July 10, 2020

• Declaration and Order July 10, 2020 (PDF)

June 12, 2020

• Emergency Declaration and Order Set to Expire Press Release (PDF)
• Mayoral Advisory June 12, 2020 (PDF)

June 11, 2020

Due to technical difficulties, the City Council Work Session was not live steamed. You can watch a recording of the meeting here. We apologize for any inconvenience.

June 5, 2020

Effective Monday, June 8, St Joseph Transit will resume normal bus service. Social distancing measures will be in place and regular cleaning and sanitizing of the buses, stops and transfer stations will remain in effect.

June 3, 2020

The city of St. Joseph Health Department, in collaboration with Northwest Health Services will be providing drive-thru COVID-19 tests for 400 residents on Tuesday, June 9, from 2-7pm. The testing is open to all Missouri residents regardless of whether they have symptoms. This is active COVID-19 testing, not antibody testing. Before being tested, please register online or by calling 877-435-8411. The location and appointment time will be provided after completing the registration.

Participants will have the opportunity to set up a secure online user ID at a portal provided by the processing lab, Quest Diagnostic, to access their test results. Those whose test results are positive for COVID-19 will receive a call from their local health department.

May 28, 2020

• Extension of Fifth Amended Declaration and Order Press Release May 28, 2020 (PDF)
• Extension of Fifth Amended Declaration and Order May 28, 2020 (PDF)

May 22, 2020

• COVID-19 Community Testing Final Results May 22, 2020 (PDF)

May 19, 2020

• COVID-19 Community Testing Additional Results May 19, 2020 (PDF)

May 18, 2020

• COVID-19 Community Testing Results May 18, 2020 (PDF)

May 14, 2020

• Fifth Amended Declaration and Order Press Release May 14, 2020 (PDF)
• Executed Fifth Amended Declaration and Order May 14, 2020 (PDF)
• Bar and Tavern Requirements Sign (PDF)

May 12, 2020

A drive-thru only COVID-19 testing site for Buchanan County residents will be held on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17 from 8am-4pm at Mosaic Life Care. Approximately 2,000 tests will be provided by the state of Missouri.

• Testing will take place in the parking garage located on the northeast side of the hospital.
• Vehicles should enter off of Heartland Drive by Plaza 2.
• Testing will be available at no cost for individuals over the age of 18 regardless of symptoms.
• Please only have passengers in the vehicle who are being tested.
• All individuals being tested will be asked to stay in their vehicle at all times and should be registered separately.
• Tests used will be a nasopharyngeal swab.
• Before being tested, please register online at https://www.mymlc.com/General/coronavirus-covid-19/ or by calling (877) 435-8411, option 3. Phone-based translation services are available by calling to register.  
• Once samples are collected, they will be sent to Quest Diagnostics for testing. Results should be available within 72 hours after testing.
• Please consider being a Hunger Hero by donating shelf-stable foods at the exit of the testing site. Donations will go to help fill The Crossing Nutrition Center.

Quest Diagnostics will also provide results via an online portal at QuestDiagnostics.com/MyQuest. Additionally, negative test results may be mailed directly to the patient upon request. Those with positive results will receive a call from a Mosaic Life Care nurse with further instructions.

May 11, 2020

Garage sale licenses can now be issued providing applicants follow the guidelines (PDF) and post the requirements for customers to view.

May 6, 2020

• Buchanan County COVID-19 Death May 6, 2020 (PDF)

May 1, 2020

• Business Requirements Sign (PDF)
• Retail Business Requirements Sign (PDF)
• Restaurant Requirements Signs (PDF)
• Recreation Venue Requirements Sign (PDF)
• Fitness Center and Gym Requirements Sign (PDF)
• Salon, Tattoo Parlor and Contact-to-Contact Requirements Sign (PDF)

April 30, 2020

• Fourth Amended Declaration and Order Press Release (PDF)
• Fourth Amended Declaration and Order April 30, 2020 (PDF)
• State Show Me Strong Recovery Phase I Guidance (PDF)
• State Order April 27, 2020 (PDF)

April 28, 2020

The City Council is holding a work session on Thursday, April 30, to discuss the status of the Emergency Declaration and Order which is set to expire at 11:59pm on May 3. Residents wishing to comment on this topic can do so via email at COVID19@stjoemo.org. All comments submitted by 8am, Thursday, April 30, will be made available to City Council prior to the work session which begins at 4pm. The work session will be streamed on the city’s website.

April 25, 2020

• Eleven New Positives for COVID-19 (PDF)

April 23, 2020

• The Third Amended Declaration and Order Extended (PDF)
• Triumph Employees to be Tested for COVID-19 (PDF)

April 17, 2020

• Temporary Change in City Council Meeting Time (PDF)

April 10, 2020

• Recycling Center Closed (PDF)
• Classification of COVID-19 Cases (PDF)

April 2, 2020

• Three Additional Positive Cases Confirmed in St. Joseph April 2, 2020 (PDF)

March 31, 2020

• Third Amended Declaration and Order Press Release (PDF)
• March 31, 2020 Third Amended Declaration and Order (PDF)
• Homeland Security Guidance (PDF)
• ATC’s Response to COVID-19 (PDF)

March 30, 2020

• St. Joseph Confirms Fourth Positive Case of COVID-19 March 30, 2020 (PDF)

March 29, 2020

• St. Joseph Confirms Third Positive Case of COVID-19 March 29, 2020 (PDF)

March 27, 2020

• St. Joseph Confirms Two Positive Cases of COVID-19 March 27, 2020 (PDF)
• Message from Mayor Bill McMurray Following Two Confirmed Cases

March 26, 2020

• Transit Route Changes (PDF)

March 25, 2020

• Business Advisory Printable Sign (PDF)

March 23, 2020

• Reissued Second Amended Declaration and Order Press Release (PDF)
• March 23, 2020 Second Amended Declaration and Order Press Release (PDF)
• March 23, 2020 City Council Meeting Closed to Public (PDF)
• Spring 2020 Clean Sweep Cancelled (PDF)

March 22, 2020

• City Hall to Close to Public Access (PDF)

March 21, 2020

• Second Amended Declaration and Order Press Release (PDF)
• March 21, 2020 Second Amended Declaration and Order (PDF)

March 20, 2020

• Public Playgrounds Closed (PDF)
• Cancellation of Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collection (PDF)

March 19, 2020

• City Council Meeting March 23, 2020 (PDF)
• Call Center for COVID-19 (PDF)

March 18, 2020

• March 18, 2020 Amended Declaration and Order Press Release (PDF)
• March 18, 2020 Amended Declaration and Order (PDF)

March 16, 2020

Mayor Bill McMurray has signed a Declaration of Local Emergency for the City of St. Joseph. “Commencing immediately, all in-person gatherings of fifty people or more within the City of St. Joseph, Missouri, shall be prohibited for eight weeks, except when such gatherings occur in the day-to-day operations of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses.”

March 13, 2020

• Message from Mayor Bill McMurray