HERMANN — With Gasconade County remaining fortunate in largely avoiding the coronavirus outbreak, the county’s top administrator last Thursday endorsed the stay-at-home order issued days earlier by the Health Department — a move he did not support just a week earlier.

Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel, R-Hermann, at Thursday morning’s session of the County Commission, did not elaborate on why he changed his position regarding the health agency order. “I would recommend we follow it,” he said.

At the previous Commission meeting, he was clear in his position: “I will not support this action unless mandated by the state.”

There now is a mandate from state government; however, it came a day after the County Commission session. Gov. Mike Parson Friday afternoon announced a stay-at-home order, bringing Missouri in line with 40 other states. Indeed, the lack of a statewide order had made Parson a lightning rod for criticism from health officials. Appearing uneasy before television cameras while making the announcement, the governor offered few specifics, other than to inform local governments that they could impose stricter measures if they wished. The order took effect Monday morning and will remain in place at least through April 27.

Miskel took the opportunity Thursday morning to dispel rumors that have circulated — especially on social media — about the stay-at-home order.

“There are no roadblocks,” he quipped, a reference to an incident he recounted a week earlier in which a resident said she had heard a traveler had been turned away from one of the city’s towns by the police. That was some of the social media misinformation the presiding commission cautioned against.

Southern District Associate Commissioner Jerry Lairmore, R-Owensville, rejoined the administrative panel for its monthly session in Owensville. Wearing a mask, Lairmore is recovering from recent surgery that forced him to miss three sessions.

“I’m glad to be back,” Lairmore said.

Regarding masks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week formally adopted a guideline for all residents to wear a mask or some other face covering while outside the home. A visit on Saturday to the Owensville Walmart showed some people wearing masks of some sort and gloves; however, the overwhelming majority of shoppers — and store staff — did not wear a mask. While the aisles were crowded with shoppers’ baskets being filled, the checkout lanes did show customers practicing the social-distancing measure of staying 6 feet apart.

This week’s Commission meeting, set for tomorrow morning at 8:30 at the Courthouse, could prove crucial in the county’s effort to weather the financial storm caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The county’s monthly sales tax receipts for March could be reported by Treasurer Mike Feagan, R-Owensville. This will be the one-third point of the fiscal year, which so far is not showing promise of the county meeting its projected sales tax revenue of more than $1 million.

Miskel is bracing for what could be another disappointing number on the sales tax reimbursement check from the state, saying he expects a drop of 10 to 12 percent from last April’s check. Last year, the county received $82,335, the largest April check in the past five years. So far this year, the county is running more than $20,000 behind the cumulative total for last year.