Gasconade County Health Department officials are ending a stay at home order at 8 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday) “unless a decision is made to extend this date,” according to a release issued at 4:27 p.m. via email on Tuesday.

However, the release notes, “At this time, and due to the implementation of the statewide order, we feel that it is appropriate that we allow the county’s order to expire and we adopt the statewide order. This order we feel covers the necessary restrictions to slow or stop the spread of the COVID-19 if properly followed.”

The county had issued its order on March 31 before the state order was issued April 3.

The county agency goes on to note, “Again, properly following this order will be key to the continued effectiveness of minimizing the spread of this virus. This change does allow the operations of other non-essential businesses; however, it is critical that these businesses strictly adhere to the social distancing rules in each facility. If we determine that in some instances the rules are not being adhered to, we will take appropriate measures up to and including legal actions against these facilities and/or if we start seeing an increasing trend of positive COVID-19 patients then we may implement business or area specific orders.”

As of Tuesday, Gasconade County health officials had only  reported two cases of the new novel coronavirus. The state was reporting 133 deaths across the state and 4,686 positive tests for the virus.