Courtesy of the CDC
Update, June 12, 12:30 p.m.:
On Monday, all businesses in St. Louis County will be allowed to reopen, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page announced at a press briefing Friday. This includes casinos, fitness centers, pools, and banquet halls.
The number of people allowed inside businesses will increase to 25 percent of the fire code capacity on Monday. Previously, any building of 10,000 square feet or more was only allowed 10 percent of its capacity. This limit will be increased to 50 percent capacity on June 29, Page said.
The limit of 10 people per gathering will also end June 29, Page said. Inside, crowd size will be dictated by the fire code; outside, there will be no cap on gatherings, though some park pavilions will still be limited. Special events, including concerts and art fairs, will need to present their plans to the county health department for approval.
Page emphasized that people should continue to follow CDC guidelines regarding masks, social distancing, and disinfecting, and that large gatherings still carry risks.
Update, June 1, 3:40 p.m.:
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page announced on Monday that bars will be allowed to reopen June 8 as part of the county's phased-in reopening process. Gyms, pools, and other sports can reopen June 15. Guidelines will be available on the county's website.
According to a press release, the John C. Murphy Medical Center will reopen Monday for walk-in services and travel vaccinations, and it will resume full services on June 15. People who are participating in protests were asked in the release to call the St. Louis County Department of Public Health if they develop any symptoms of COVID-19.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force released the following data on Monday:
- New hospital admissions (data lagged two days) decreased, from 18 on Sunday to 15 on Monday
- The seven-day moving average of hospital admissions (data lagged two days) decreased, from 20 on Sunday to 19 on Monday
- The seven-day moving average of hospitalizations decreased, from 373 on Sunday to 363 on Monday
- Inpatient hospitalizations increased, from 321 on Sunday to 331 on Monday
- The number of patients in the ICUs decreased, from 87 on Sunday to 78 on Monday
- The number of patients on ventilators increased, with 47 on Sunday and 53 in use on Monday
- Across the system hospitals, the cumulative number of COVID-19 patients discharged totalled 2,287
Update, May 11, 6:37 p.m.:
On Monday, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson announced a new COVID-19 emergency order with standards for individuals and businesses as the city begins to take steps to open back up. The new guidelines for opening, called Phase I in the order, are effective May 18, the same day St. Louis County will begin the process of opening up some businesses.
On Monday, the city reported 1,526 COVID-19 cases and 90 total deaths.
The new order does not allow all businesses to reopen. Meeting rooms, gyms, casinos, sports stadiums, and large cultural attractions including the Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis Aquarium, the Arch, Science Center, all museums, Stifel Theatre, the Fox, the Pageant, and similar large venues will remain closed under Phase I.
However, offices, hotels, retail services and malls, restaurants and bars, hair and nail salons, and churches will be allowed to reopen as long as they follow certain guidelines. Those include maintaining 6 feet of distance between employees and customers and abiding by the capacity regulations in the state's order. Similar to the county's order, employers will be required to provide their employees with masks, allow time for handwashing breaks, and screen employees for COVID-19 symptoms.
The city provided additional guidance for restaurants, including creating single-use menus and installing physical barriers when maintaining 6 feet of physical distance isn't possible.
St. Louis City's guidance for individuals is similar to the county's. It asks people to maintain 6 feet of distance in public and to wear a mask in public spaces, and doesn't allow for gatherings of more than 10 people.
You can read the full order here.
Update, May 8, 12:40 p.m.:
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson joined St. Louis on the Air host Sarah Fenske on Friday morning to talk about easing restrictions on city residents amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
Krewson said that the city would be releasing its official order soon, but that there would be some easing of restrictions beginning May 18. Also on Friday, St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page released a new order easing some restrictions in the county (those are listed below). Krewson said that while the city's new order wouldn't be identical to the county's, the recommendations would be similar.
Krewson said that the city has 13,000 COVID-19 tests, which have been distributed to federally qualified testing sites throughout the city. While the number of cases of COVID-19 is not steadily declining, Krewson said that the city is focused on rates of hospitalization and that there is a downward trend of people being hospitalized. "We have tamped down the spread because of the goodwill of the people in this region," Krewson said.
Still, the mayor urged, even after May 18, people over 65 and those with underlying health conditions should stay home as much as possible. Those who are able to work remotely should do so.
As for specifics about what the new city order could look like, Krewson gave some hints. Restaurants will be allowed to open, but they must space tables 6 feet apart, and employees must wear masks. Customers will be encouraged to wear masks, and businesses can refuse service to those who aren't wearing them.
Large venues like the Saint Louis Zoo, the new St. Louis Aquarium, The Saint Louis Art Museum, and the Arch will not be able to reopen. However, Kreson said, the city will be working with those large attractions to create a plan for reopening.
The city will be relying on the Center for Disease Control guidelines for childcare providers and daycares, and the mayor encouraged parents to review those guidelines to ensure providers are following them.
Update: May 8, 9:45 a.m.:
On Friday, St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page announced that beginning May 18, the county would begin to lift restrictions on business operations due to COVID-19. A state of emergency was declared in the county on March 13, with crowds of more than 10 people prohibited and restaurants ordered to close their dining rooms. Now, some of those restrictions will lift in mid-May.
Page's order stated that to date, COVID-19 "infection and hospitalization rates have not shown sustained decrease in all areas." Testing, the order stated, is still limited. Although a trial of remdesivir has shown to lessen the recovery time of COVID-19 patients, there is still no vaccine. "As such," the order stated, "it is imperative that St. Louis County continue to provide restrictions on individual behaviors, businesses practices, and gatherings to protect the public." There have been 244 cumulative COVID-19 deaths in St. Louis County.
So what will the new restrictions look like? Even after May 18, St. Louis County residents are still encouraged to stay at home when possible to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Gatherings of more than 10 people—be it indoors or outdoors—are still prohibited. St. Louis County residents over the age of 2 are encouraged to wear masks in any public indoor space, including on public transit, and outside when 6 feet of distance cannot be maintained between people. Businesses may deny entry to customers not wearing face masks.
As far as business requirements, Page is ordering owners to:
- Frequently disinfect high-touch surfaces
- Provide breaks for employees to wash their hands
- Provide employees with face coverings or the supplies to make them
- Require employees to wear those face masks while working
- Screen employees daily for COVID-19 symptoms
- Encourage employees to quarantine at home if they do show COVID-19 symptoms or have come into contact with someone who has the virus
In keeping with Governor Mike Parson's reopening order, Page's order states that businesses with a square footage of less than 10,000 feet must limit the number of customers inside to 25 percent or less the fire or building code occupancy. For businesses over 10,000 square feet, capacity is limited to 10 percent or less.
Businesses must also install physical barriers between customers and employees in areas such as checkout lines; prohibit customers from using reusable bags; offer contactless payment, pickup, and delivery where possible; and offer special hours of service for those at higher risk for adverse COVID-19 illness if possible.
Page's order stated that some businesses will not be allowed to reopen except for essential work such as maintaining inventory or performing payroll duties. Those businesses include: entertainment, conference, and sporting venues; gyms and fitness centers; banquet rooms; bars; indoor and outdoor pools; sports courts, and playgrounds.
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson is expected to make an announcement regarding the city's stay-at-home order later on Friday.
Update, May 6, 10:30 a.m.:
In a press conference on Wednesday morning, St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page said that he and St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, with guidance from public health departments, have targeted May 18 as the day to begin easing public health orders.
Many businesses will be able to reopen, and their employees will be required to wear masks. Page also said they are asking everyone in public to wear masks and stay 6 feet away from others, but masks are not mandatory. St. Louis County businesses are to receive guidelines on what reopening will look like for their industry later this week.
Page said leaders are watching testing, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, ventilator usage, and hospital admissions as they consider when and how to reopen the city and county.
"We must get our economy going again, we understand that, but first priority will be to save lives, to protect the health and welfare of our community," Page said. "That's how we're going to drive this question moving forward, and we have to move forward in a responsible manner. If we move too quickly, we know what can happen: We can have a second wave and it can be much worse than the first wave. More lives lost and a much more devastating economic impact than what we're already experiencing."
As of May 5, there were 3,569 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in St. Louis County. There have been more than 1,300 people released from isolation and 189 people who have died due to complications related to COVID-19.
Update, May 5, 6 p.m.:
Mayor Lyda Krewson and St. Louis County Executive Sam Page announced that they're working together to gradually reopen and ease public health restrictions in St. Louis City and County, aimed to begin on May 18.
In conversation with KMOV, Krewson said the opening would a soft opening and eased into, with residents continuing to social distance, wear masks, and wash hands, "because we know there is no vaccinee for COVID, and we know we have a lot of community spread."
Krewson said they would have specifics on the reopening plan in the next day or so.
Update, April 16, 3:50 p.m.:
Missouri Governor Mike Parson has extended the statewide stay-at-home order until May 3.
Update, April 16, 12 p.m.:
St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page announced on Thursday that the county's stay-at-home order due to COVID-19, set to expire April 22, would be extended. In a tweet, Page did not say when the new order would expire, only that he would re-evaluate in May.
As of Thursday, there were 1,978 cases of COVID-19 in St. Louis County. There were 82 new cases in the past 24 hours, and 63 total deaths.
You can access more information about COVID-19 stats in St. Louis County at stlcorona.com.
Also on Thursday, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson announced that the city's stay-at-home order would be extended. In a Facebook post, Krewson said that more details would be coming at 2 p.m.
Update, April 9, 11 p.m.:
On Thursday, St. Louis City reported a total of 565 cases of COVID-19 and 13 deaths due to the virus. St. Louis County reported 1,337 cases and 28 deaths. Both the city and county have released websites with up-to-date information on the number of cases and deaths, cases by date, cases by ZIP code, and more. The county's website can be accessed here. The city's website can be accessed here.
This week, BJC HealthCare, Mercy, SSM Health, and St. Luke's health care systems announced that they are collaborating to form the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force. The task force was created in the anticipation of a surge of COVID-19 patients who will need care in St. Louis–area hospitals. It's working to coordinate "capacity, staffing, supplies, and other issues to prepare." It is also coordinating with elected leaders and public health departments. Dr. Alex Garza, the chief medical officer of SSM Health, is leading the new task force.
In a Thursday press conference, Garza said that he expects the surge of COVID-19 cases to come in two to three weeks.
You can follow the Pandemic Task Force on Facebook here. And you can watch the full press conference below:
Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced on Thursday that all schools in the state would remain closed through the end of the academic year.
Washington University also announced that it will be conducting a clinical trial of three medications for the treatment of COVID-19. The drugs, donated by Express Scripts, are the antimalarial medications chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine and the antibiotic azithromycin.
Wash. U. plans to enroll 500 patients hospitalized at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
Update, April 3, 5:15 p.m.:
On Friday, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced in a press conference a statewide stay-at-home order beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, April 6, and lasting until Friday, April 24, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Under the order, all Missourians must avoid leaving their homes and limit social gatherings to 10 people or fewer. Schools must also remain closed.
As of Friday, Missouri had given 24,000 COVID-19 tests; there have been 2,113 positive cases in the state, with more than half of positive cases in the St. Louis region. Parson said that 22 percent of positive cases have required hospitalization, and there have been 19 deaths in Missouri. The state's COVID-19 death rate is below 1 percent.
"There comes a time when we have to make major sacrifices in our lives. Many of us make sacrifices every day. But now more than ever, we must all make sacrifices," Parson said. "This is not about any one individual person. This is about our families, our friends, and our neighbors. This is about the entire state of Missouri. This state is made up of winners, and to win this battle against COVID-19, it's going to take each one of us doing our part, and putting out our best. Our actions today will determine the future. So for the sake of all Missourians, be smart, be responsible, and follow this order. Stay at home, Missouri.
You can watch the full press conference here:
Update, March 31, 12:30 p.m.:
On Tuesday, Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services reported 1,031 cases of COVID-19 in the state. There had also been 13 deaths in Missouri. St. Louis County reported 366 positive cases and three deaths, most recently a 50-59-year-old woman with chronic medical conditions. St. Louis City reported 91 cases and one death.
The city of St. Louis announced additional closures of roads in area parks. "Effective immediately, all roads inside O’Fallon Park, Willmore Park, Fairground Park, and Carondelet Park (except for Loughborough Drive to Grand Drive/Holly Hills), will be closed to traffic until at least April 22," read a release. The following roads in Forest Park are also closed:
- Government Drive from Wells Drive to Washington Drive
- Fine Arts Drive from Government Drive to Lagoon Drive
- Lagoon Drive from Fine Arts Drive to DeBaliviere Circle
Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced on March 27 that the Missouri National Guard will begin assisting with COVID-19 response.
Update, March 26, 10 a.m.:
As of Thursday, there were eight deaths due to coronavirus, or COVID-19, in Missouri. There are 356 reported cases in the state. There are 53 cases in the city of St. Louis and 119 cases in the county.
Update, March 24, 12:15 p.m.:
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services on Tuesday loosened restrictions for novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, testing, leaving it to physicians' discretion who should be tested. This falls into line with the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria.
Update, March 23, 9:40 p.m.:
St. Louis City and St. Charles County both reported the first novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, deaths. In the city of St. Louis, the patient was a woman in her thirties. In St. Charles County, the patient was a man in his seventies.
In a release, Dr. Fredrick Echols, director of health for the City of St. Louis, said: “This tragic loss to our community is a reminder that no one is immune to getting COVID-19. Anyone, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status can get infected if they are exposed. For this reason, everyone must protect themselves, their family, friends and colleagues, by following the preventive measures and social distancing guidelines."
St. Louis County reported an increase to 90 positive cases, up from Sunday's 55. The city of St. Louis reported 22 cases.
Also on Monday, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced the Missouri capitol would shut down for at least two weeks.
Update, March 22, 9:15 p.m.:
As of Sunday, St. Louis County was reporting 55 cases of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, and clear evidence of community spread. St. Louis City reported 14 cases, and the state of Missouri reported 106 cases and three deaths, with one being a woman from St. Louis County.
Also this weekend, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, and Missouri Governor Mike Parson issued new social distancing and stay-at-home orders. Local officials are requiring St. Louisans to stay at home except when grocery shopping or picking up carryout, visiting the doctor's office or pharmacy, or working at essential jobs.
Parson has prohibited gatherings of more than 10 people across the state.
Update, March 21, 1:15 p.m.:
Local leaders in St. Louis City and County announced a new "stay at home" order in an effort to slow the spread of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson announced on Saturday that beginning Monday, city residents would be required to stay at home except when going to the grocery store or pharmacy, visiting the doctor's office, picking up carryout from a restaurant, taking a walk outside, or going to work.
St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page announced the same order.
Update, March 20, 8:50 p.m.:
The number of positive cases of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, in Missouri has jumped to 73. There are seven cases in the city of St. Louis and 10 cases in the county. One patient in the county, a woman in the age range of 60–69 with an underlying health condition, was the first death in St. Louis.
The county has launched a text alert system to keep residents aware of developments. Text STLOUISCOALERT to 67283 to sign up for the alerts.
Update, March 19, 8:50 p.m.:
The City of St. Louis is reporting three new presumptive positive cases of coronavirus, or COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the city to five. The county is reporting five new cases, bringing the total to 10.
Also on Thursday, St. Louis–area hospitals canceled elective procedures in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 and conserve resources.
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson shared a list of resources for those with food insecurities, in need of help with their utilities, and more. That list can be found below:
Update, March 18, 9:05 p.m.:
As of Wednesday, there were five positive cases of coronavirus, or COVID-19, in St. Louis County, according to the St. Louis County Department of Public Health. One test was confirmed on Wednesday, a patient in the 30–40 age range whose case was travel related.
Elsewhere, two Washington University doctors tested positive for COVID-19.
The state of Missouri also reported its first death related to COVID-19, in Boone County. The patient was in their sixties and had recently traveled outside the country.
Update, March 18, 3:22 p.m.:
On Wednesday, Mayor Lyda Krewson announced that the city is restricting gatherings of people over 10 to try and prevent community spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19.
Update, March 18, 11:10 a.m.:
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson announced a second case of coronavirus, or COVID-19, in the city on Wednesday. With this case, Krewson said, there is reason to believe there was community exposure. The mayor said that the patient went to work in the city with symptoms. There have been no instances of community exposure to date.
Update, March 17, 7:40 p.m.:
The St. Louis County Department of Public Health announced that it had been notified of a fourth positive coronavirus, or COVID-19, test result. The patient is 60–70 years old, and it's unknown at this time whether it was spread by travel or person-to-person transmission.
Update, March 17, 4:47 p.m.:
On Tuesday, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page announced that by midnight on Thursday, restaurants in the city and county would be required to operate by curbside, carryout, and/or delivery service only. Dining rooms would temporarily close.
St. Louis Magazine has been collecting a list of restaurants that are temporarily closed. You can find that list here.
Update, March 16, 6:47 p.m.:
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson announced on Monday that St. Louis City has its first presumptive positive case of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.
On Saturday, the patient, who had been traveling abroad and felt unwell, arrived back in St. Louis, called a medical professional, was forwarded to the city's department of health director Dr. Fredrick Echols, and went in for testing. Krewson said that the patient, in their twenties, tested positive and went directly home and has been quarantined since.
St. Louis County also announced a third case of COVID-19. The case is international travel–related, and the patient is in the 50-60 age range. There are currently three cases in the county.
Update, March 16, 6:10 p.m.:
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson is expected to give a press conference with the city's department of health director Dr. Fredrick Echols, at 6:45 p.m. Monday. The conference can be streamed here:
St. Louis Magazine has started a list of cultural institutions and tourist attractions that are temporarily closed. That roundup can be found here.
Update, March 16, 2:09 p.m.:
On Monday, St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson announced that the St. Louis Housing Authority will temporarily cease evictions to make sure that the St. Louis population has housing amid the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, outbreak. There remain only two positive confirmed cases in St. Louis County. There are no cases in St. Louis City.
Update, March 16, 11:03 a.m.:
Governor Mike Parson announced that the number of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, cases in Missouri has reached six. Two are in St. Louis County, two are in Greene County, one is in Henry County, and one is to be determined.
Also on Monday, the Saint Louis Zoo announced it would be temporarily closing to prevent the spread of the virus.
Update, March 15, 10:14 p.m.:
Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced that he is urging Missourians to cancel or postpone gatherings of more than 50 people, with the exception of schools, daycares, and businesses. The announcement came on the same night St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page instituted the same ban, effective immediately, on gatherings in St. Louis City and County.
Update, March 15, 8:40 p.m.:
Officials from St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, St. Clair County, and Madison County have announced that they are recommending that private, public, charter, and parochial schools in those areas close by at least Wednesday to prevent the spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19.
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page, St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann, St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern, and Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler recommended that schools close until further notice. The recommendation will be evaluated by April 3.
The five officials also announced a ban, effective immediately, on events and gatherings of more than 50 people. That ban is expected to last eight weeks.
On the same night, St. Louis City and County schools announced a swath of closings from March 18 to April 3. Those include:
- Affton School District
- Archdiocese of St. Louis Schools
- Bayless School District
- Brentwood School District
- School District of Clayton
- Ferguson-Florissant School District
- Hancock Place School District
- Hazelwood School District
- Jennings School District
- Kirkwood School District
- Ladue School District
- Lindbergh Schools
- Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District
- Mehlville School District
- Normandy School District
- Parkway School District
- Pattonville School District
- Ritenour School District
- Riverview Gardens School District
- Rockwood School District
- St. Louis Public Schools (including charters)
- University City School District
- Valley Park School District
- Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation
- Webster Groves School District
Update, March 15, 10:58 a.m.:
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has announced a fifth case of coronavirus, or COVID-19, in Greene County. The case is travel-related.
On Saturday, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page announced that Spire, Missouri American Water, and Ameren would not be shutting off utilities due to late payments in order to provide hot water and other necessities for sanitation purposes.
The Ferguson-Florissant School District announced that schools would be closed March 18 through April 3.
Update, March 14, 5:49 p.m.:
On Friday, the St. Louis County Department of Public Health provided an update on the number of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, cases in the county:
- There are 13 tests with pending results.
- Ten tests sent were sent Friday, March 13, and two on Saturday, March 14.
- Nine tests returned with negative results.
- There is one presumptive positive test, reported on Friday.
- There is one positive case confirmed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), reported on March 7.
The county is building a team to create and review policies for combating coronavirus. Rob Gatter, a professor of health management and policy at Saint Louis University, and Jason Purnell, an associate professor at the Washington University’s Brown School, are two experts that have joined the team.
Anyone with a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, or who believe they've come into contact with someone who has COVID-19, should contact the St. Louis County Health Line at 314-615-2660.
For general questions about COVID-19, call 2-1-1.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has also set up a hotline: 877-435-8411.
Update, March 13, 6:12 p.m.:
In a release, the St. Louis County Department of Public Health announced that it has been notified of a second presumptive positive case of coronavirus, or COVID-19. The patient is a St. Louis County resident in the 50-60 age range.
The case is not related to the county's first positive case of COVID-19—a woman in her twenties who was traveling in Italy—and it is related to domestic travel. County officials do not release where the patient traveled. The specimen will be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation.
"Anyone identified during the investigation as a close contact or at risk of exposure to this patient will be contacted directly by the St. Louis County Department of Public Health," according to the release.
Update, March 13, 5:45 p.m.:
On Friday, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced at a news conference that he has signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency and announced that the number of presumptive positive coronavirus, or COVID-19, cases in Missouri is now four.
Of the two additional presumptive positive tests, Governor Parson said: "We are currently in the process of making notifications. We have no other details at this time."
As of Friday, Missouri has tested 94 people.
The state of emergency does not mean schools will close. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced Friday that schools in Illinois will close. Governor Parson said the decision for schools to close is a local one.
SSM Health announced that it is offering free virtual visits for Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, or Wisconsin residents worried they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or who think they may have been exposed to the virus. According to the release, anyone living in those states is eligible for a free evaluation regardless of insurance or whether they're an SSM Health patient. The free evaluation can be accessed from SSM Health's website.
Update, March 13, 12:15 p.m.:
On Friday, in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), St. Louis County Executive Sam Page announced a state of emergency in the county and a ban on gatherings larger than 250 people there. The ban will begin at 5 p.m. tonight.
"This is a strategy that has worked before in history, and I believe it's necessary now," Page said at a press conference held at the county's emergency operations center. "We hope that everyone will exercise common sense and goodwill."
Page urged St. Louisans to practice good hygiene and to stay at home if feeling sick. He recognized the difficulty in missing work, stating that he's recommended that the county's Civil Service Commission adopt new, more flexible, but temporary leave policies for county employees for COVID-related illness.
Page also said that the county is working to help the unhoused during the COVID-19 outbreak.
You can watch the press conference below:
Mercy also announced that it is opening a COVID-19 drive-through testing site in Chesterfield. The site is scheduled to open Saturday at the earliest. You can read about the new testing site and the requirements to access it here.
Update, March 12, 9:02 p.m.:
The XFL football league, St. Louis' newest professional sports franchise, announced that it will no longer play its regular-season games. In a statement, it said that: "However, all players will be paid their base pay and benefits for the 2020 regular season. All XFL ticket holders will be issued refunds or credit toward future games. The XFL is committed to playing a full season in 2021 and future years."
Update, March 12, 6:16 p.m.:
On Thursday, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced details about the state’s second presumptive positive case of coronavirus, or COVID-19. A patient from Springfield in their twenties, who had recently traveled to Austria, tested positive. The case is travel-related. The specimen will now be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation. The patient is quarantined at home, officials said. Officials will be reaching out to anyone who may have had contact with the patient.
Parson said that, to date, 73 people in Missouri have been tested for COVID-19, and 71 people have tested negative. There have been only two presumptive positive cases, this most recent test, and a woman in her twenties from St. Louis County whose presumptive positive test was confirmed this week by the CDC.
Both of the cases were travel-related; so far, there have been no community, or person-to-person, cases in Missouri.
“We knew this was coming,” Parson said. “And we are taking every precaution we can.”
A state of emergency has not been declared in the state. Missouri will receive $13 million in federal funding that will go toward response efforts, Parson said.
Update, March 12, 5:50 p.m.:
As of Thursday, the St. Louis County Department of Public Health has three coronavirus, or COVID-19, test results pending. "Four people are currently being monitored for travel-related exposure and three people for potential local exposure," a release stated.
Update, March 12, 5:30 p.m.:
Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced on Wednesday that the state has its second presumptive positive case of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. The location and further information on the patient were not immediately available. The governor is scheduled to hold a press conference at 6 p.m. with more details.
Update, March 12, 3:48 p.m.:
Mayor Lyda Krewson announced on Thursday that due to novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, a public health emergency has been declared in St. Louis City and that gatherings of more than 1,000 people are prohibited.
There is still only one confirmed case of COVID-19, in St. Louis County.
Major League Baseball also announced today that Opening Day will be postponed by at least two weeks.
Update, March 12, 1:33 p.m.:
The National Hockey League has suspended its season. The St. Louis Blues were scheduled to play home games Friday and Sunday.
Update, March 11, 6:04 p.m.:
St. Louis County residents who have questions about coronavirus, or COVID-19, should refer to these two phone numbers:
Update, March 11, 6 p.m.:
The Metropolitan St. Louis St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee has announced that due to coronavirus concerns, it is postponing its run and parade in downtown St. Louis until later this year. For an updated list of St. Patrick's Day events, please see our story here.
Update, March 11, 2:05 p.m.:
Washington University has announced that it is suspending on-campus classes until April 30. It is also extending spring break until March 23. Classes will then be held online.
Update, March 11, 12:05 p.m.:
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization announced that novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, can now be characterized as a pandemic.
Update, March 10, 9:14 p.m.:
Fredrick Echols, the director of the Department of Health for the City of St. Louis, released the following statement about New City School, which was closed on Tuesday while a parent of a student was undergoing testing for coronavirus, or COVID-19:
"I am grateful the COVID-19 test results received this afternoon were negative and the parent of a New City School student is no longer under quarantine. Classes at New City School will resume tomorrow, Wednesday, March 11. At the same time, the City of St. Louis Department of Health will continue its efforts to protect the health of residents and visitors to the City."
There are no positive cases in St. Louis City; there is one in St. Louis County, a woman in her twenties who was studying abroad in Italy and who is under quarantine at her parents' home in Ladue.
Echols said that the public can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by washing hands regularly; using hand sanitizer when soap and water are unavailable; avoiding touching areas like the eyes, nose, and mouth; and staying home when sick.
Update, March 10, 7:09 p.m.:
Saint Louis University announced that in-person classes on the campus will be suspended for the week of March 15. The university remains open, said University President Fred P. Pestello, and online classes will not be affected. The university is also suspending all nonessential travel.
Update, March 10, 7:01 p.m.:
The first and only presumed positive case of coronavirus, or COVID-19, in Missouri has been confirmed positive by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a release from St. Louis County's Department of Public Health. The patient is a woman in her twenties who had been traveling abroad in Italy and is quarantined in her family's home in Ladue. County officials ask that anyone experiencing fever, a cough, or difficulty breathing, and have been traveling abroad or has reason to believe they might have come into contact with someone who has been traveling, call 314-615-2660. The hotline is experiencing a high call volume, and callers might be prompted to leave a voicemail. Calls will be returned.
Update, March 10, 5:54 p.m.:
Zac Brown Band has suspended its spring tour in response to COVID-19. The band was scheduled to play Enterprise Center on Thursday.
Update, March 10, 4:47 p.m.:
Mercy has launched a network of specialists available by telephone to talk to those who feel ill and think they might have COVID-19. That number is: 314-251-0500.
Update, March 10, 3:57 p.m.:
Citing the "national coronavirus epidemic," Maryville University has announced that for two weeks beginning March 16, it will hold classes online.
Update, March 10, 1:40 p.m.:
According to a press release, the St. Louis County Department of Health will now require all EMS workers to wear "full personal protective equipment (PPE) when responding on medical calls with flu like or respiratory symptoms."
PPE includes gloves, masks, gowns, and eye protection. On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed protocol, requiring the highest level of protection, from coronavirus, or COVID-19, for vulnerable populations. According to the news release, PPE is "a routine component of the EMS infectious disease protocol."
Update, March 10, noon:
On Saturday, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced the state’s first presumptive positive coronavirus test result, from a young woman who had recently traveled abroad in Italy—and on Sunday, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page announced that the woman’s father and younger sister, who had been at home with the patient, had broken self-quarantine and attended a father-daughter dance at the Ritz in Clayton. Now the family’s lawyer is saying that the rest of the family was not told to quarantine by county health officials.
Attorney Neil Bruntrager told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the family was instructed by the county to only quarantine the daughter who had been showing symptoms. She was taken to a Mercy hospital on Friday for testing.
At a Sunday press conference, Page stated that the family had been told to self-quarantine.
Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School, where the younger daughter is a student, was closed on Monday.
In addition to the Ritz, the father also visited Deer Creek Coffee. The Ritz was undergoing cleaning, and Deer Creek had been cleaned.
Elsewhere in St. Louis, Mayor Lyda Krewson shared a statement from Dr. Fredrick Echols, the city’s health director, that a New City School parent was being tested for COVID-19. The school was closed on Tuesday, and the family was not at school on Monday. Echols said that the entire family had been ordered to self-quarantine, and New City School, which serves as a polling place for today's presidential primary, had been cleaned. (You can read more about how St. Louis County is preparing for the primary in the wake of COVID-19 here.)
On Monday, Bayer announced that it was also temporarily closing its Creve Coeur campus due to an employee who was being tested for COVID-19.
As of Monday night, the state of Missouri had tested 35 people for COVID-19. There had only been one presumptive positive result.
Original story:
On March 7, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced that a Missouri patient had tested “presumptive positive” for the novel coronavirus—or COVID-19—the state’s first case. The patient is a young woman from St. Louis County who had recently traveled to Italy.
At a Saturday press conference, Missouri officials said that the patient was self-quarantined at home with her family while symptomatic and the test has been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation.
However, on Sunday, officials stated that two members of the woman’s family—her father and younger sister—left the home Saturday night to attend an event at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton. Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School, where the patient’s sister is a freshman, canceled school Monday.
According to the CDC, COVID-19 is a new virus that is thought to spread person to person, by close contact (about 6 feet) or through respiratory droplets. Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath two to 14 days after exposure. The outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. As of Sunday night, there were 21 coronavirus fatalities and 547 confirmed cases in the United States; however, the CDC reports that, “for most people, the immediate risk of being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low. This virus is not currently widespread in the United States.”
In a Saturday press conference with St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, U.S. Representative Ann Wagner, and representatives from the medical field, Parson said that the patient who tested presumptive positive first contacted the county on March 5.
“The case is travel-related,” Parson said.
Page—a medical doctor—further emphasized that the virus was not community acquired, and that the woman, who attends an out-of-state college, had returned to St. Louis earlier that week after studying abroad in Italy. The woman's name, as well as the region of Italy where she was staying, is currently unknown. On Monday, she flew into Chicago O’Hare International Airport before taking Amtrak Train 303 home on Wednesday. The patient had a fever and respiratory issues, called the county’s public health department hotline, and received instructions to go to a Mercy hospital in Creve Coeur for testing.
“Health care personnel used the proper procedures and equipment to keep the patient away from others and protect themselves against the virus,” Page said.
Because the patient was not ill enough to be hospitalized, she was released and told to self-quarantine at home with her family. After she no longer has symptoms, her quarantine will last an additional 14 days.
The health department was interviewing the patient in order to identify others who might have been in contact with her.
“The student and her parents have assured us that they have not left their home since she became symptomatic a few days ago except for the trip to the hospital to be tested,” Page said. “The parents are both asymptomatic, but they’re being monitored at home and will be self-quarantined.”
You can watch the Saturday press conference here:
However, at a Sunday press conference, Page updated the public with the news that the patient’s father and younger sister, a freshman at Villa Duchesne, had attended a father-daughter dance at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton on Saturday night. The family, along with the patient, had been instructed to self-quarantine at their home in Ladue, Page said.
Page called it a tale of two reactions. Of the patient, he said, “From everything we know, the patient did follow the health department’s instructions.” However, he said, “The patient’s father did not act consistently with the health department’s instructions; instead, last night, he decided to take his other daughter to a school function.” The county government learned the news on Sunday.
Page said that the county health director told the patient’s father he must stay at home. If the family doesn’t comply, the county could issue a formal quarantine, which would require the family to stay at home through force of law.
You can watch the Sunday press conference here:
On Sunday, a Twitter user posted a screenshot of what appears to be an email from Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School, informing parents of the incident and closing school on Monday.
Amtrak also released a statement Sunday, communicating that it was working to notify passengers and employees who might have been on Train 303. It has also taken that train out of service for cleaning and disinfection.
Page advised St. Louis County residents to remain calm but use caution—wash your hands for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol; limit contact with sick people; and should you experience symptoms, self-quarantine and contact county health officials at 314-615-2660.
More information can be found at stlcorona.com.
