Update: This story has been edited to reflect the updated information that county public school districts had previously agreed to announce reopening plans July 20.
On Monday, St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page gave an update on COVID-19 in the county, including an announcement that county school districts would be sharing plans for reopening schools on Tuesday. Although he didn’t share specifics about the plans, he said the school guidelines would be similar to the county's social distancing recommendations. Several public school districts then said that they would be sharing plans on July 20.
Page noted that the county’s largest number of COVID-19 cases are in younger populations, ages 10-30. While this age group doesn’t usually have some of the underlying conditions that exacerbate COVID-19’s effect on the body, Page noted, they do live with adults whom the virus could adversely affect.
As the county continues to open up, and children, teens, and young adults re-enter the community, Page encouraged them to social distance and to wear masks. Wearing a mask inside public places and outside when 6 feet of distance cannot be maintained is now mandatory in the county. Page noted that a feeling of invincibility might be contributing to the number of cases in this age group. “Please be responsible, protect those that you love, and remember all of us have to do our part,” he said.
The day before the mask mandate went into effect last week, the county’s public health department gave out 150,000 free masks. Those in need of a mask are now able to pick up one for free from the county’s 20 library branches. You can find a list of library locations here.
The county executive also gave an update on testing. The county is now able to test more than 1,000 people a day. The goal is to test 1,500 people a day. The county executive said that goal is now within reach, and three pop-up testing sites are opening Monday in the county. Appointments must be made through stlcorona.com. Those locations, dates, and times are:
1. July 11 & 12, 8 a.m.–noon
Hancock Place School District superintendent building
9417 S. Broadway
St. Louis, MO 63125
2. July 8 & 10, 8 a.m.–noon
Bellefontaine City Hall
9641 Bellefontaine
St. Louis, MO 63137
3. August 1 & 2, 8 a.m.–noon
Northside Seventh-day Adventist Church
9001 Lucas & Hunt
St. Louis, MO 63136
Page said that officials in the public health department have been working with school superintendents on plans for reopening schools in the fall. Public, parochial, and independent school superintendents in St. Louis County are scheduled to release socially distanced reopening guidelines to parents through normal modes of communication.
