In a press conference Thursday, St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page announced restrictions to youth sports in the county. Page previously named gathering around the events as a primary source of COVID-19 spread during a Wednesday announcement.
Effective next Monday, July 20, the restrictions include that players will only be able to practice and play with their own teams; there will be no competitive play; groups will be limited to 10 or fewer people; and there will be no spectators.
Page said contact tracers in the county have noticed a trend of outbreaks tied to activities around youth sports. "Let me be clear: The youth sport is not the problem," Page said. "But because these sports bring people together, the activities that surround youth sports is a fertile ground for viral transmission. Kids practice together, they play together, they socialize together, they hang out on the sidelines."
The average number of new cases in the county is 20 per day, Page said. "This is going in the wrong direction," he added. "This is a trend that's dangerous in our country."
Page also said the county is still in conversation with school leaders, teachers, and public health experts on how to approach school in the fall, with health being the priority in guiding plans. He added that the public should expect more information from school districts next week. "I strongly encourage each school district to offer a virtual option to parents this fall," Page said, adding that he is asking districts to give parents ample notice of their back-to-school plans.
"I know virtual school is not ideal. Access to technology is not evenly distributed across the county," Page said, noting that the county government is working on addressing those gaps.
For children who will be physically in the classroom, Page said the county has distributed 74,800 masks to schools with more to come and will ensure schools have thermometers and screening processes in place. "We know that we can reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our school-age population," Page said.
