In the wake of St. Louis County's first case of coronavirus, county election officials are preparing for tomorrow's primary

"The main point of contact voters have with the election equipment is the stylus they use to sign the electronic poll book."

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In the wake of a St. Louis County woman testing presumptive positive for the coronavirus, or COVID-19, the St. Louis County Board of Elections is preparing for tomorrow's presidential primary by dispatching hand sanitizer to all polling locations and advising poll workers to sanitize equipment regularly. 

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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 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.” Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced Saturday that a young woman who had been studying abroad in Italy is the state's first case. 

Eric Fey, the democratic director of elections for St. Louis County, says that "the main point of contact voters have with the election equipment is the stylus they use to sign the electronic poll book." Fey will be instructing workers to disinfect that stylus throughout the day, to use hand sanitizer regularly, and "just, in general, to follow good hygiene practices that health officials have been saying about hand washing."

St. Louis Magazine also reached out to the city's Board of Election Commissioners, but no one was immediately available to comment. 

To prevent the spread of coronavirus, the CDC recommends: 

  • Washing your hands frequently with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. 
  • Avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands.
  • Covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
  • Avoiding contact with sick people.
  • If you are sick, staying at home and avoiding contact with others.

If you think you might have COVID-19, you can call ahead to an urgent care or emergency department to receive instructions on where to go and when. 

St. Louis County has also launched a coronavirus website and hotline: 314-615-2660.

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