On Wednesday, St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page gave an update about COVID-19 in the county, noting that health officials are monitoring rising cases in ages 10–29. In turn, the county is reevaluating its previously released sports guidelines about how children and adults should play sports, as Page points to gatherings at those events as a possible contributor.
“We know that gatherings of young people and adults around youth sports are the primary source of spread in the community,” Page said during the regularly scheduled briefing, noting that the county will know more about changes to guidelines this Friday.
On Tuesday, St. Louis County reported a single-day record of new confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 243 new positives, and reported 8,140 total cases and 892 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon.
According to the county's latest trend report, COVID-19 cases are highest among people ages 10–19 (11.7 percent) and 20-29 (10.2 percent). Cases in ages 20–29 have increased by 195 percent in the past two weeks, going from an average of 11 new cases per day to around 32.
Page also pointed to more tests being given, overwhelmed labs leading to delays in reported cases, and cases reported in batches as possible causes of the increase in COVID-19 cases.
Page said the county is reviewing previous guidelines, including ones for stores and restaurants, which are currently allowed to have up to 50 percent of normal capacity. He said the county is "not currently considering at all expanding that capacity limit. We’d like to continue our steady reopening but, of course, nothing will ever be normal until we have a vaccine, and we must follow these guidelines very closely.”
Page said the county will release guidelines for school reopenings on July 20, following data and conditions specific to St. Louis County, based on recommendations from pediatricians, school superintendents, and public health experts. "We will also be prepared to change those recommendations, should the data change," Page said.
