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DPH COVID-19 Update 7/17/2020

Due to a rise in the number of positive COVID-19 cases involving young people in St. Louis County,  the Department of Public Health has issued more specific guidelines effective Monday, July 20.

  • Jul 17, 2020
  • News & Updates

St. Louis County Department of Public Health COVID-19 Update July 17, 2020

 

Youth Sports Guidelines

Due to a rise in the number of positive COVID-19 cases involving young people in St. Louis County, the Department of Public Health has issued more specific guidelines effective Monday, July 20. Those guidelines, which can be found online here, include the following:

  • Youth teams will only be allowed to practice. No competitive play between teams or within teams will be allowed.
  • No more than 10 individuals, including coaches, are to participate in athletic activities in a single space, and all participants must remain at least six feet apart.
  • No spectators will be allowed during any team or practice session.

In total, 700 youths who have contracted COVID-19 in St. Louis County, and that number rises every day. As the investigations continue, there is data that reflects numerous positive cases stem from attending sporting events, participating in practices, or participating in social activities. Here are a few examples:

  • Two local high schools recently reported cases involving student athletes. One of which, resulted in placing 15 student athletes in quarantine while awaiting test results after one athlete tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Multiple St. Louis County youths and family members have tested positive after attending an athletic tournament outside of St. Louis County, including a 9-year-old athlete.
  • An alumnus of a local high school tested positive after attending basketball practice with current students. Now, 16 people who had contact with the person are in quarantine.

St. Louis County appreciates the full participation of the St. Louis Sports Medicine Task Force chaired by Dr. Jason Newland, which helped us write and revise the order and which not only endorsed it, but issued a separate order recommending the same steps. Any coach or school that learns that a student athlete has tested positive for COVID-19 must report it to the St. Louis County Department of Public Health. and the full order can be found online here.

Mask Posters

St. Louis County Department of Public Health has created signage that can be downloaded at stlcorona.com and printed. The signage is also attached. Please feel free to disseminate at your will. Additional languages are being drafted and will be available soon.

Contact Information

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services hotline can be reached at (877) 435-8411. St. Louis County COVID-19 website stlcorona.com.