City of St. Louis and St. Louis County Take New Approach to COVID-19 Response

Personal Responsibility Will Be Relied On Moving Forward

May 14, 2021 | 2 min reading time

This article is 3 years old. It was published on May 14, 2021.

Due to the increase in the supply of COVID-19 vaccine and the on-going daily increase in the number of residents getting vaccinated in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County, both jurisdictions have rescinded their COVID-19 Health Commission’s Orders. Public health officials in the city and county are saying that trends and data reveal the metro area has reached significant benchmarks for new confirmed cases, new hospital admissions, total hospitalized patients and positivity rates. Residents are being reminded that the pandemic is not by any means over. The city and the county are simply at a place where a new strategy can be implemented.

The intent of the change in strategy is to ensure the maximum number of people and businesses take prudent precautions to reduce the exposure to, and slow the spread of, SARS CoV-2 the virus that causes COVID-19.

“We have arrived at a point in the pandemic where we have to lean more heavily on personal responsibility to prevent further spread of the virus,” says Dr. Fredrick Echols, acting director of health for the City of St. Louis. “The path to the end of the pandemic now relies heavily on individuals, academic institutions, places of worship and businesses.”

“Although our local strategy has changed we must remain vigilant in following the guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” said Dr. Faisal Khan, director health for Saint Louis County. “We are counting on residents, visitors, and the business community to take the lead in this effort.”

Each Department of Health is encouraging their residents, schools, and businesses to use the departments as a resource as they monitor and implement CDC guidelines to continue to slow the spread of SARS CoV-2 and other communicable diseases, and protect the health of our communities. 

Documents

Related Stories

  1. Department of Health Recommends Masking in Public after Respiratory Illness Data Shows Significant Increase Jan 04, 2024: The rapidly rising number of reported cases and hospitalizations suggests more precautions are necessary to avoid strain on the healthcare system.
  2. Learn about Trauma-Related Resources Through the City of St. Louis Department of Health’s First Instagram Live Dec 18, 2023: Tuesday's conversation will share ways to volunteer, access training and self-care kits, and support those faced with trauma-related issues.
  3. City of St. Louis Department of Health Recognizes World AIDS Day 2023 Nov 29, 2023: This event reminds us of the struggle to end HIV-related stigma, honors those lost, and rallies to commit to working toward ending the HIV epidemic.

Related Services

  1. Apply for Temporary Food Permits Instructions on how to apply for temporary food permits in the City of St. Louis
  2. Health Stop Testing and Referral Center Sexual health testing and referral services available four days a week at no cost.
  3. Obtain Medical Records Process for obtaining medical records from the Department of Health.
  4. Child Lead Screening Services Information on how to request and obtain lead screening services for children six and under
  5. Functional Needs Registry The Functional Needs Registry is a database containing information about individuals residing in the City of St. Louis who may require assistance in the event of an emergency.

Was this page helpful?      



Comments are helpful!
500 character limit

Feedback is anonymous.