COVID-19 Testing No Longer Required for Youth Sports in the City of St. Louis

While testing is no longer required, athletic administrators are encouraged to continue the practice to protect the health of anyone not vaccinated.

May 20, 2021 | 2 min reading time

This article is 3 years old. It was published on May 20, 2021.

Changes were made in the City of St. Louis to COVID-19 mitigation guidelines for youth sports on May 13th with the city rescinding its COVID-19 Health Commissioner’s Orders. Managers of youth sports programs and league officials are no longer required to implement COVID-19 testing in their athletic programs. Although, testing is no longer required, the City of St. Louis Department of Health is encouraging youth athletic program administrators to continue the practice to protect the health of those young people and instructors who have not been vaccinated due to personal choice and others not yet eligible to receive a vaccination. 

“It’s important that sports organizers, parents, and school athletic administrators remember that athletes remain at increased risk of spreading COVID-19 when participating in close-contact or indoor sports, says Dr. Fredrick Echols acting director of health for the City of St. Louis. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
recommends not engaging in close contact sports with those you do not live with. If you choose not to follow this recommendation the CDC recommends wearing a face covering, playing outdoors, staying at least 6 feet from others, avoiding crowds, and if you are eligible - getting vaccinated.” 

Along with continuing the practice of testing youth athletes the Department of Health is encouraging parents and youth sports official to follow CDC guidance to provide a safe and healthy environment for young athletes and to assist in reducing the spread of SARS CoV-2, the virus that cause COVID-19. 

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