St. Louis city and county enact stay-at-home orders, starting Monday
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and County Executive Sam Page on Saturday announced the county and city will implement stay-at-home orders starting Monday in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The restrictions, Krewson said in a tweet, still allow residents to meet basic needs and noted that essential services will still be provided, like groceries and pharmacies. She said the new restrictions require people to “stay at home when possible,” but did not provide further details.
“This was not, by any means, an easy decision. I wish I didn’t have to do this. It’s disruptive. It’s inconvenient. It’s stressful,” she wrote. “But we have evidence of community spread of COVID-19 and we need to take action to limit social mixing and safeguard our health care systems.”
In a follow-up tweet, Krewson said people may still leave their homes for carryout from bars or restaurants, to go to work for “most businesses,” to take a walk or exercise outside or for doctor appointments and other “essential activities.
“You should stay home, but you will still be able to go to the pharmacy, take your cat to the vet, and make your doctor appointment,” Page tweeted. “County parks will remain open. In fact, you should get outside to take a jog or go on a hike. But remember: social distancing.”
Lisa Clancy, chairwoman of the St. Louis County Council, said in a tweet that while some may not understand the order, it is necessary.
“Some may question the point of it, but my hope is that this means accountability for employers of non-essentials who have been reluctant to put the proper protections in place for their employees,” she said.
St. Louis County reported its first death from COVID-19 Friday night. The St. Louis County woman has been identified by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as Judy Wilson-Griffin, a nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital. St. Louis County had 17 COVID-19 cases as of Saturday while the city of St. Louis has reported seven positive cases.
The stay-at-home order comes as part of a collaboration with other leaders from St. Charles, Franklin and Jefferson County. Krewson said those counties are currently considering “additional” restrictions.
The order follows a shelter-in-place order Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted Friday for all of Illinois. The order began at 5 p.m. Saturday and lasts until April 7.
“If there are actions that I can take that will save lives in the midst of this pandemic, no matter how difficult, then I have an obligation,” Pritzker said. The Democrat said he was trying to prevent “potentially tens of thousands” of deaths but urged people not to panic.
As of Saturday afternoon, Illinois has reported six deaths from the virus.. The number of COVID-19 cases statewide as of Saturday was 753, which is an increase of 168 from the 585 reported on Friday. Last Saturday, the total number of cases in Illinois was at 64.
Like Krewson and Page, Pritzker emphasized that residents will still be able to make essential trips such as going to the grocery store, gas station, doctor, hospital or pharmacy, and crucial workers will still be able to do their jobs.
This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 12:20 PM.