ST. CHARLES — Organizers of a youth leadership event held in St. Charles say dozens of the participants tested positive for COVID-19 during or after the program.
The American Legion Auxiliary Missouri Girls State and American Legion Missouri Boys State sessions were held last week at the Lindenwood University campus in St. Charles. About 1,300 students participated, Missouri Girls State Director Macae Mickens and Missouri Boys State Director Brad Lear said in a joint statement.
Mickens and Lear said that between 2% and 3% of participants tested positive during or after the event.
“While an ideal outcome would obviously be zero cases of COVID, we do not believe that is a realistic expectation,” the statement said. “While we did have some instances of COVID, the cases of which we are aware remain well managed.”
Mickens and Lear said organizers contacted attendees’ families at the end of the week, and advised them to monitor for symptoms.
The event was attended by Gov. Mike Parson, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe and former U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, according to the Missouri Boys State Facebook page. One panel featured U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, U.S. Rep. Billy Long and U.S. Senate candidate Mark McCloskey.
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