St. Louis County Sees Slight Increase In Daily COVID-19 Cases – St. Louis Post-Dispatch

CLAYTON — St. Louis County on Monday was seeing an average of 273 new COVID-19 cases each day, a 30% increase from a week prior, officials say. 

The uptick follows a steady rise in coronavirus cases in recent weeks, shifting the county from a “low” risk category to a “medium” risk category under guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said the increase was not “a cause for alarm” and said the county was not eyeing any restrictions like mask mandates or occupancy limits. But health officials are monitoring the rise in cases and reemphasizing that masks, testing and COVID-19 vaccines help reduce the risk of infection and serious illness, he said.   

“There are times like today where we must pause and provide an update on the virus, especially when cases are rising steadily,” Page said. “This is not a cause for alarm, rather a reminder that COVID-19 is still very much among us and that there are ways to prevent catching it, spreading it, and getting very sick from it.” 

The St. Louis County Department of Public Health provides drive-thru COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses at health centers in Berkeley, Jennings and Sunset Hills. No appointments are necessary.

Health officials recommend people 50 and older get a second booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, if they have not received one already. 

The county also still recommends wearing a mask if someone is high-risk or lives with someone who is, Page said. That includes people who are not vaccinated against COVID-19, the elderly, people with other health complications, and children under five are not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccines.

Page said it was a “grim milestone.” 

“It’s a stunning number,” he said. “So many families touched by the virus, so many families each year marking anniversaries, birthdays and holidays without a loved one who was lost to the pandemic.”