ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - At least five members of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department have tested positive for COVID-19. There are also some 50 officers that have been quarantined for two weeks due to possible coronavirus infections, a source confirmed to KMOX.
St. Louis Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards declined to comment on the exact numbers of quarantined officers because that number changes so often as some officers come off of quarantine and others begin their separation.
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Most of the positive cases of COVID-19 have been linked to the headquarters building on Olive Street in downtown. Those five positive cases include both officers and some civilian workers.
The source that confirmed to KMOX the number of positive cases within the police department says, for now, the number of quarantined officers does not affect the department's ability to police the streets.
The city of St. Louis is reporting 19 deaths and 338 positive cases of coronavirus, as of Monday afternoon. In St. Louis County, there have been 56 deaths and 977 positive cases, according to the state.
Missouri reported 10 more deaths from COVID-19 Sunday, bringing the death toll to 34. However, a database operated by Johns Hopkins University has recorded 44 COVID-19 deaths in Missouri as of Sunday.
The increases come as Missouri residents prepare to live under a statewide stay-at-home order, which requires them to stay home except for essential needs, such as buying groceries. The order also requires public schools to stay closed, bans visits to nursing homes, and limits the number of customers allowed in grocery stores and other essential businesses.
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