ST. LOUIS (KMOX)-St. Louis City officials are checking out bars, clubs and restaurants this weekend, making sure they are requiring masks and social distancing.
Mayor Lyda Krewson says this follows increasing covid numbers, and reports that some establishments are ignoring the guidelines. "We have to do that," says Krewson. "We're trying everything possible not to pull back on reopening, because we know that if we have to pull back on the businesses that are open, we're going to put people out of work."
Meanwhile, the city has delayed plans to allow large venues to return to 100 percent capacity. It was hoping to do so Monday, however Health Director Dr. Fredrick Echols says the 75 percent capacity requirement will remain in effect until further notice.
The increasing number of cases is also prompting Jefferson County to require masks at all government buildings, as of Monday. The courthouse is enhancing restrictions after three people who work there tested positive for COVID-19.
Two Jefferson County Sheriff's office employees tested positive as did a lawyer within the past week.
The courthouse will go back to phase zero, where only certain cases, like orders of protection, juvenile proceedings and time sensitive matters, can be heard in person.
The City of St. Charles is encouraging those who were at the McNair Aquatic Facility on July 13 to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms.
The city says a lifeguard has tested positive, but because they were working outdoors in a lifeguard station, the risk of transmission is low. Other staff members who were in close contact with that lifeguard have been sent for testing and are quarantined until they get the results.
The city says all aquatic facilities have undergone an additional deep cleaning and sterilization and remain open.
The rising cases has the head of the Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force urging residents to take precautions. "I know, again, I must sound like a broken record," says Dr. Alex Garza, "but it's really important for everybody to understand."
Garza says he keeps saying the same things because illness and hospitalization trends keep going the wrong direction -- including the seven day rolling average of hospitalizations. "Today's (Friday's) average has now surpassed 200. It's at 2001. That's up 16 points from Wednesday and it's the first time we've been over 200 since the first week of June. Again, another sobering commentary."
He's lamenting the fact that people aren't listening to the warnings. "Your life and the life or your neighbors really depend on this. So, it's more important now than ever that everybody do those very simple things that we can do to prevent spread in the community."
Garza says it's now been two weeks since the mandatory mask orders went into effect in St. Louis City and County, he'll be watching to see what effect they have.