ST. LOUIS (KMOX/AP) - St. Louis County is increasing restrictions on youth sports as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise.
County Executive Dr. Sam Page estimates an average of 20 kids a day between the ages of 10 and 19 are getting covid - and contact tracing has determined youth sports are creating hot spots.
"Effective Monday, youth teams will only be able to practice and play with their own teams," said Page in a news conference. "There won't be any competitive play, and groups will be limited to ten or less. There will be no spectators and there will be no one gathered around to watch."
Page says it's not the sports themselves that are the problem, but the gatherings they encourage.
Roughly 700 kids under 19 in St. Louis have tested positive since the pandemic began -- with numbers sharply increasing lately.
It's unclear how long these restrictions will be in place -- when asked, Page responded the numbers "have to go in the right direction" before reconsidering.
There were 708 new confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in Missouri Thursday – a 36% increase from two weeks ago.
Related: St. Louis County considers reopening rollback amid COVID spikeRelated: St. Louis area schools prepare to announce reopening plans next week
St. Louis city officials are also considering whether to restore some restrictions to get back in control of coronavirus spread.
Mayor Lyda Krewson noted that "COVID numbers continue to not look very good" in announcing that meetings were taking place Wednesday and Thursday to discuss possible changes.
A primary driver of new COVID-19 cases is infections among teens and young adults, who experience milder symptoms and faster recovery, including outbreaks from youth sports.
In St. Louis County, there have been six to eight new cases of COVID-19 reported daily in people ages 10 to 19, county officials said. At least two high schools, Eureka and Kirkwood, have reported cases in student-athletes participating in football workouts.
"We know that gatherings of young people and adults around youth sports are the primary source of spread in the community," County Executive Sam Page said at a news briefing Wednesday.
Gov. Mike Parson has said he will not issue a statewide order requiring face coverings. But several cities are mandating them in an effort to reduce virus transmission. Among them is Springfield, where an ordinance took effect Thursday.
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