ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - A state of emergency has been declared in St. Louis County and County Executive Sam Page says gatherings of 250 or more are prohibited.
"We need to err on the side of caution," Page said during a press conference on Friday with St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell and St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar.
The ban on organized events of 250 or more people begins at 5 p.m. Friday.
The City of St. Louis declared a public health emergency on Thursday and will prohibit events of 1,000 people or more.
St. Louis Health Department director Dr. Fredrick Echols says there will be a few exceptions like day to day activities at schools and churches.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is mandating events of 1,000 or more people be canceled or postponed immediately and requested that events of 250 people be canceled or postponed as well.