ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The St. Louis City Health Department is not imposing new COVID restrictions, but is making strong recommendations about how to stop the spread of the virus.
Health Director Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis says masks are required in all pubic facilities and businesses for the vaccinated and unvaccinated who are at least 5-years-old.
"The City of St. Louis Department of Health Department is strongly encouraging individuals and organizations to not hold social gatherings at this time, these events increase the risk of spreading COVID-19 throughout the community," Hlatshwayo Davis says.
Hlatshwayo Davis also encourages businesses to offer work from home options and incorporate antigen testing as part of their protocols.
For people who have contracted COVID, she recommends having an antigen test at five days after contracting COVID, and quarantining for 10 days.
She says the city is working to increase the supply of antigen tests and is also offering new COVID testing sites and a new partnership with Nomi Health on Delmar.
Try these links if you are looking for COVID testing sites:
• Nomi Health
• StLouisMo.gov
Davis says St. Louis Public Schools are in crisis and that she's been meeting weekly with school leadership since she took over the health department. But recently, the situation has become critical because schools are losing staffing capacity at an alarming rate due to COVID.
Hlatshwayo Davis says her new guidance will help schools "not only keep their staff and children safe, but will be able to do so in a way, that we hope, will keep schools open."
She says while antigen tests are difficult to come by for the general public, St. Louis Public Schools are receiving the tests from the state.
Hlatshwayo Davis says she's continuing to meet with stakeholders and make herself available to people who lack confidence in the COVID vaccine. Davis adds it's a two prong effort, education and messaging. She plans to hold a second town hall this month to reach that population.
She also has a word of warning about popup COVID testing sites. One was operating on Grand Boulevard. Davis says "the operation was not affiliated with the Department of Health or the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Serivces. After our investigation into the matter, we informed the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts of the site."
On Monday, KMOX reported on a non approved COVID testing site at Fairview Heights Mall that was not affiliated with the Illinois State run operation, also at Fairview Heights Mall. The group called themselves, "We the People", and required people to fill out forms that were asking for social security numbers.
KMOX reached out to Fairview Heights Police, but our calls were not returned.
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