COVID-19 Coronavirus Information
Updated information regarding the novel coronavirus COVID-19, identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness
Contact
Reopening Questions:
RestartStLouis@stlouis-mo.gov
See a possible COVID-19 violation?
Report COVID-19 Violations
Seeking Rental/Mortgage Assistance?
St. Louis City CARES Program
COVID-19 Hotlines
City of St. Louis Department of Health
314-657-1499
Available Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm (Times updated 9/11/2020)
health@stlouis-mo.gov
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services - 877-435-8411
Available 7 days a week, 7am-9pm (Times updated 10/6/2020)
You can also visit the DHSS COVID-19 website.
Latest Updates
The City of St. Louis Department of Health will continue to update information on this website. We have also worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide additional information directly from the CDC in relation to COVID-19. Read the latest information from the CDC
Latest News
- Mayor Krewson Announces New Tiny House Community Village for Unhoused Individuals in the City of St. Louis
- Mayor Krewson Announces Availability of $1.25 Million in Additional CARES Act Funding for Small Businesses
- Mayor Krewson Announces Extension of City’s Temporary Outdoor Seating Permit Program
- Mayor Krewson’s Request for Additional CARES Act Funding to Support Families, Residents, and Small Businesses Approved
- Mayor Krewson to Request Additional CARES Act Funding
- Additional COVID-19 Testing Opportunities Available in South St. Louis
- Residents Encouraged to Practice a Safe and Socially Distant Halloween
- COVID-19 Testing Encouraged For Attendees of Motorcycle Event in Central Missouri
Emergency Orders
Health Commissioner's Order No. 15
Order number fifteen on 11/12/2020, regarding public gatherings shall become effective at 12:00 a.m. on November 14, 2020 and will continue to be in effect until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended..
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Health Commissioner's Order No. 14
Order number fourteen on 9/4/2020, extends Health Commissioner’s Orders 13 and shall become effective at 12:00 a.m. on September 8, 2020 and will continue to be in effect until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended..
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Health Commissioner's Order No. 13
Order number thirteen on 8/12/2020, amends and supplements previous Health Commissioner’s Orders 8, and 9 and rescinds Order No. 10 and 12 and shall become effective at 12:00 a.m. on August 13, 2020 and will continue to be in effect until September 7, 2020.
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City of St. Louis Case Counts
New Cases
New Hospital Admissions
% Staffed Inpatient Beds
Community Level
Community Transmission
US Confirmed Case Count
Updated November 17, 2020. Count provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Confirmed Cases: 11,136,253
- Deaths: 246,232
Missouri Confirmed Case Count
Updated November 17, 2020. Count provided by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
- Confirmed Cases: 248,886
- Deaths: 3,453
COVID-19 Financial Transparency Portal
The COVID-19 pandemic has lead the City of St. Louis to enter into agreements to provide shelter for the City's unhoused population. These documents, as well as a listing of financial expenditures is now available on the City's Financial Transparency Portal.
Visit the Financial Transparency Portal for COVID-19 agreements and expenditures
Frequently Asked Questions
The following information is also available in PDF form.
What is COVID-19?
Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a virus strain that was first detected in December 2019 and as of March 12, 2020, has been detected in many locations internationally and in all 50 of the United States. The virus, while having mild effects in most people, can cause severe illness and pneumonia in others such as the elderly or those with underlying medical conditions.
How does COVID-19 spread?
Health experts are still learning the details about how COVID-19 spreads from person to person. The most recent evidence points to infected people coughing and sneezing within six feet of a non-infected person. Other methods of transmission may include:
- close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
- touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes
- in rare cases, contact with feces
How severe is COVID-19?
Upwards of 80% of people infected recover after mild symptoms. Others, especially the elderly and those with serious chronic medical conditions, may experience more severe symptoms, including pneumonia that requires hospitalization and sometimes death.
What are the symptoms?
People who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 have reported symptoms that may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus:
- Fever
- Cough
- Difficulty Breathing
Who is at risk for COVID-19?
Currently, the risk to the general public for COVID-19 to cause severe illness is low. The CDC defines low risk as “Being in the same indoor environment (e.g., a classroom, a hospital waiting room) as a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time but not meeting the definition of close contact.”
Older adults and those with serious conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease and any condition that affects the immune system could be at higher risk. Additionally, travelers to and from certain areas of the world may be at increased risk. See wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel for the latest travel guidance from the CDC.
How to prevent getting COVID-19
Practicing correct handwashing skills with avoiding touching your face can protect you from COVID-19 and many other viruses. See the CDC’s “What You Need To Know About Handwashing” on YouTube for a quick review of proper handwashing techniques. There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19. To reduce the risk of other respiratory infections, especially the flu, you can help protect yourself and others by getting a flu vaccine. Everyday precautions range from avoiding close contact with people who are sick to avoiding touching high-touch surfaces in public such as elevator buttons, door handles, handrails and handshakes. Other steps include:
- avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
- avoid contact with people who are sick
- stay home while you are sick and avoid close contact with others
- cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing
Other steps you can do to protect yourself and your family:
- clean surfaces and objects that are touched frequently, including desks, doorknobs, railings, computer keyboards, phones, and toys.
- stay informed about the local COVID-19 situation
- keep informed about your child’s school and childcare attendance policies
- know your employer’s sick-leave policy
The CDC continues to stress concerns over international travel. As of March 12, 2020, the CDC recommends avoiding nonessential travel to China, Iran, South Korea, and Europe. Travel to Japan is a concern for older adults or those with chronic medical conditions. See wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel for the latest travel guidance from the CDC.
What do I do if I have Symptoms?
The flu and other respiratory infections, including COVID-19, have similar if not identical signs and symptoms. Individuals who think they are sick or getting sick should NOT report to work. Individuals should monitor for cough, shortness of breath, and fever and should practice social distancing to avoid the spread of any illness they may have. Individuals experiencing the described symptoms AND have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 should contact their health care provider by phone. Supply information about symptoms and when and how they had contact with a confirmed case. The health care provider may either suggest testing via a commercial lab or involve public health resources. Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms who are a contact to a case should not arrive at a health care provider or emergency room without contacting the provider or emergency room first.
How is COVID-19 treated?
There are no medications specifically approved for COVID-19. Most people with mild COVID-19 illness will recover on their own by drinking plenty of fluids, resting, and taking pain and fever medications. However, some cases develop pneumonia and require medical care or hospitalization.
The plasma obtained from the blood of people who recovered from COVID-19 (convalescent plasma) is being evaluated as treatment for patients with serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections.
Individuals who are fully recovered from a verified coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnosis can contact the health care institution in their area to be evaluated for eligibility.
View the list of health care institution participating in this work. maintained by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Stigma Related to COVID-19
Stigma and discrimination can occur when people associate an infectious disease, such as COVID-19, with a population or nationality, even though not everyone in that population or from that region is specifically at risk for the disease (for example, Chinese-Americans and other Asian-Americans living in the United States).
Stigma hurts everyone by creating more fear or anger towards ordinary people instead of the disease that is causing the problem. We can fight stigma and help not hurt others by providing social support. We can communicate the facts that being Chinese or Asian American does not increase the chance of getting or spreading COVID-19.
People—including those of Asian descent—who have not recently traveled to China or been in contact with a person who is a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 are not at greater risk of acquiring and spreading COVID-19 than other Americans.
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Related Documents
- 22nd Judicial Circuit COVID-19 Order 35 Extends the Moratorium on COVID-19 Related Evictions
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- COVID Vaccines and Research in the St. Louis Area
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- City of St. Louis 30 Day Action Report
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- COVID-19 Data By Zip Code for 4-1-2020
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- Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act FAQ
- 22nd Judicial Circuit COVID-19 Order 10
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- Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
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