Metro East COVID-19 Rates Cause Further Lockdown
A new set of restrictions on bars and restaurants in the Metro East region just outside of St. Louis kicked in Wednesday morning following a string of days with a COVID-19 positivity rate trending toward 10%. Meanwhile, some local officials say they tried to “plead the case” with Governor JB Pritzker’s office not to increase mitigation amid the latest outbreak.
Pritzker announced the new limitations on what is called “Region 4,” of the state’s 11 regions, consisting of Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, Randolph, Washington, Clinton, and Bond counties.
In a release Tuesday, the Governor’s office reported a current 7-day rolling test positivity average of 9.6%.
The crackdown mostly impacts bars and restaurants.
Bars
• No indoor service
• All outside bar service closes at 11:00 p.m. and may reopen no earlier than 6:00am the following day
• All bar patrons should be seated at tables outside
• No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)
• Tables should be 6 feet apart
• No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
• No dancing or standing indoors
• Reservations required for each party
• No seating of multiple parties at one table
Restaurants
• No indoor dining or bar service
• All outdoor dining closes at 11:00 p.m. and may reopen no earlier than 6:00 a.m. the following day
• Outside dining tables should be 6 feet apart
• No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting
• Reservations required for each party
• No seating of multiple parties at one table
Meetings, Social Events, Gatherings (including weddings, funerals, potlucks, etc.)
• Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity
• No party buses
• Gaming and Casinos close at 11:00 p.m., are limited to 25% capacity, and follow mitigations for bars and restaurants, if applicable
Indoor visitation in long-term care settings and off-site outings were, and will continue to be, prohibited under the additional mitigation measures.
In a briefing posted online Tuesday, Herb Simmons, St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Director, said the positivity rate is “stubborn” even though local business owners are operating as safely as possible.
“I know the business community is trying their best to be in [compliance].”
A group of Democrat lawmakers from the Metro East criticized the Governor’s decision.
Simmons says people in St. Clair County need to be vigilant.
“My concern is the Labor Day holiday coming up on us. If we look back on what happened around Memorial Day and the 4th of July, if we follow suit, those numbers are probably going to go up.”
In the same briefing, St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern said the public shouldn’t be discouraged about the setback but should still take precautions.
“We’re just going to have to continue to follow those guidelines. Wear a mask, wash your hands, watch the social distancing, and encourage others to do that.”
If the positivist rate does not fall below 6.5% or less over a 14-day period, the Governor’s office says it can enact more stringent mitigation to further reduce spread of COVID-19.
On Tuesday, St. Clair County officials said the daily positivity rate for the county was over 10%.