Restaurants, bars and banquet centers in St. Louis County can stay open a bit later, starting Monday.
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page announced that he’s extending the curfew to 11 p.m., a move he said is possible because proper health measures are in place at such establishments.
“Our restaurant owners say this will significantly increase the reservation capacity and make it easier for them to recover from this pandemic,” Page said at a press conference Sunday afternoon.
The county executive said his advisory groups are continuing to look at ways to gradually reopen the community, while protecting employees and customers from exposure to the coronavirus.
Page also announced that a coordinated effort between the county’s health department and SSM Health to vaccinate first responders will begin Monday.
As part of that effort, as many as 4,000 first responders, many of them police officers, will begin getting vaccinated at St. Louis University Hospital. So far, the county’s health department has vaccinated 4,744 people. Of those, 750 were first responders.
The vaccination rate in the county is going up, Page said, adding that there is still a long road ahead.
“I'm confident with the new administration in Washington we're going to see significant increases in vaccine availability, and together we will eradicate this pandemic.”
Page said he wants to get as many shots in residents' arms as possible and will continue to “nudge, prod and beg” federal and state governments for vaccine.
To continue the county’s mass vaccination efforts, a new site is expected to open by mid-week at the Florissant Valley campus of St. Louis Community College in Ferguson.
Residents must have an appointment based upon state eligibility tiers to receive a shot at the Ferguson vaccination center. Those who have registered will be notified about appointment details by the county’s health department.
On Saturday, about 1,800 city residents received the first dose of vaccine at Union Station, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The St. Louis Department of Health has vaccinated about 4,500 people.
Page said the county expects that 500 to 1,000 people will be vaccinated daily at the Ferguson site.
To pre-register for a vaccination appointment in St. Louis County, visit the St. Louis County Department of Health or send an email to dphcovidvaccine@stlouisco.com or call 314-615-2660. To pre-register for a vaccination appointment in St. Louis, visit the St. Louis Department of Health or call 314-612-5100.
Follow Andrea on Twitter: @drebjournalist
