Dr. Alex Garza, while introducing a group of people who talked about their experiences with coronavirus, said: "If we continue down the path we're on right now ... things could potentially get much worse." He choked up when discussing the losses that the hospitalization numbers represent.
ST. LOUIS — The recent surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases across the metro area may spur the city to tighten its restrictions to try to again reduce the spread of the virus, Acting Health Director Fredrick Echols said Thursday.
But Echols, speaking to an aldermanic committee, refused to say exactly what changes in the city's current emergency order are being considered and when they might be imposed.
"Right now it's on our radar because of the trajectory of not only what's happening in the city but in surrounding areas," Echols told the Health and Human Services Committee.
"So we are considering adding some additional mitigation measures but nothing in the immediate future. Nothing will likely change today."
Committee chairwoman Cara Spencer, who repeatedly tried without success to get Echols to elaborate, expressed concern at the lack of details being made public.
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"I'm not hearing any particulars," said Spencer, D-20th Ward.
"Letting the community know what may be on the table...would be enormously helpful. It's very frustrating to not have any idea what we may or may not be considering."
Releasing such information could help businesses and residents to prepare, said Spencer, who is running against Echols' boss, Mayor Lyda Krewson, in the Democratic mayoral primary next March.
Echols noted that a lot of the positive cases in the city are occurring not in businesses but in small social gatherings in private residences.
"Enforcing or limiting what happens in private homes can be very difficult," Echols said.
Echols said efforts are underway through schools to try to get college-age people to limit social gatherings. He said the highest percentage of people being diagnosed is in the 20 to 39 age group.
Asked by Spencer if officials anticipate area hospitals being overrun, Echols said hospitals have a "surge plan" in place.
On Wednesday, the Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force 72 new COVID-19 patients admitted to the area's four major hospital systems, the highest number since tracking began in early April.
The number of new admissions dropped to 52 in a report issued Thursday but that still was higher than on many days in recent months.
These maps and charts show the spread of COVID-19 in Missouri and Illinois.
