St. Louis County takes new vaccine approach as demand for shots slows down
The county health department is focusing more on smaller vaccine events at community organizations, churches, businesses and labor unions Author: Dori Olmos Updated: 11:58 AM CDT May 5, 2021
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. St. Louis County is looking to fight vaccine hesitancy with a shift in strategy to get more shots into arms as demand for COVID-19 vaccines decreases.
The county health department is looking to partner with more community organizations to put on targeted vaccine events in neighborhoods. It’s a change from the focus of mass vaccination clinics.
Planter s House in Lafayette Square is currently at 50% capacity.
Because the requirement to space tables and parties 6 feet apart is still in place, owner Ted Kilgore feels like they can t bring in much more. Really, for us, it s not going to change much. We may be able to squeeze in a couple more seats here and there, Kilgore said.
It won t stay open too late either, just extending an extra hour to its closing time. During the week, it ll now be until 11 p.m. and on the weekends until midnight.
Rick Lewis, owner of Grace Meat + Three in the Grove, explained he ll stay around that 50% limit, too.
Curfew, capacity restrictions lifted at St. Louis area restaurants, but mask mandate stays Jacob Kuerth, Dori Olmos
Replay Video UP NEXT
Restaurants in St. Louis and St. Louis County will be able to reopen at full capacity beginning Monday after more than a year of coronavirus-related restrictions on capacity and hours of operation.
But don t expect businesses to be crowded at the levels they were before the pandemic.
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones made the announcements Monday morning during a joint news conference.
The capacity limit was lifted for businesses in both the city and county. However, all businesses must still allow for social distancing. At restaurants, for example, tables and parties need to be separated by 6 feet of distance. So, the business capacity is no longer limited by a percentage but is based on social distancing.
The CDC announced new guidelines Tuesday that fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear a mask outside, except in crowded settings, and they don t need to wear a mask during small outdoor gatherings with vaccinated family and friends, or while gathering with a mixture of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
The agency maintains stricter guidelines for people who are unvaccinated, and the CDC continues to recommend everyone wear masks at indoor public places, saying that is still the safer course, even for those who are vaccinated.
The announcement by the CDC doesn t alter the mask requirements in Boone County, said Ashton Day, spokeswoman for the Columbia/Boone County health department.