St. Louis County leaders restrict crowds to battle coronavirus

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said Friday that the county is limiting crowds to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Page said events with crowds of more than 250 people will be banned. He has also directed county officials to relax sick leave and work-from-home rules for county employees.

The decision came one day after the cities of Kansas City and St. Louis declared emergencies over the continued spread of COVID-19. Also on Thursday state officials said a second person in Missouri was positive for the virus in a preliminary test. The two cases are in St. Louis County and Greene County, and both patients had recently traveled.

Several professional and college sports leagues suspended seasons or called off tournaments Thursday to help stop the spread of the virus.

Mulitple higher education institutions in central Missouri have also suspended in-person classes. The latest was Westminster, which said Friday it was extending its spring break.