UPDATED AFTER COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY NIGHT: Story now reflects change by county, lifting restrictions on day care facilities.
Jefferson County has joined St. Louis County, the city of St. Louis, the state of Illinois and now St. Charles County issuing a stay-home order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
County Executive Dennis Gannon and Jefferson County Health Department Director Kelley Vollmar issued the order this afternoon (March 23).
The new restrictions will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday (March 24) and will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. April 23, unless it is rescinded or extended.
“Residents will be able to obtain or deliver necessary services or supplies for themselves, household members or others necessary to maintain safety and sanitation,” the order said.
The order applies to all Jefferson County residents, whether they live in a city or an unincorporated area.
Under the order, Jefferson County residents will still be able to perform tasks essential to the health and safety of themselves, their families and pets, including obtaining medical supplies and medications, visiting a health care professional and buying supplies to work from home.
Outdoor activities, such as walking or other exercise, will be allowed as long as people maintain a distance of at least six feet from others, the order said.
The order generally directs businesses to close, with a number of exceptions, including: Health care providers (but not fitness centers and gyms); stores that sell food; restaurants and bars providing takeout, delivery and curbside service only; gas stations and auto mechanics; the media; agriculture; banks and other financial institutions; hardware stores; businesses that offer shipping services; commercial laundry and janitorial businesses; transportation firms; construction; hotels; long-term and home-based care businesses; mortuaries; government offices; professional services such as accountants, lawyers and engineers; and businesses that supply or deliver to the above businesses.
Day care facilities may remain open without any restrictions. An original version of the executive order specified that they only could provide care to children of health care providers, first responders, government employees and other emergency personnel only, but County Counselor Wes Yates said at Monday's meeting of the Jefferson County Council that that restriction has been lifted in Jefferson County.
Businesses with 10 or fewer employees also are exempt, unless they are a massage parlor; beauty or nail salon; barbershop; fitness center or gym; or a similar firm.
Businesses not exempt, the order states, are allowed “to maintain the value of inventory and infrastructure; provide security; process payroll or employee benefits; and facilitate employees working remotely,” but must cease all other activities.
As a result of the order, the county's public school officials have extended school closures until at least Monday, April 27.
At the council meeting, Yates addressed why Jefferson County issued its order after St. Louis County and the city of St. Louis did -- but before St. Charles County followed suit Monday evening and whether the county has the authority to issue such an order.
"When states of emergencies are issued by the president and the governor, that gives counties and county Health Departments some extraordinary powers," he said. For those who asked why the county didn't issue the stay-at-home order sooner, Yates said, "unlike in St. Louis County, St. Louis, Franklin County and St. Charles County, Jefferson County's government does not (by charter) directly control the Health Department, even though we both have Jefferson County in our name. We have to work together, and we've been working together very well, but there's that extra step. What the Health Department does has to be approved by its board.
"I can tell you that we get told one thing by our neighbors to the north, and it ends up something else is announced," he said. "We're all flying by the seat of our pants on this and trying to cover all of our bases. We're acting as fast as we can. We have been in constant contact with our neighbors, and there are at least a couple of telephone conference calls a day."
