Slowing the spread of COVID-19
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St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited MAY 7 – 13, 2020
92 years serving, empowering and advocating equity in St. Louis
Vol. 92 No. 7 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
‘Too close to City Hall’
City, county to lift public health orders ‘There was some pressure on the elected officials’ By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
“The rushed actions of the City of St. Louis to pressure those in the encampment to move from their home is deeply traumatizing,” wrote Dr. Laurie Punch, a BJC HealthCare trauma surgeon working on the COVID-19 crisis. “The residents have not had adequate notice of the time to evacuate and have not been given assurance of a safe and supportive alternative.”
Krewson clears out tent camps though city has a waiting list for shelter By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American Homeless advocates gave blankets to about 20 unhoused individuals in downtown St. Louis on the evening of Sunday, May 3, who slept on the ground in the parks around 14th and Market streets. The night before, a majority of these individuals slept in tents. On Sunday morning, City of St. Louis officials took down the tents, after a federal judge denied a temporary restraining order request on May 1 to prevent the St. Louis Department of Health from vacating the tent encampments downtown. The city also removed the hand-washing stations and restrooms they had previously placed near the encampments.
n “The city has decided to prioritize 14th and Market not because of health risk but because it’s too close to City Hall.” – Alex Cohen, Tent Mission STL
Advocates said anywhere from 15 to 40 people were sleeping in downtown parks on a regular basis prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they started using tents at the beginning of April in response to the outbreak. “Our friend who had a tent and came back after the eviction yesterday said, ‘‘I guess I’ll
sleep where I’ve always slept but now without a tent again,’” said Alex Cohen, a member of the Tent Mission STL, a grassroots group that has been aiding the tent encampments. During the federal hearing on May 1, city counselors told a federal judge that they had beds for everyone who wanted one. They argued that the reason they wanted to tear down the tents was because they posed a “high risk for the spread of COVID-19.” Homeless advocates and a medical doctor opposed the decision, saying that it went against federal health guidelines of keeping homeless encampments contained during the pandemic. At about 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, volunteer advocates with Tent Mission STL compiled a See KREWSON, A7
St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page and City of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson announced on Tuesday, May 5 that they would begin to ease public health restrictions on May 18. However, just a day before, they both said during briefings they were not ready n “If we to set a date because want to the hospitalization bring the trend in St. Louis economy still showed a “very back on line, serious situation.” Hospital inpatient then we data is currently the have to put best barometer for protections understanding the in place to amount of transmission and community decrease spread of COVIDtransmis19, local experts say. sion.” The trend line for the number of patients — Dr. currently hospitalAlexander ized for COVID-19 Garza, panshows a “plateau” demic task and not a substantial force incident decline. The trend commander line for new patients — which doctors now say is more timely data — is heading down but has seen some substantial spikes recently. “Right now, the trend is in the right direction — it’s just not a robust trend,” Page said during his briefing on Wednesday, May 6. “I wouldn’t expect to see a large change in that trend until we start easing the social-distancing guidelines. If we see something unexpected, we may modify our orders.” Both Page and Krewson said they rely See HEALTH ORDERS, A6
‘Stronger than Corona’ Urban League unites volunteers to serve community during COVID-19 crisis By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American “Stronger than Corona.” James Clark, incoming vice president of Public Safety and Community Response for the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, was connecting with a volunteer, making eye contact. “You better know it,” the volunteer responded. They followed up the call and response with what could be described as a “socially distant dap.” Clark raised his elbow in the direction of the volunteer. The volunteer mirrored the movement. They couldn’t touch, but it was clear that they felt each other. It appeared to be a ritual between Urban League volunteers as Clark repeated the same “Stronger than Corona” greeting to at least a half-dozen volunteers. Each response was identical. Chins lifted, elbows high. Smiling eyes over-
n “It’s been more than a notion, but we are all pulling together to make it work.” – Monique Williams-Moore, Urban League
compensating for facial expressions that protective masks have forced them to cover. “You better know it.” Thanks to the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis – with the assistance of several sponsors and community partners – volunteers went about the work to prove their greeting true. On this Friday morning four weeks ago, they See CORONA, A6
Photo by Wiley Price
St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell, Ferguson Councilwoman Ella Jones, St. Louis County Councilwoman Rochelle Walton Gray, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis President and CEO Michael P. McMillan and St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page practiced social distancing at the former Jamestown Mall in Florissant on May 2, where the Urban League served 1,500 families with food and necessities.