ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) — As the number of coronavirus cases grow in the St. Louis area, people are wondering why they can’t get more information on those who test positive.
So far, officials on both sides of the river have released very little information, often only providing an age range and a county in which the person resides.
“I am not going to be the first elected official to break HIPPA,” St. Louis City Mayor Lyda Krewson said.
Krewson cited a federal law known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) which is intended to protect an individual’s privacy. Krewson said the law is why more information can’t be given about people testing positive for COVID-19 in the St. Louis area.
“That is not my information to share, if it was your family member, I would not share it,” Krewson said.
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However, some freedom of information experts said leaders should be providing the public with more information.
“I think they can and they should [release more information],” Attorney Dave Roland said.
Roland said more knowledge could benefit the overall public health.
“My hope is that the government would give enough information to ide