Isn't this the same county council that proudly and loudly celebrated the rescinding of a previous mask mandate? Im pretty excited about it and I think people are going to approach it responsibly, he said. I've been here two days," Luann Harding said. You have permission to edit this article. Local residents are also trying to make sense of the mask mandate potentially ending. California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, California Consumer Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The order went into effect Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m. The mandate was passed by the St. Louis County Council Tuesday night in a 4-3 vote along party lines. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. They must be well compensated, right? We can't be like we were before, with so many lives lost and so many sickened by the virus.. I've seen very few people with them on at all. Posted at 12:11 PM, Feb 23, 2022. and last updated 10:11 AM, Feb 23, 2022. Designed to meet international safety standards. Debra Hunter, co-owner of Provisions St. Louis, a shop in the Central West End, said she expects some customers will probably still choose to wear masks. The onus there is then on the individual, and the individual families may be making different decisions based on the risk threshold in their household.. A mask mandate in the City of St. Louis is set to expire on Saturday, March 6. St. Louis aldermen extend mask mandate until March 6. I've been plenty of places where masks are "required" and nobody gives a shit. "I'm more disappointed than surprised because I think we could've been beyond this," Luann Harding said. Dr. Fredrick Echols, acting health director, will remain in the No. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spoke at Washington University School of Medicine on Thursday, March 3, 2022. Most of them wore red for the American Heart Associations National Wear Red Day. The mask mandate has never been a problem for the store, she said. Masks are still required on public transit, which is a federal policy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late last week announced that most people in the United States can go maskless in indoor public spaces, including in the St. Louis region. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com. This council vote is not in the interest of public safety just people pleasing the loudest groups at a given time while giving themselves the illusion of taking action. Being able to lift the mask mandate is an encouraging step, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page told reporters Wednesday. COVID-19 Masking Guidelines January 2022 The City of St. Louis Department of Health joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in advising the wearing of face masks for all individuals who are able to do so appropriately. The indoor mandate, which was dropped last May in the city and county, was restarted in July in both jurisdictions amid a surge in cases related to the virus delta variant. A spike in cases and hospitalizations due to the omicron variant that began during the holidays has begun to subside, Page said. Maskless guy said "but I am drinking my coffee" to which they replied "food and drink are not allowed in here, The sign is right next to the mask required sign,", No enforcement mechanism, employees aren't paid enough to enforce it, Apple Stores have a corporate mask mandate but I don't think too many anti-maskers are Mac users, and they'll just go to phone store a new IPhone, schools might extend their mandates depending on what happens in the courts since school boards want someone else to make the mask decision for them. Sarah is the health reporter at St. Louis Public Radio. The mask mandate St. Louis officials put in place to protect residents against the coronavirus will expire on Sunday, but the city's health director still thinks people should wear a mask indoors, even if there is no official requirement. Please check out our sidebar and wiki for a plethora of knowledge. The department still recommends wearing a mask in public spaces to protect themselves and high-risk groups, including the elderly, immunocompromised, children under five and who are not able to get the vaccine, those in congregate living facilities, and people with pre-existing medical conditions. I thought it was the safest, smartest, most responsible thing to do.. Photo by Joseph Cooke, jcooke@post-dispatch.com, Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis takes questions after Mayor Tishaura O. Jones appointed Davis as the city's new health director on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, at a press conference at City Hall. OSHA signs alliance for St. Louis project. Things could change in the fall and winter, she added. And well be prepared for that.. St. Louis forecast: Mostly clear tonight into Sunday, warmer afternoons through Monday. Why? Previously, St. Louis Health Department Director Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis said the city would follow the same path as the county and allow its mask mandate to expire. Employees in the City and County and in several Illinois Counties are required to wear face masks, but they are still optional for customers. But then the incompetence starts: In a statement last week, the city's department of health said the mask mandate would expire on Saturday, March 5, at 11:59 p.m. because of the decline in number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and positivity percentage rate, along with updated guidance from the CDC. Republican politicians on the countys board have criticized the mask mandate on the grounds that county officials dont have the authority to pass such a rule. Mark Schlinkmann is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis County officials are planning to put an end to the county's mask mandate for public indoor spaces, County Executive Sam Page announced Wednesday. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. (KMOV) - The mask mandate in the City of St. Louis ended Sunday. It's a tough and thankless job to be sure. The current executive orders, including requiring the wearing of facial coverings (masks) in indoor spaces are available here. A big preemptive Thank You to the moderators who volunteer their time to go through the comments on threads like this and try to keep this forum somewhat sane and civil. Schmitts suit alleged that the mandate was arbitrary, capricious and unconstitutional. And she said she doesnt want to give up on the protection. It comes at a time when CDC officials say more than 70% of. Throughout the pandemic, the city and countys public health orders have mostly mirrored each other. Page and St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones last July reinstated mask mandates in public spaces as coronavirus cases rose due to the contagious delta variant of the virus. ST. LOUIS A spike in COVID-19 cases is prompting some businesses and at least one major attraction to bring back mask requirements. City Hall and city offices will still require masks for employees and visitors in indoor common areas and spaces. That agencys interim director has declined to comment on Echols. Posted at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, March 3. Masks are still required on buses and light rail service operated by Metro in St. Louis. St. Louis-area hospitals on Thursday reported a seven-day average of 36 new COVID-19 admissions, down from 38 the day before. There are also many people in the city who live with children who are too young to get vaccinated. The city of St. Louis' mask mandate is scheduled to expire March 6, and its Board of Aldermen has not yet been asked by Mayor Tishaura Jones to renew it, an official said. Our data shows that conditions at this time are favorable for reducing another layer of our risk mitigation system. Visitors of the Gateway Arch will have to wear a mask inside starting Monday. The city will be the last jurisdiction in the metro area to drop the mandate, following St. Louis County and the state of Illinois, where such rules ended on Monday. But in Missouri and elsewhere, theyre politically toxic, What a recent court ruling means for Missouris mask mandates, St. Louis County Council passes mask mandate for people age 5 and older in public, indoor spaces. Davis said while wearing a mask in indoor public places no longer will be required, she strongly recommends that people do so, especially those at high risk of getting COVID-19. The district said it will monitor virus rates closely and remain ready to shift protocols if needed. All counties in the St. Louis metro area show either a low level or a medium level of COVID cases, which, makes them eligible to lift mask mandates. The city's leader, John Lee, says masks will no longer Copyright 2022 KMOV. Doctors Clay Dunagan and Alexander Garza, co-leaders of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force, on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, discuss vaccinations, the lifting of mask mandates, and COVID-19 statistics. "The percentage has gone up say from 3-4% just a couple of months ago to about 20% now being positive for COVID," Manian said. St. Louis County ends mask mandate, St. Louis City expected to follow, St. Louis Fire Department K9 dies during search and rescue mission, Woman shot in attempted robbery at St. Peters Schnucks, No active threat after barges carrying anhydrous ammonia break free in Lincoln County, Contaminated: The Fentanyl Crisis in St. Louis. When worn properly, facemasksprimarily contain exhaled respiratory droplets and particles, while providing some protection against inhaling materials exhaled by others. /r/StLouis is dedicated to the news, events, and weird food of the Greater St. Louis and surrounding areas. I still wear it just in case. The CDCadvises wearing face masks[www.cdc.gov]or respirators for all individuals who are able to appropriately do so. Cases have dropped sharply since peaking in mid-January. I was just thinking about that. Yes because they were completely bypassed when it went into effect. It requires all people over the. St. Hong Kong is ending its mask mandate Wednesday, becoming one of the world's last cities to drop rules demanding face coverings. A surprising number of shoppers continued to wear a mask despite the lack of a requirement. Last chance! The St. Louis Board of Aldermen met via videoconference on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Send questions and comments about this story to feedback@stlpublicradio.org. New daily hospitalizations were at 38 - down from a peak of 227 hospitalizations per day, with a goal set at 40 or fewer. By, announced that most people in the United States can go maskless, Safety advocates welcome promise of St. Louis traffic fixes, but want quick action, Willing to fight, scratch and bite, St. Louis City SC is ready for its CityPark debut, Parson says crime in St. Louis is hurting Missouris image, Missouri House passes bill limiting foreign ownership of farmland, Missouri plans an 'end' to the coronavirus pandemic, but life isnt back to normal, St. Louis County to drop mask mandate starting next week, St. Louis health departments new director plans beyond the coronavirus pandemic. It feels like the mandate is rescinded and then reinstated like at least once a week. I still would want to wear a mask to protect myself, she said. The Board of Aldermen will need to vote on a new requirement for the citys mask mandate to continue. St. Louis County was the site of the state's first confirmed coronavirus case . Natalie Hoffman told News 4, Im glad, Im ready, its time.. - The legal battle over the latest St. Louis County mask mandate returns to court Tuesday morning. Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Since the onset of the pandemic, Missouri has reported more than 1.1 million confirmed cases and 15,417 deaths due to the virus. But now, given the latest CDC guidance and the trajectory of the pandemic, he said, lifting it seems smart. That data is prompting some businesses to bring back their indoors masking requirements. Schnucks is also reverting back to some masking requirements. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Hong Kong will lift its mask mandate on Wednesday, ending the city's last major restriction imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The St.. Send questions and comments about this story to feedback@stlpublicradio.org. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users When asked about coordination between . We do not discuss personnel issues here.. We have an entire side of town that has been left decayed because of the color of the skin of the individuals who occupy that side of town, he said. A very pregnant woman with 3 kids walks into an establishment with no mask. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Bucknor for rejecting handshake: Zero class, Man shot and killed after fight in downtown St. Louis, Fate of St. Louis Fox Theatre still undecided, Liberty High student killed in St. Charles shooting could heal you with a smile, Brothers who did everything together, fashionista among victims in fatal St. Louis crash, St. Louis prosecutors staff down by nearly half as caseloads jump. Confira. Mandate Ends in St. Louis on Anniversary of First Mo. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitts lawsuit challenging the city health order remains pending in St. Louis Circuit Court. The total number of patients with COVID-19 remained unchanged at 203 hospitals that are part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force. This spring, city voters will pick an entirely new board, as it shrinks to 14 aldermen after more than a century with 28. Reuters, 4 killed, 4 critically injured in crash at South Grand Boulevard and Forest Park Avenue, Parents push back on allegations against St. Louis transgender center. St. Louis is seeing rising numbers of coronavirus cases, and the city's health director is again considering recommending public health measures, including mask requirements, to protect people from the virus. City and County Schnucks employees are required to wear masks.