GOV
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.
This content is available in the following format:
City of St. Louis Department of Health Masking Guidelines PDF
Masks: Materials and Wearing
The CDC advises wearing face masks [www.cdc.gov] or respirators for all individuals who are able to appropriately do so. The City of St. Louis Department of Health recommends that everyone properly wear a face mask when in public spaces and when they will be in the company of anyone who does not live in their household. When worn properly, face masks primarily contain exhaled respiratory droplets and particles, while providing some protection against inhaling materials exhaled by others. Respirators protect against inhalation of particles as well as containing exhaled respiratory droplets and particles.
KN95 respirators
Designed to meet international safety standards.
- Difficult to wear with facial hair
- Cannot be washed
- Many sold in the US are counterfeit and do not meet standards – check here before purchasing
N95, N99, N100, P95, P99, P100, R95, R99, and R100 respirators
Approved by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
- Difficult to wear with facial hair
- Cannot be washed
- Must have an approval label and NIOSH Certified Equipment number to be genuine
- See here for trusted sources
Workplace Performance Masks and Workplace Performance Plus Masks
Meets NIOSH performance criteria for workplace safety.
- Can be difficult to find
- May not be reusable
Cloth mask covering a medical procedure mask OR medical procedure mask with a fitter or brace
A fitted cloth mask worn over a medical procedure mask greatly reduces transmission of particles.
- Medical procedure masks are single-use
- Cloth masks must fit snugly to the cheeks – see here for additional criteria
Double-layered cloth mask with filter OR medical procedure mask
A 3-ply cloth mask or a medical procedure mask will reduce transmission of particles.
- Cloth masks are reusable
- While this option still provides protection, care must be taken to keep masks free of contaminants
Executive Orders
The current executive orders, including requiring the wearing of facial coverings (masks) in indoor spaces are available here.
