Health Commissioner's Order No. 1 and Proclamation - COVID-19 (2021)

Proclamation

Pursuant to Article XIII, Section 14-C(c) of the Charter of the City of St. Louis, I find that COVID-19, a malignant, infectious, and contagious disease, is threatened and prevalent in the City of St. Louis, and accordingly I hereby so proclaim on this 23 day of July, 2021. Accordingly, the Acting Director of Health and Hospitals/Health Commissioner may: 

A. Take such steps, use such measures, and incur such expenses as he deems necessary to avoid, suppress, and mitigate the spread of SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, until I proclaim the need therefore ended, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Charter or in any ordinance.

B. Due to the concurrence of the growing prevalence of the variants of the SARS CoV-2 virus, the virus that causes COVID-19, and the end of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Eviction Moratorium, take such steps, use such measures, and incur such expenses as he deems necessary to assist residents of the City of St. Louis in maintaining their current housing and living conditions, and making a rapid transition to new housing so as to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 until I proclaim the need therefore ended, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Charter or in any ordinance. 

C. Due to the exacerbation of public safety issues as a result of the economic and societal effects resulting from COVID-19, take such steps, use such measures, and incur such expenses as he deems  necessary to protect and maintain the public safety until I proclaim the need therefore ended, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Charter or in any ordinance.

If any court of competent jurisdiction holds any provision of this Proclamation unenforceable, such provision shall be modified to the extent required to make it enforceable, consistent with the spirit and intent of this Proclamation. If such a provision cannot be so modified, the provision shall be deemed separable from the remaining provisions of this Proclamation and shall not affect any other provision hereunder.

Date: 7/23/2021
Tishaura O. Jones, Mayor

Date: 7/23/2021
Fredrick L. Echols, M.D., Acting Director of Health and Hospitals/Health Commissioner

 

Order No. 1

This Order No. 1 shall become effective at 12:01 a.m. on July 26, 2021 and will continue to be in effect for 30 calendar days, subject to extension. 

My intent is to ensure that the maximum number of people take prudent precautions to reduce the exposure to, and slow the spread of, SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. All provisions of this Order shall be interpreted to effectuate this intent.

Whereas, a resurgence of COVID-19 cases is occurring in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area, there is evidence of increased COVID-19 transmission in all City of St. Louis zip codes, there is increased 
transmission among all age groups, hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID-19 continue to increase, and more than 50% of City of St. Louis residents have not received a single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and are at risk of severe complications (including hospitalizations and death) if infected with the virus.

By the authority vested in me by Article XIII, Section 14-C(c) of the Charter of the City of St. Louis and by 19 CSR 20-20.050(c) of the Code of State Regulations, I hereby order as follows:

1. Individuals, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, age 5 and older shall be required to properly wear a face covering that covers the wearer’s nose and mouth while in indoor and enclosed public buildings and spaces, and public transportation vessels in the City of St. Louis. While on duty, all City of St. Louis employees shall wear a face covering when riding in City vehicles with one or more other persons.

2. Exceptions to the required face covering are recognized for:

a. Individuals who have an official order or documentation from a medical or behavioral health provider to not wear face coverings; 

b. Individuals who are seated in a restaurant or bar and are actively engaged in consuming food or drink;

c. Persons who have trouble breathing, or are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the Face Covering without assistance;

d. Persons who are obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the Face Covering is necessary to perform the service

e. Individuals who have disabilities that:

i. Prevent them from wearing or taking off face coverings.

ii. Prevent them from communicating while wearing face coverings. 

Date: 7/23/2021
Dr. Frederick Echols, Acting Director of Health and Hospitals/Health Commissioner