City of St. Louis Department of Health Advises Mask Mandate in City is in Effect

The City of St. Louis Department of Health is advising residents and visitors to the city that the city’s public health and safety masking requirements, as currently outlined in Health Commissioner’s Order #5 and adopted by the City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen as Resolution #142, are in effect.

City of St. Louis Health Commissioner’s Order #5 was passed as Resolution #142 on November 24, 2021, by the City of St. Louis Board of Alderman, the duly elected legislative body of the City of St. Louis. The issuance of the order and adoption by the city’s legislative body were conducted in compliance with, and in the spirit of, Missouri and United States constitutional provisions, the Missouri Revised Statutes, and the Charter of the City of St. Louis.

As many are now aware, a recent ruling of the Cole County Circuit Court found improper certain Missouri Code of State Regulations utilized by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Although the ramifications and ultimate disposition of this ruling is still being determined, the City is utilizing distinct local authority, in accordance and consistent with the requirements of State statute, for the continuing implementation of its Mask Mandate. The goal is to ensure the maximum number of individuals take prudent precaution to reduce the exposure to and slow the spread of SARS CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19.

“There is evidence of transmission of SARS CoV-2 in all City of St. Louis zip codes and across the metropolitan area,” says Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, Director of Health for the City of St. Louis. More than 35% of eligible City of St. Louis residents have not received a single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and are at risk of severe complications if infected with the virus. It’s critical that we continue to rely on the proven successful virus mitigation strategy of properly wearing masks pursuant to Health Commissioner’s Order #5 adopted by the City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen as Resolution #142 to reduce exposure and slow the spread of COVID-19.”