Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Yup. Im pretty excited about it and I think people are going to approach it responsibly, he said. 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. Updated: 9:13 AM CST February 28, 2022 ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. The percent positivity rate was at 4.6%, down from a peak of 35.7%, with the goal being 5% or smaller, CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: Missouri adds nearly 3,500 cases in its weekly report; Arkansas adds 250+ daily new cases, Health Minute: First at-home flu and COVID test authorized, Colchester grower recognized for pest management prowess, Contaminated: The Fentanyl Crisis in St. Louis. A fitted cloth mask worn over a medical procedure mask greatly reduces transmission of particles. Shoppers at the Schnucks store on Clayton Road in Richmond Heights welcomed the news. Send questions and comments about this story to feedback@stlpublicradio.org. 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. City Hall and city offices will still require masks for employees and visitors in indoor common areas and spaces. PublishedFebruary 23, 2022 at 6:04 PM CST. St. Louis forecast: Mostly clear tonight into Sunday, warmer afternoons through Monday. That's why, starting Monday, anyone visiting the Gateway Arch will be required to wear masks inside all park buildings regardless of vaccination status. St. Louis County was the site of the state's first confirmed coronavirus case . The reality is I will soon be in a very high risk group. City and County Schnucks employees are required. You should be redirected in a few seconds. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. The city's leader, John Lee, says masks will no longer Due to the citys mask mandate ending, Schnucks said masks will no longer be required at their stores. St. Louis County dropped its mask mandate for indoor public places earlier this week and St. Louis will follow suit on Sunday. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Public health is by definition about community prevention. You have permission to edit this article. At the penguin house, two workers told a guy without a mask that he had to wear a mask properly or leave. Lara Hamdan and Shahla Farzan contributed reporting. 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. 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. The St. Louis Board of Aldermen met via videoconference on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. But now, given the latest CDC guidance and the trajectory of the pandemic, he said, lifting it seems smart. The Board of Aldermen will need to vote on a new requirement for the citys mask mandate to continue. In a statementlast week, the citys 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. Im baffled., Suspect charged in fatal shooting in downtown St. Louis, Former Sweetie Pies TV star Tim Norman gets two life sentences in nephews death, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol slams ump C.B. She also said its possible that the mandate could be reinstated if the data requires it.. The percentage of county residents testing positive for the virus and hospital admissions are decreasing, Page said. I still wear it just in case. It's really annoying as a leukemia patient with basically no immune system. Under the new CDC recommendations, the federal agency classifies counties as low, medium or high COVID-19 risk, based on the rates of new hospital admissions, the portion of hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and the rate of new cases. Echols said in a letter to aldermen in August that he had drafted his July order so as not to ban or restrict access to a public place the situations that triggered the initial requirement of local board approval. If the mask mandate expires, the Health Department would be willing to recommend reinstating one if case levels or hospitalizations spike again, Hlatshwayo Davis said. St. Louis Health Department Director Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis on Thursday, March 3, 2022, announces the city will allow its mask mandate to expire on Saturday, March 5 at 11:59 p.m. Davis announcement came as no surprise. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 470 were here. . Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. St. Louis-area hospitals on Thursday reported a seven-day average of 36 new COVID-19 admissions, down from 38 the day before. When asked about coordination between . This content is available in the following format: City of St. Louis Department of HealthMasking Guidelines PDF. Police: Argument Preceded Fatal California School Stabbing, Fiery Tanker Crash Kills Driver, Burns Maryland Homes, Trump Supporters Spared More Jail Time in Weapons Case. There was a problem saving your notification. ST. LOUIS - Central West End was alive with movement on Sunday as the city lifted its mask mandate, allowing people to make the decision to wear a mask inside or not. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Confira. ST. LOUIS St. Louis City has officially ended its mask mandate. Example video title will go here for this video. Seems like mask on, mask off, mask on, mask off. The extensions were required for periods of up to 30 days while Gov. This spring, city voters will pick an entirely new board, as it shrinks to 14 aldermen after more than a century with 28. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users This in addition to complying with the health protocols implemented locally. Earlier this month, a judge in St. Louis County denied Schmitts request for a preliminary injunction that would remove the mask mandate and dismissed all but one count of the lawsuit against the county. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitts lawsuit challenging the city health order remains pending in St. Louis Circuit Court. ST. LOUIS As they have several times over the past year, city aldermen on Friday voted unanimously to extend the citys indoor mask mandate aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19. 'Rest easy Balko': St. Louis fire K-9 dies during search of Railway Exchange Building, Okawville wins third girls basketball championship in school history. The City of St. Louis still has a mandate in place. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Nonprofit wont say how many people it has served. The mask mandate has never been a problem for the store, she said. Most of them wore red for the American Heart Associations National Wear Red Day. While COVID continues to take a toll on the region, the number of cases and hospitalizations continues to wane. Schnucks is also reverting back to some masking requirements. The platform is designed to engage citizens and government leaders in a discussion about what needs improvement across the country. OSHA opened an investigation after a worker died in a quarry near Sullivan City, Texas. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Based on those metrics, the mandate will expire, she 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. As of March 2, 2022, one public health order remains, mandating wearing masks indoors while in a public facility. 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. ST. LOUIS, Mo. Mercy Hospital Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Farrin Manian confirmed that St. Louis and St. Louis County have entered into the high transmissibility risk zone. The suit was filed last summer after City Health Commissioner Fredrick Echols issued the order. He also has pointed out that the Board of Aldermens extension votes in August and October took place after the 30-day deadlines in place then. OSHA signs alliance for St. Louis project. Natalie Hoffman told News 4, Im glad, Im ready, its time.. The boards health and human services committee is meeting Thursday and has asked Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, the St. Louis health director, to discuss the citys next steps, Alderwoman Christine Ingrassia said. St. That data is prompting some businesses to bring back their indoors masking requirements. voted to approve the mandate after weeks of infighting. As of early March, health experts released new data that shows a decrease in confirmed COVID cases and new daily hospitalization statistics: Copyright 2022 KMOV. Illinois first responders prepare for what severe weather spring could bring, Schnucks employees required to wear masks in St. Louis, St. Louis County stores due to increase in COVID cases, St. Louis back at high risk level for COVID-19 transmission, Buescher to miss St. Louis NASCAR race after positive COVID-19 test. Several alderpersons said they have received similar messages from their constituents. Just days after St. Louis County dropped its mask mandate, St. Louis City is following suit. However, doctors are seeing a 20% positivity rate through laboratory tests, which is up from the 3-4% positivity rate a couple of months ago. LOUIS (AP) On the second anniversary of Missouri 's first COVID-19 case, St. Louis city's mask mandate has ended. Masks also are still required at Lambert Airport. 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. It comes at a time when CDC officials say more than 70% of. - The legal battle over the latest St. Louis County mask mandate returns to court Tuesday morning. The percentage of county residents testing positive for the virus and hospital admissions are decreasing, Page said. Throughout the pandemic, the city and countys public health orders have mostly mirrored each other. Respiratorsprotect against inhalation of particles as well as containing exhaled respiratory droplets and particles. Things could change in the fall and winter, she added. I encourage St. Louisans to respect the personal choice of those who continue wearing masks in public spaces, and if you have not yet been vaccinated or boosted, make sure you do so as soon as you can.. But then the incompetence starts: I thought it was the safest, smartest, most responsible thing to do.. The law limits local extensions to 21 days when a state of emergency is not in place. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Dr. Faisal Kahn, St. Louis County health director, recommended ending the mandate, a spokesman for Page said. Published: 6:01 PM CST February 22, 2022 Updated: 12: . The citys mandate is set to expire in early March. 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. St. Louis Park is the latest city to require face coverings in all indoor public spaces, following the City Council's unanimous approval of a mandate earlier this week. In January, St. Louis County board members voted to approve the mandate after weeks of infighting. The mandate was passed by the St. Louis County Council Tuesday night in a 4-3 vote along party lines. ST. LOUIS St. Louis, the last jurisdiction with an indoor mask requirement in the metropolitan area, will be ending its mandate at 11:59 p.m. Saturday, the city's health director. View the most recent COVID-19 Guidance for Isolation, Quarantine and Transmission-Based Precautions. Representatives of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen say theyre waiting on similar guidance from city health officials. 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. Posted at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, March 3. The City of St. Louis Department of Health will not ask the Board of Aldermen to renew the latest. Stay safe everybody and may the odds be ever in your favor. 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. Our data shows that conditions at this time are favorable for reducing another layer of our risk mitigation system. Feb 28, 2022 Updated Feb 28, 2022, 9:36pm CST Mask mandates came to an end Monday in the state of Illinois and St. Louis County. But Mari Beth McAnany at City Park Grill in the Tower Grove South neighborhood said people made up their minds about whether they feel safe or not when they go out and she said she doesnt think lifting the citys mandate will have much of an impact on the number of customers. "I think it's a good idea, for the people to protect themselves but also to protect their neighbors, which is what they're doing with the mask," Luann Harding said. Schools with immunocompromised faculty or children too young to be vaccinated might also keep their requirements for face coverings, he said. - St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page is celebrating a milestone today. Im tired of the masks too, but Im thinking beyond myself, my children and my clients and people who cant fight for themselves.. Its not responsible to abolish all community protections.. 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. 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.