More than a year and a half after St. Louis City dropped its COVID-19 mask mandate, city employees were stunned to receive an email from the Department of Health ordering they mask up, effective immediately, once again. And not just because of COVID.
The city's health director, Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, cited flu cases that are “55 percent higher than the highest median value of the past five years,” and rising RSV cases as well.
“With activity of winter viruses rising at such a rapid pace, we must take action to slow transmission and prevent strain on our hospital systems,” she cautioned.
Here we go again. The City of St. Louis has implemented a Mask Mandate for City Employees.
— Ryan Cunningham (@rycunni) January 5, 2024
Do NOT Comply with a LIE!
📷: @StOnge_Kim pic.twitter.com/P47evTi8p8
The throwback mandate was short-lived, however, with the city issuing an update less than 24 hours later after local hospitals disputed the letter’s claims.
"BJC is not seeing a strain on hospital capacity," BJC Health Care officials told 5 On Your Side. We are experiencing a seasonal increase in respiratory illness, which is typical for this time of year."
Mercy Hospital described it as a "typical winter." St. Louis County said they haven't seen any out-of-the-ordinary strains on the health system.
"Luckily our influenza has not spiked yet and it is going up, but it's not nearly what it was last year," according to Dr. Jim Hinrichs, the interim co-director of the St. Louis County Department of Public Health. "It's moderate. It's not alarming." (5 On Your Side)
Apparently St. Louis’ public health director rescinded her unilateral mask mandate for city employees after less than 24 hours because hospital officials denied they were “overwhelmed”
— Ian Miller (@ianmSC) January 6, 2024
Maybe it was also because masks never made a difference in St. Louis anyway https://t.co/IDRqwJDDh9 pic.twitter.com/yrPyBq4IeL
While the statement from area hospitals was important, the downgrade to “strongly recommended” also came after a call with Republican Gov. Mike Parson.
"Upon further review" you say? 😂
— Kim St. Onge (@StOnge_Kim) January 6, 2024
You mean after @MarcCox971 and others reached out to @GovParsonMO's office about your mandate and then he called you to say you can't put that in place? That's the real reason you reversed it. https://t.co/J320yU1Kch
Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt blasted the short-lived mandate.
“Individuals have a right to make their own decisions when it comes to wearing masks – I fought these ridiculous mandates when I was Missouri’s Attorney General, and I will continue to do everything in my power to fight COVID tyranny,” he said.