UPDATE: The City of St. Louis has updated its communications with employees surrounding masking Friday afternoon with the cities Department of Health now only STRONGLY RECOMMENDING masking indoors for all City of St. Louis employees, effective immediately.
ORIGINAL STORY: ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - With the rise of COVID-19, influenza and RSV throughout the St. Louis-area since the Thanksgiving holiday, the City of St. Louis announced that effective Friday, it will reinstitute a mask mandate for all city employees.
"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," said Director of Health Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis in a letter to employees obtained by KMOX.
City of St. Louis employees will be required to wear a mask indoors and while on duty, City of St. Louis employees must wear a face covering when riding in City vehicles with one or more individuals.
Davis cites an increase in COVID-19 cases as the reason for the decision as according to Davis, for COVID-19, 270 people in the St. Louis region were hospitalized with COVID-19 during the week of Dec. 23, a 26% increase over the previous week, and a 38% increase from the previous month.
In addition, flu cases this season are 55% higher than the highest median value of the past five years, and RSV positive tests in BJC's health are 190% higher than the highest median value of the previous four years.
St. Louis City employees aren't the first people to see a mask mandate return. Hospitals like BJC Healthcare reinstituted a mask mandate back in early December, requiring all employees to wear a mask when in patient care settings.
Davis recommends all employees to receive the most up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine. Only 11% of all St. Louis City residents had received it.