CLAYTON (KMOX) - A joint advisory was issued by the health departments of St. Louis City and County Thursday, asking people to wear masks at indoor public places. This follows widespread surging of coronavirus cases across Missouri, mostly blamed on the highly contagious Delta variant.
The advisory includes people who are fully vaccinated to wear masks, a reversal from the most recent guidance. This advisory is not a mandate, but a recommendation to minimize risk of exposure.
Statements were issued by the heads of the two departments: "As we monitor the Delta variant, we are seeing that it's spreading fast, and data shows it is more infectious and impacting younger segments of the population," Dr. Fredrick Echols, acting director of the City of St. Louis Department of Health, said.
Dr. Faisal Khan, acting director of the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, agreed.
"This pandemic is not over," he said. "The virus and its variants present a real and imminent danger to the health of people in the St. Louis region. We must encourage vaccination and continued precautions."
The advisory says to presume, when in public, that 1 of every 3 people you encounter are not vaccinated. Also keep in mind NO children under 12 have received coronavirus shots, and are not eligible.
"Kids 12 to 15, 12 to 19... not many of them are vaccinated in St. Louis County. And we need more," County Public Health spokesman Christopher Ave says.
The same story is heard around the state, and the country. Young people are not getting the vaccines, with many believing they will not be harmed by the virus. However, epidemiologists say the pandemic will continue as long as a sizeable and active portion of the population remains unvaccinated.
The surge comes as schools begin preparation for the start of classes in the Fall. It's unclear what will happen as the surge in the more contagious Delta variant continues to spread. But such is the nature of a pandemic; mitigation efforts show signs of success, so the virus adapts.
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