ST. LOUIS COUNTY (KMOX) - The new face mask mandate in St. Louis County will be short-lived if a majority group of St. Louis County Council members gets its way. Four of seven members have said they will vote to end the health order Tuesday night – one day after it was mandated.
Council members Tim Fitch, Mark Harder, Ernie Trakas and Shalonda Webb have stated their intent to terminate County Executive Dr. Sam Page's order. It calls for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, who is at least 5-years-old and older to wear face masks while inside public places and on public transportation. Council Chair Rita Heard Days has also stated that the new mask mandate will be very hard to enforce among citizens.
“It will be voted on tonight and I’m confident it will be rescinded,” Councilman Trakas told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, ahead of Tuesday's meeting.
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Although the new mandate doesn't require the approval of the council, it could make it tougher to stick if the matter goes to court.
The public comments by council members was also made before Tuesday's recommendations by the CDC which says anyone in "high transmission" – which includes St. Louis County – should begin wearing masks indoors again. All of the counties surrounding St. Louis were also included in the recommendations.
There is a new Missouri law, approved earlier this year, that prevents Page and other local leaders from impose restrictions on businesses, churches, schools and public places. However, the law doesn't mention face mask mandates.
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