COVID-19 Mask Policy Update March 2022

About This Policy

The City of St. Louis has always used a multi-layered system to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amongst residents, including:

• Social distancing
• Hand washing and surface disinfecting
• Face masks
• Vaccination
• Quarantine and Isolation
• Monoclonal antibodies
• Limits on indoor gatherings
• Stay-at-home orders
• Restrictions on businesses
• School safety strategies

These efforts have reduced the danger to our neighbors and have protected our most vulnerable – especially children, residents over 65 years old, the immunocompromised, and residents in congregate living facilities. As we met public health goals, many emergency orders were lifted, and as vaccination became available and adopted by the community, no new emergency orders were enacted. As of March 2, 2022, one public health order remains, mandating wearing masks indoors while in a public facility.

Our data shows that conditions at this time are favorable for reducing another layer of our risk mitigation system. We will continue to monitor and protect our most vulnerable communities, but at present, a mask mandate is not necessary to avert a public health crisis.

This guidance is data-driven and subject to change. We strongly recommend wearing a mask indoors, especially when around others who are vulnerable to infection and its long-term consequences.

On This Page

How do we know?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has established a COVID-19 Community Level System, with a set of guidelines for each level:

Where do we stand?

The Community Level is determined by the highest of the three criteria. Since all data points are in the low range as of March 1, 2022, the City of St. Louis community level is: Low.

Understanding the Levels: What do they mean?

The CDC recommends a different set of precautions for each level. For example, at the Medium level, residents are advised:

• If you are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease:
  • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions (e.g., testing)
  • Have a plan for rapid testing if needed (e.g., having home tests or access to testing)
  • Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies
• If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease:
  • Consider self-testing to detect infection before spending time with them
  • Consider wearing a mask when indoors with them
• Everyone should:
  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters
  • Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible
  • Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19

As a community, the CDC recommends:

• Provide people at high risk for severe illness or death with equitable access to vaccination, testing, treatment, support services, and information
• Consider screening testing strategies for people who are exposed to COVID-19 in workplaces, schools, or other community settings as appropriate
• Implement enhanced prevention measures in high-risk congregate settings
• Distribute and administer vaccines to achieve high community vaccination coverage and ensure health equity
• Maintain improved ventilation in public indoor spaces
• Ensure access to testing, including through point-of-care and at-home tests, for all people
  • Communicate with organizations and places that serve people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease to ensure they know how to get rapid testing
• Ensure access and equity in vaccination, testing, treatment, community outreach, support services for disproportionately affected populations

The Department of Health strongly recommends:

• Continue to wear a mask indoors, especially:
  • If you have, or are around people with, pre-existing medical conditions
  • If you are immunocompromised or around people who are immunocompromised
  • If you are at risk, or around someone at risk, for severe disease
  • If you are over 65 years old, or are around people who are over 65 years old
  • Around children under the age of 5, who are not eligible for vaccination and many of whom are unable to wear a mask
  • Around children (ages 5 - 11) who are not eligible for boosters
  • In congregate living facilities
  • In schools*
  • At faith community gatherings
  • At social festivities

*The Department of Health is working with schools to put safety plans in place that may require wearing masks in certain situations. Please contact your child’s/children’s school administrator to learn more.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Department of Health at health@stlouis-mo.gov.