Eric Schmitt to file lawsuit Monday on St. Louis returning to mask mandate

JEFFERSON, Mo. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced Friday night that he will file a lawsuit Monday to prevent the city of St. Louis and County of St. Louis brought back the mask authorization.

“Citizens of St. Louis and St. Louis County are not subjects, they are free people,” Schmitt said in a tweet Friday night.

County and City of St. Louis announced that it will require the wearing of masks in public places indoors and on public transport starting Monday. The new health order will require everyone 5 years of age and older, including those who have been vaccinated, to wear a mask. Wearing masks outdoors, especially in group settings, will be encouraged.

A statement from the mayor’s office of St. Louis says there are some exceptions to the new health orders. They include people sitting in restaurants or bars eating and drinking and people with disabilities that prevent them from wearing or removing face coverings.

Announcements about upcoming health orders do not include specific details related to social distancing, education, business or sports regulations. More details are expected once the official order is issued next week.

As the delta variant of COVID-19 passes through the Kansas City area, the region’s health leaders appear to be on the verge of calling for new masked mandates. According to the Kansas City Star, Dr Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the University of Kansas Health System, said that the area is seeing a massive increase in patient numbers and is “struggled”.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services issued a warning this week for counties along the Interstate 44 corridor. COVID-19 cases are increasing in the southwestern and central parts of the state. states due to the Delta variant, and the virus will likely move eastward to St. Louis.

Greene County, Missouri, became a national hotspot of COVID cases over the past three weeks, with the Delta variant driving a resurgence of the virus. The delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 spreads more easily and carries a higher risk of hospitalization.

About 2.48 million people have completed immunization in Missouri; 57.3% of all adults 18 years of age and older have already started this process. The highest vaccination rates are among people over 65 years of age.