ST. LOUIS COUNTY — Political opposition to a new mask mandate in St. Louis and St. Louis County appears to be building, with several state and local politicians vowing to stop the public health orders set to go into effect on Monday.
The new orders — a response to the resurgence of deadly COVID-19 cases and pleas from area hospital officials — will require most people, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, to wear masks in indoor spaces and on public transportation. People in the city and county also will be urged, but not required, to wear masks outdoors, especially in group settings.
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Wildwood Mayor Jim Bowlin, and St. Louis County Councilmen Tim Fitch, R-3rd District, and Mark Harder, R-7th District, are among politicians voicing opposition to the new orders.
Fitch said he wants County Executive Sam Page’s administration to explain the reasoning for the proposed mandate, and said he is prepared to ask the council to rescind the public health order.
Harder also signaled support on Saturday for council action.
“Many bipartisan state representatives and senators in the region feel the same way. That is why they passed House Bill 271 to give councils like ours the ability to push back on these health orders,” Harder said in an email to the Post-Dispatch. HB 271, which was signed last month by Gov. Mike Parson, limits the time frame local health orders can be in effect without approval from local elected officials.
Schmitt, who is running for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, announced Friday he plans to file a lawsuit on Monday to block the city and county from enforcing the renewed mandate.
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