"St. Louis Reverses Mask Mandate for City Employees Amid Surging Illness Cases"

St. Louis City briefly implemented a mask mandate for city employees due to a significant increase in respiratory illnesses, including a 455% rise in flu cases and higher COVID hospitalizations, before quickly changing the policy to a strong recommendation instead of a mandate. Health officials, noting milder cases of illness, continue to emphasize the importance of vaccinations, distancing, and mask-wearing to prevent the spread of diseases. St. Louis County has reinstated a mask mandate for healthcare workers in direct contact with patients and is monitoring the situation for potential policy changes.