St. Louis Health Director Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis issued a mask mandate at City Hall due to rising flu and COVID-19 cases.
However, her decision was met with resistance, prompting the mayor to intervene and retract the order.
“The number of flu cases this season is 55 percent higher than the highest median value of the past five years, and continues to trend sharply upward,” St. Louis Health Director Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis wrote. (Trending: Fox News Star Accused Of Major Scandal)
“Similarly, RSV positive tests in BJC’s health system are 190 percent higher than the highest median value of the previous 4-years.”
“For COVID-19, 270 people in the St. Louis region were hospitalized with COVID-19 during the week of 12/23/23, a 26 percent increase over the previous week, and a 38 percent increase from one month prior,” Hlatshwayo Davis added.
“Wastewater surveillance also shows rapidly increasing viral activity in the City and St. Louis region,” she said.“With activity of winter viruses rising at such a rapid pace, we must take action to slow transmission and prevent strain on our hospital systems.”
While the mayor recommended mask-wearing, hospital officials did not see a significant strain on capacity.
“The City of St. Louis has updated its communications with employees surrounding masking,” the Mayor’s office stated. “The City of St. Louis Department of Health strongly recommends masking indoors for all City of St. Louis employees, effective immediately.”
“Mayor Jones supports the steps Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis and the Department have taken to safeguard the health of employees at this time of rising illness and encourages community members and employees to carefully review the recommendations from the Department of Health to keep staff and community members safe,” the statement added.
“BJC is not seeing a strain on hospital capacity. We are experiencing a seasonal increase in respiratory illness, which is typical for this time of year,” BJC Health Care officials said.
“Luckily our influenza has not spiked yet and it is going up, but it’s not nearly what it was last year,” Dr. Jim Hinrichs said. “It’s moderate. It’s not alarming.”
The incident has brought to light the ongoing power struggle between health officials and elected authorities.
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