O’FALLON, (AP) – After more than a year of severe restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus in Missouri’s two urban areas, Kansas City, St. Louis and St. Louis County on Friday took major steps to allow businesses, schools and other places to return to some semblance of normal.
Kansas City completely rescinded its emergency order, effective at noon on Friday. Mayor Quinton Lucas said at a news conference that the decision was made “somewhat reluctantly” after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday allowed fully vaccinated Americans to stop wearing masks indoors in most settings.
By Mike Genet mike.genet@examiner.net
The Examiner
The city of Independence and Jackson County lifted mask requirements and social distancing capacity restrictions Friday following Thursday’s updated guidance from the CDC. Kansas City also dropped its mask mandate.
In Independence, masks are still required on public transportation, per federal guidelines, and private and public businesses, places of worship and schools may still require masks and social distancing.
The city says those who have not been vaccinated are still strongly encouraged to wear a mask in all public settings.
Jackson County will continue to require masks in its facilities.