A major American city has been thrown into chaos after a foreign-born health official decided to implement a surprise mask mandate. Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, the health director of St. Louis and born in Zimbabwe, issued the order without consulting city officials. The order would have required all employees, elected officials, and visitors to wear medical face masks inside City Hall, as well as forcing city officials to wear masks when riding in city vehicles. However, the mayor stepped in to bring some sanity to the situation.
In her order, Hlatshwayo Davis cited the current viral infections, including COVID-19 and the flu, as justification for the mandate. She claimed that the number of flu cases this season is 55% higher than the highest median value of the past five years and that the RSV positive tests have increased by 190%. In addition, she highlighted the rising hospitalizations due to COVID-19 and the rapidly increasing viral activity in the city and region as reasons for the mandate.
The St. Louis City Hall had already been under a mask mandate until March 2022, which Hlatshwayo Davis had also implemented. However, her latest mandate caused uproar among city employees who questioned her authority to make such a decision. It was quickly brought to the attention of the governor’s office, who then alerted the mayor. The mayor’s office issued an order countermanding the health director’s mandate, stating that the city does not require its employees to wear masks, regardless of their vaccination status.
However, the mayor did side with Hlatshwayo Davis to a certain extent by strongly recommending that all employees wear masks. The city’s updated communication with its employees now includes this recommendation. Despite the alarmism from the mayor and the health director, hospital officials in St. Louis have not reported a strain on their capacity or an unexpected rise in patients that would warrant a mask mandate. Both BJC Health Care and Mercy Hospital have stated that the current increase in respiratory illnesses is a typical winter scenario and not a cause for alarm.
This incident highlights the power and authority that health officials have become accustomed to wielding during the pandemic. It also shows the importance of checks and balances in government, as the state of Missouri had to pass rules to limit the powers of health officials in situations like this. It is a reminder that these officials, though unelected, still hold immense power and must be held accountable by the government and the public.
The St. Louis health director decided to reimpose mask mandates but the mayor shot her down cuz this ain’t 2020 anymore https://t.co/dAa1EkMmgZ via @Not_the_Bee
— Lisa Makela (@lisamakela2) January 8, 2024
But amidst all the chaos, it is also important to remember that the health and safety of the public should be the top priority. As Dr. Jim Hinrichs, the interim co-director of the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, stated, “Luckily our influenza has not spiked yet and it is going up, but it’s not nearly what it was last year. It’s moderate. It’s not alarming.” The city and its officials must work together to find a balance between protecting public health and maintaining a sense of normalcy. This incident serves as a reminder that the pandemic is not over, and we must all do our part to keep ourselves and others safe.