CPS drops mask mandate but some places still require face coverings

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Public Schools has dropped its mandate for face coverings to be worn at school, effective Friday, citing declining coronavirus case rates and fewer staff and students being infected.

It's the last district and last government organization in Mid-Missouri that still had a broad mask requirement. But some mandates remain in certain settings and in other Missouri cities.

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, public transportation such as airports and buses still require masks under a federal order. Joel Radford a Columbia resident who rides the bus tells me one time a person was told he couldn't ride the bus because he didn't have his mask. 

"I don't like want to offend anybody by saying this but to me that just kind of seems like a bit unfair. Like I don't know who this guy was or what he was trying to do for all i know he could be trying to like get to his kid at the hospital or something," said Radford.

Radford said he understands the need for the masks but feels since vaccines have been available for over a year the masks have become unnecessary.

Janet Hojnowski is one Columbia woman who says she feels it's not right for the masks to be federally mandated and the concern for COVID is not like it was in the beginning. She says she wears her mask on the bus out of respect but hasn't heard many complaints.

"In general, I didn't ever hear anyone say anything because we respect the bus driver and you know the mandate because it is required," said Hojnowski

And health care facilities still require masks to be worn -- MU Health Care, Boone Health, Capital Region and SSM-St. Mary's requires all visitors and patients to wear face coverings at all times.

Boone Health and Capital Region say an exception can be made for patients because of health reasons.

St.Louis County and St. Louis city require masks to be worn for all people ages 5 and older while in indoor and enclosed public buildings and spaces and on public transportation. Kansas City requires masks to be worn in public. Springfield requires masks to be worn indoors.

Kansas City also passed an ordinance on Feb 3 that requires face coverings at schools where children in grades K-12 attend class, with certain exceptions. The ordinance will expire on Feb. 17.

The CDC says the best mask to use is an N-95 and it filters out 95 percent of particles.