Springfield Mayor Dom Sarno is lifting the mask mandate as of Monday.
In the State's Third Largest City- the mayor says that he is seeing declining rates of covid19...and far more people getting vaccinated against the virus than before. He says that is good news.
He also says that he doesn't want to do anything to hurt businesses any further...so the mask and the mandate come off as of Monday.
But the mayor warns that it could come back at any time depending on whether cases spike.
Health and Human Services Commissioner Caulton-Harris stated, “I want to applaud our residents who have worked so hard throughout this pandemic. It is because of our joint efforts working together that we are able to see this significant decrease in positive cases and we can let the mask mandate expire on Monday, November 1, 2021. The City of Springfield Department of Health and Human Services will continue to monitor and review COVID-19 cases and vaccination rates and we will make any future recommendations and/or mandates necessary for the betterment of everyone based on public health and safety.”
While lifting the mandate---there is a caveat...the city wants food service workers to continue to mask up as a further precaution.
Owners understand the request...but say they are unlikely to force their employees to do that if the mandate is being lifted for everyone else.