St. Louis County Department of Public Health COVID-19 Update

How to Wear, Properly Sanitize and Remove Cloth Face Coverings

As previously released, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

Cloth face coverings should:

  • fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
  • be secured with ties or ear loops
  • include multiple layers of fabric
  • allow for breathing without restriction
  • be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape

Cloth Masks should be washed and cleaned regularly, depending on frequency of use. A washing machine should suffice in properly washing a face covering. It is important to maintain proper removal of masks, as individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their face covering and wash hands immediately after removing. Additional mask information can be found here.

Business Specific Guidance Available

Together, in coordination with the City of St. Louis and the Economic Development Partnership, business operating guidelines for the entire St. Louis Region have been released and posted online at stlcorona.com. This includes, but is not limited to protocols pertaining to business such as construction companies, restaurants, personal services and transportation. Individual businesses can ask specific questions about how the guidance applies to their business by emailing business-covid@stlouisco.com.

Contact Information

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services hotline can be reached at (877) 435-8411. The St. Louis County website dedicated to the dissemination of information relating to COVID-19 is www.stlcorona.com. Please visit that website or those belonging to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO) for the most current and reputable information.