Missouri Governor Parson Will Not Require Masks

During a Press conference on Tuesday, Missouri Governor Mike Parson said he will not require people in Missouri to wear masks in public and he feels that the mask debate has turned political.

Parson made the statement while responding to questions at his Coronavirus briefing at the state capitol.

Governor Parson will not require people in Missouri state to wear masks in public

He said it should be an individual's choice on whether or not to wear a mask, and he encouraged people to do so if it makes them safer or if an employer asks them to. He added, however, that he felt the decision on mask wearing has gotten political.

"You have to make a decision as individuals," Parson said. "You know the facts, whether to wear one or not. If I was an employer and I wanted my employees to wear a mask, I'd ask them to wear a mask. If I wanted my customers to, I would. If I don't, I wouldn't. I think some of the freedoms that we all have in individual things have to be protected also. The ones that don't want to wear a mask should have every right not to wear one."

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas initiated a citywide mask regulation that took effect on June 29th, however he has faced intense criticism for the move as being, “political” as there is no data related to cases in Kansas City that supports the initiative.

Although the state of Missouri has seen an increase in cases, it has also drastically increased the number of tests given. The CDC says the key indicator to watch is the number of Coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths. Although everyone agrees that no death is acceptable, Missouri’s death rate was among the lowest in the country in the month of June.

KPGZ News - Jim Dickerson contributed to this report