Springfield mayor Ken McClure calls for statewide mask mandate in letter to Gov. Parson
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - Springfield mayor Ken McClure calls for a statewide mask mandate in a letter he recently sent to Missouri Gov. Mike Parson.
The letter was dated on August 13, 2020, exactly one week ago Thursday.
The city of Springfield issued a mask mandate on July 16, 2020 in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. Several cities and counties around the state have issued similar orders, but there is no statewide mandate in Missouri.
In the letter, McClure cites CDC findings after a Great Clips employee in Springfield tested positive for COVID-19 in May. The research determined that masking helped limit the spread with nearly 140 people exposed.
“A masking policy is now a proven tool to help mitigate the spread of the disease,” McClure says in the letter. “When compared with the possibility of further shutting down our community, it has been a very easy decision for me.”
Gov. Parson, who paid a visit to Springfield on Thursday, says he has not had time to read the letter yet, but knows it was sent to his office. Rather than a statewide mandate, he is leaving it up to communities to decide.
“The state’s so diverse,” said Parson. “We still have areas in the state that haven’t had any problems to speak of with COVID-19. And as governor you’ve got to balance that.”
“The main thing is, I’ve always encouraged people to wear a mask, I still encourage people to be safe. I’ve supported the mayors when they’ve made those decision. What they make for their cities is totally different, and when you’re governor, you’re trying to make policy for the entire state.”
The entire letter can be read below:
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