Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis

At an event about pregnancy and maternal health convened by the St. Louis Department of Health on Thursday, a panel of health workers said quality pre- and post-natal health care provided by workers beyond clinical health settings is essential to reducing the state’s maternal and infant mortality rates.

St. Louis public health officials said Thursday that they’re facing an uphill battle at St. Louis City Justice Center because the city’s health department has long been underfunded and is catching up on its review of detainee medical records.

Three years into the COVID pandemic, some St. Louis-area hospitals have decided to drop mask requirements, citing decreased infection levels.

The St. Louis Department of Health this week launched HealthStopSTL.com, a website that pulls together information about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in one place.

The St. Louis Department of Health will soon hire 14 new staff members to create the bureau, which will address the lack of treatment options for drug addiction and mental health problems.

St. Louis is seeing rising numbers of coronavirus cases, and the city’s health director is again considering recommending public health measures, including mask requirements, to protect people from the virus.

The St. Louis mandate that requires people to wear masks in public indoor spaces is scheduled to expire late Sunday, but local officials still recommend masking in crowded areas.

Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, St. Louis' health director, on Monday told the Board of Aldermen’s Health and Human Services Committee that city officials could drop mask requirements, given new CDC guidance. But Hlatshwayo Davis said she would continue to recommend that people wear a mask indoors.

Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis said the state’s actions on COVID and funding for public health are hurting efforts to curb COVID, especially among communities of color.

The peak of the omicron wave was three times higher than last winter’s surge, despite the widespread availability of vaccines.