ST. LOUIS — St. Louis City has officially ended its mask mandate. 

In a statement last week, the city’s department of health said the mask mandate would expire on Saturday, March 5, at 11:59 p.m. because of the decline in number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and positivity percentage rate, along with updated guidance from the CDC.

The department still recommends wearing a mask in public spaces to protect themselves and high-risk groups, including the elderly, immunocompromised, children under five and who are not able to get the vaccine, those in congregate living facilities, and people with pre-existing medical conditions.

“The Department of Health will continue to monitor these key metrics moving forward and will adapt policy to continue to keep our region protected from COVID-19,” the statement says.

Director of Health for the City of St. Louis  Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis said “the priority must still be a community harm reduction approach because we are still not out of the woods.”

Mayor Tishaura Jones said the masking, vaccine  and testing policies for city workers have helped saves lives.

“St. Louisans worked together to move key metrics, like hospitalization rates and new case counts, in the right direction, but we have to keep protecting each other; testing, hand-washing, staying home when sick, as well as vaccination and boosting remain critical tools to help to protect our families and communities. I encourage St. Louisans to respect the personal choice of those who continue wearing masks in public spaces, and if you have not yet been vaccinated or boosted, make sure you do so as soon as you can.”

The department also is working with schools to put safety plans in place that may require masks in specific situations, according to the statement. City Hall and city offices will still require masks for employees and visitors in indoor common areas and spaces.