ST. LOUIS — St. Louis has received thousands of masks, which will go to small businesses and those who are most vulnerable.
"We finally got a big shipment of masks," St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson said during her briefing Friday. "We finally got them."
The city will distribute 15,000 masks to the housing authority to distribute to residents. Masks will also go to homeless shelters and food outreach organizations such as Meals on Wheels.
"We're trying to make sure everybody has what they need, in order to safe, to keep themselves healthy," Krewson said.
The city will also go to 35 senior living facilities and give five masks to every employee and resident. Those facilities will also receive a large supply of hand sanitizer.
Aldermen will also have a small supply.
"We know alderman are out in the neighborhoods," Krewson said, noting that she carries a small supply of masks in her purse to give to someone who may need one.
Earlier this week, the city started distributing "starter packs" of personal protective equipment to small businesses that are eligible.
As of May 15, there have been 1,593 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 95 people have died.
Krewson said recent data show a downward trend. Last week, there were 108 people on ventilators; there are 84, as of Friday.
In three days, the city will begin to ease restrictions, allowing some businesses to open under certain guidelines.
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