Missouri Lawmaker urges Governor to issue statewide mask mandate

Veteran Missouri lawmaker who battled COVID in March and April is urging Governor Mike Parson to issue a statewide face mask order. Grandview Democrat State Representative Joe Runions, who’s 79, tells Capitol reporters that the governor should wear a mask at public events:

State health officials say Missouri has had 60,935 confirmed COVID cases. Governor Parson opposes a statewide mask order, telling Missourinet he is not anti-mask but is anti-mandate. The governor also says one-point-eight million cloth masks have been made available through the State Emergency Management Agency. State officials are finalizing a plan to distribute them to school districts.