Springfield’s mask ordinance is now in place until April 9.
Springfield City Council voted unanimously Monday night to extend the mandate, which requires face coverings for anyone over age 11. It had been set to expire on January 9.
The director of the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, Clay Goddard, told council the vaccine offers hope, but the pandemic is not over yet.
"We're certainly in the home stretch, the last leg of the race," he said. "We need to finish strong as our hospitals truly do depend on measures like this."
There were two people who spoke against the extension at last night’s meeting and one who spoke in favor of it.