St. Louis Arch requiring masks during visit

 For your next visit to St. Louis, keep a face mask handy.

As of Tuesday, the Gateway Arch National Park now requires masks in accordance with new guidance from the National Park Service.

The Center for Disease Control said St. Louis has a high community transmission rate of COVID. Masks had become optional again in June when COVID-19 levels began to fall.

All staff and visitors will be required to wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask such as a surgical mask regardless of vaccination status. Cloth masks are not considered to be high-quality and are not allowed.

Surgical masks will be available to visitors at the information desk free of charge.

The Gateway Arch National Park Service said they will continue to monitor COVID levels in the St. Louis area and update the mask policy when levels are down.