According to a report form the Missouri Independent and the Documenting COVID-19 project, the state health department was commissioned by the governor's office to analyze mask effectiveness but didn't release the information publicly after it was shown they worked to stem COVID-19.
The state health department was asked to commission the study by the office of the governor. The data showed the death and infections rates in different parts of the state.
The data showed that masks were effective during the spread of the coronaviruses in the state. The analysis was requested by Alex Tuttle, the liaison to the health department.
The Independent and the Documenting COVID-19 project obtained the emails using a Missouri sunshine law.
Donald Kauerauf, the director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, wrote that he was confident that communities where masks were required had a lower death rate.
The report said that Kauerauf noted that there were other factors that could contribute to the data, but that masks were effective. Since the beginning of the Pandemic, public-health experts have encouraged face masks as a way to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Scientists from the UK, Australia, and China analyzed more than 70 published studies and found that mask wearing was the most effective public health measure for fighting the coronaviruses.
The areas in Missouri with mask mandates experienced an average of 15.8 cases per day for every 100,000 residents compared to 21.7 cases per day for areas that did not have mask requirements, according to the report.
Both mask mandates and vaccination mandates have been opposed by Parson, a Republican.
In response to the Missouri Independent report, the deputy editor of the Missouri Independent was called a "political blogger" by the governor.
Keller wrote an article that was misleading, according to Parson.
He took the data out of context in order to fit his narrative. Important information that provides context for the whole story was left out. "This type of reporting is unethical and needs to stop because it is misleading the public and poses a danger to the credibility of our institutions."
There is no proof that mandates saved lives and prevented COVID-19 infections in Missouri's biggest cities.
The data used to create the analysis had been publicly available for more than a year and he was not anti-mask.
