“We are encouraging, but not requiring, everyone to wear a mask,” Vincent said. “We won’t be requiring anyone to wear a mask, nor are we supplying them, but please feel free to wear one, in whatever form you may choose.”

In a tweet Thursday, the secretary of state’s office said: “We want everyone to be safe and healthy, and we also need to continue doing work for the people of Missouri!”

Parson weighed in Friday afternoon at his daily briefing when asked about Ashcroft’s decision.

“What I have to worry about is the 50,000 state employees that fall under my umbrella, and my directors,” Parson said. “But each elected official has the ability to make their own decisions, when they feel like it’s safe for those employees to come back.

“With me I worry about the state employees, and I let the elected officials worry about theirs,” Parson said.

Other state officials aren’t reopening their offices just yet.

Mary Compton, spokeswoman for Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, like Ashcroft a Republican, said most employees in the treasurer’s office started working from home on March 16.