Minneapolis recommends masks indoors as COVID cases reach ‘caution’ threshold

The Minneapolis Health Department announced on Thursday that it is recommending masks at indoor public spaces for everyone, vaccinated or otherwise, as COVID cases and hospitalizations rise.

The announcement said such spaces include restaurants, theaters, family entertainment centers, schools, meetings, and state and local government offices.

There was no mention of any mandates going into effect with the announcement.

The Minneapolis Health Department cited data that shows the seven-day new case rate in Minneapolis has increased by 340%, from 51 COVID infections per 100,000 people to 227 per 100,000. According to the announcement, this puts the city in the “high community transition category.” Hospitalization rates have also increased from 1.9 hospitalizations per 100,000 people to 4.8 hospitalizations per 100,000 people.

The announcement also reiterated other mitigation techniques, including getting vaccinated and boosted, avoiding crowds, improving ventilation, and keeping physical distance from others.