LIST: Cities with mask mandates in 2022

Ashley Halbach
[KSTP-TV]

With the omicron COVID-19 variant surging in Minnesota, a number of cities are reinstating indoor mask mandates.

Here is a list:

CITIES WITH MASK MANDATES

  • Minneapolis – implemented Thursday, Jan. 6 at 5 p.m.
    • All people over the age of 2 are required to “cover their nose and mouth with a medical-grade mask or cloth face covering … in indoor spaces of public accommodation regardless of vaccination status, except for the purposes of eating and/or drinking.”
    • Includes “any indoor locations where members of the public may gather, visit, or patronize and can include, but are not limited to, bars, restaurants, museums, theaters, schools, recreational facilities, retail locations, and service offices.”
  • St. Paul – implemented Thursday, Jan. 6 at 5 p.m.
    • All people with the exception of children at risk of suffocation must wear a manufactured or homemade cloth face covering over their nose and mouth “at all times when social distancing of at least 6 feet is not maintained, except for temporary removal of face covering when eating or drinking.”
    • Applies to all indoor places “in all city-controlled facilities and at all businesses licensed by the City of Saint Paul at all times when social distancing of at least 6 feet is not maintained, except for temporary removal of face covering when eating or drinking”
  • Cloquet – implemented Wednesday, Jan. 19
    • The emergency declaration requires masks to be worn in public buildings by anyone 5 years old or older. This includes government buildings, restaurants, grocery stores and other common spaces.
  • Duluth – A 30-day mask mandate in response to current COVID-19 case levels took effect Friday, Jan. 14. at 5 p.m.
    • All people over the age of 5 were required to wear a face covering that covers that nose and mouth at all spaces of public accommodation in the city.
    • The mandate will expire Feb. 12, 2022 at 5 p.m.
  • Hopkins – goes into effect Friday, Jan 14 at 12:01 a.m.
    • All people over the age of 5 must wear a cloth or medical grade face covering that covers that nose and mouth at all spaces of public accommodation in the city.
    • The city defines spaces of public accommodation as “a business, refreshment, entertainment or recreation facility, or an institution of any kind, whether licensed or not, whose goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations are extended, offered, sold or otherwise made available to the public. Examples include retail stores, rental establishments, city-owned buildings, and service establishments as well as recreational facilities, and service centers. This definition includes establishments and facilities that offer food and beverage not for on-premises consumption, including grocery stores, markets, convenience stores, pharmacies, drug stores, and food pantries.”
    • Expires Feb. 13, 2022.
  • Rochester – Beginning Jan. 16, masks will be required in all indoor, public spaces.
    • For more information and to access a FAQ resource, click here.
  • St. Louis Park – From Jan. 21 to Feb. 22, face coverings will be required regardless of vaccination status.
    • Individuals will be required to wear face coverings in restaurants and bars when not seated at a table, entertainment venues and common spaces in multifamily residential and multitenant office buildings.
    • Businesses will be required to post signs at their businesses notifying customers that face coverings are recovered.
    • For more information, click here

CITIES THAT HAVE REJECTED A MASK MANDATE

  • Edina – at the city council meeting on Jan. 7 the members took up “possible responses to the current COVID-19 omicron.”
    • The passed resolution did not include a mask mandate, but does strongly encourage all “residents, employees and guests in Edina … take all reasonable protective actions, such as wearing appropriate face coverings, maintain social distancing in public places, washing hands regularly and getting
      vaccinated, if possible, in order to reduce the spread and negative impacts of COVID-19 during
      this period of infection surge caused by the Omicron variant.”