With COVID cases on the upswing, mask mandates are making a return in Minnesota. Vaccine requirements are also being imposed by some businesses and schools.
Here’s what we know about the new requirements right now.
HEALTHCARE
ALLINA HEALTH
The company is requiring all employees, students, volunteers and staff to receive at least one dose of the vaccine by Oct. 1, with limited exemptions for medical or religious reasons. Masks are required in all facilities. Employees are also required to receive the influenza vaccine by Jan. 1.
MAYO CLINIC
The Rochester-based Mayo Clinic announced in July all employees must be vaccinated for COVID-19, or undergo added training and agree to special mitigation protocols that include social distancing and masking while on campus. Sept. 17 is the Mayo Clinic cutoff date for employees.
SANFORD HEALTH
Sanford Health, with multiple locations in western Minnesota, became the first hospital in the region to mandate vaccination for employees beginning Nov. 1.
ESSENTIA HEALTH
Duluth-based Essentia Health says its employees must be vaccinated unless they qualify for a medical or religious exemption. Employees are expected to receive their first dose of vaccine by Oct. 1 and their second dose in a two-dose series by Nov. 1.
CHILDREN’S, HEALTH PARTNERS
Children’s Minnesota is joining other local health care organizations in requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for employees, staff, volunteers and contractors. The requirement will be in effect Sept. 7. Meanwhile, Health Partners said they are rolling out a similar employee vaccination program as other health care organizations.
NONPROFITS
EPISCOPAL HOMES
Episcopal Homes, which operates several assisted living and senior housing facilities in St. Paul, is requiring all employees to be vaccinated by Sept. 1.
MUSEUMS
MINNESOTA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
Minnesota Children’s Museum will require all visitors ages 5 and older to wear masks starting Aug. 7. Masks are strongly encouraged for children ages 2 to 4.
AMERICAN SWEDISH INSTITUTE
American Swedish Institute will require all visitors, staff and volunteers to wear face coverings while indoors regardless of vaccination status starting Aug. 5.
SCHOOLS
ST. PAUL, OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS
St. Paul Public Schools is requiring students, staff and visitors to wear face masks this fall. Other public school districts doing the same include Minneapolis, South Washington County, Rochester, Robbinsdale, North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale, Duluth, Burnsville-Savage-Eagan and Fridley.
MINNESOTA STATE
Minnesota State colleges and universities are requiring vaccines or weekly testing for all employees, as well as for students who live in campus housing or play intercollegiate athletics.
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
The University of Minnesota said it would begin requiring students and staff to either be vaccinated or submit to regular COVID-19 testing once the U.S. Food and Drug Administration fully approves a vaccine.
MAC, ST. THOMAS, HAMLINE, ST. KATE’S
Macalester College, the University of St. Thomas and Hamline and St. Catherine universities are among 12 private colleges in the state requiring vaccines for students, faculty and staff during the fall semester.
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
STATE AGENCIES
Gov. Tim Walz ordered on-site state employees to get vaccinated or test weekly for the coronavirus.
MINNESOTA COURTS
The state is leaving it up to local districts to decide whether to require masks in the courtroom, Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea announced at the end of July.
ST. PAUL, MINNEAPOLIS
The mayors of St. Paul and Minneapolis announced new mask mandates for city employees, on top of masking recommendations for businesses. The precautions, dropped by both cities in early June, are reinstated in response to rising numbers of COVID infections. Beginning Wednesday, any visitor over age 2 must don a mask before entering the city hall or another city-owned building in either municipality.
DAKOTA, HENNEPIN, RAMSEY, WASHINGTON COUNTIES
Masks are required inside county buildings. This applies to employees, volunteers and visitors, regardless of vaccination status.
BUSINESSES
CUB FOODS, LUNDS & BYERLYS
Cub Foods and Lunds & Byerlys supermarkets are requiring all employees wear masks because of mounting fears of COVID. Other metro-area grocery stores, including Hy-Vee Supermarkets, do not require all employees to wear masks. All stores recommend — but do not require — that customers wear masks. None of the stores require employees to be vaccinated.
FIRST AVENUE, TURF CLUB
Fans planning to see concerts at First Avenue and its other venues now need to prove they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or supply proof of a negative test taken in the prior 72 hours. Those venues include the Turf Club, Fitzgerald Theater and Palace Theatre in St. Paul.
ELSEWHERE
Masks are now recommended in most of Minnesota’s 87 counties as the more contagious delta variant continues to spread. Here’s a map of Minnesota showing the COVID-19 hotspots.
