Minneapolis, St. Paul Roll Back Mask Mandates for Indoor Public Spaces

(KNSI) — The cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis have rolled back their mask mandates for most indoor public spaces.

Two months ago, Mayors Jacob Frey and Melvin Carter jointly re-issued mask mandates for indoor public spaces, citing the rise in COVID-19 cases connected to the omicron variant. The two said now that cases are on the decline, they are no longer required. They both say they are retaining the right to institute another mask mandate, should it be warranted. Masks will still be required in city-run buildings, but business owners can create their own mask requirements.

Masks are still required in city-run buildings, but fans who come to Minneapolis or St. Paul for a Minnesota Wild, Timberwolves, Gopher game, or for Minnesota State High School League tournaments won’t have to wear one.

Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it would greatly ease COVID-19 pandemic guidelines after the federal government decided to focus on learning how to live with the coronavirus instead of trying to prevent it. That also included changing the metrics for recommending face coverings.

Currently, masks are recommended for those living in areas of high transmission rates. The new guidance will consider case counts and transmission rates, but it will also consider hospitalizations and occupancy rates.

How the new metrics would affect masking requirements for federal transportation such as airplanes and school buses is unknown.

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