Here's where masks and vaccines are required in Minnesota
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Updated: Oct. 19
The highly contagious delta variant is spreading quickly across the country, leading to a flurry of reinstated mask rules and vaccine mandates.
Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth officials announced that masks will be required inside all city-owned buildings. And First Avenue said all concertgoers will be required to provide proof of completed vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test to see shows at its venues.
Here’s where masks and vaccines are required across Minnesota. Know of more places that have announced policies? Tell us.
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- Cities, counties, reservations, MSP airport
- Colleges and universities
- K-12 schools
- Hospitals, clinics and health systems
- Entertainment venues and museums
- Stores and businesses
Cities, counties, reservations, MSP airport
Bloomington: Masks are required in city facilities for anyone 2 and older regardless of vaccination status.
Brooklyn Center: Masks are required in all city facilities, with exceptions.
Brooklyn Park: Masks are required in all city facilities.
Dakota County: Library visitors 2 and older are required to mask up regardless of vaccination status. Masks are also required for visitors in county buildings.
Duluth: Face masks required inside city buildings.
Cook County: Masks are required in county government buildings regardless of vaccination status.
Hennepin County: Employees, contractors and volunteers are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or comply with regular testing. Face coverings required for everyone 5 and older inside county buildings regardless of vaccination status.
Nicollet County: Face coverings required inside all county government buildings.
Minneapolis: Face masks required inside city-owned buildings for those 2 and older.
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport: Masks required for people 2 and older inside terminals and on airport property. The regulation also applies to shuttle buses and trams.
Olmsted County: Masks required in all county government buildings.
Ramsey County: Masks required in county facilities regardless of vaccination status.
Red Lake Reservation: All people who enter the reservation for employment or business services must be vaccinated, with exceptions for pregnant women, people with certain medical conditions, children younger than 12 and for religious reasons. Anyone not vaccinated must be tested weekly.
Rochester: Masks are required in all city facilities.
St. Louis County: Masks are required in all county buildings regardless of vaccination status.
St. Paul: Face masks required inside city-owned buildings. Those alone in their workspace do not need to mask up.
Washington County: Employees and visitors are required to wear masks in county facilities.
Colleges and universities
Augsburg University: All students, staff and faculty are required to wear masks indoors. With exceptions allowed, students must be vaccinated for the fall 2021 semester.
Carleton College: All students, faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19; requests for exemptions will be considered. Masks are required for people who are not fully vaccinated while indoors in public spaces and when around others they do not live with.
College of St. Benedict: All students, faculty and staff must be vaccinated for the fall 2021 semester.
College of St. Scholastica: Students, employees and visitors are required to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.
Dunwoody College of Technology: Face masks required on campus until the college reaches a vaccination threshold of at least 80 percent.
Gustavus Adolphus College: Students must be vaccinated, though exemptions may be requested.
Hamline University: All students and employees are required to be fully vaccinated. Some exemptions allowed.
Macalester College: All students and employees working or studying on campus are required to be fully vaccinated.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design: All students, faculty and staff working or studying on campus must be fully vaccinated. Additionally, all students, staff, faculty and visitors must wear masks indoors for at least the first six weeks of the semester regardless of vaccination status.
Minnesota State: Minnesota's public colleges, universities, technical and trade schools are requiring vaccines for students who live in college- or university-owned or managed residences; students in intercollegiate athletics and students who are required to be vaccinated for certain internships. Students in those groups who choose not to get vaccinated will be subject to weekly testing. Meanwhile, faculty and staff — as state employees — are required to prove that they are fully vaccinated or get tested weekly. Minnesota State is also requiring masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status, in areas of substantial or high transmission.
Mitchell Hamline School of Law: Students, faculty and staff must be fully vaccinated.
St. Mary’s University of Minnesota: All employees and students must wear a mask while inside university buildings. There is an exception for students in their residence hall room without guests, and staff are encouraged but not required to wear a mask while alone in an office. With the full Food and Drug Administration approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, St. Mary’s will require all students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated, with exceptions.
St. Catherine University: All students, faculty and staff are required to be vaccinated, unless the school approves a medical, religious or other exemption.
St. John’s University: All students must be vaccinated for the fall semester.
St. Olaf College: Students, faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated by the start of the fall semester, with exceptions considered.
University of Minnesota: The University of Minnesota will add the FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine to those already required for students. And students, staff, faculty and visitors to campuses, offices and facilities statewide must wear facial coverings indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Exceptions include an assigned apartment or residence hall without guests or when alone in an office or study area.
University of St. Thomas: All students, faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated before returning to campus. Exemptions will be considered.
K-12 schools
Albert Lea Public Schools: Elementary students (pre-K through fifth grade) are only required to wear masks on buses. All secondary students (grades six through 12) are required to wear a mask during the school day through Oct. 20., when the policy will be revisited. Staff are recommended but not required to wear masks.
Anoka-Hennepin Schools: Indoor masking is required for everyone in schools in grades kindergarten through six.
Bloomington Public Schools: All students and staff in early childhood through adult education are required to wear a face covering while inside school buildings. Students under the age of 2 are not required to wear a mask. Fully vaccinated staff may take off their masks with social distancing in place when alone in an office or when it supports educational instruction.
Brainerd Public Schools: All students, staff and visitors are required to wear a mask while at the district’s facilities.
Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191: Staff, students and visitors over age 3 must wear masks in schools.
District 196, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan: Masks are required in all school buildings. the guidance will change to “recommended” if transmission levels drop.
Duluth Public Schools: All students 2 and older, staff and members of the public must wear a mask while inside school buildings, regardless of vaccination status.
Eastern Carver County Schools: Masks are required indoors for students ages 2 to 12 years old and for people of all ages on school buses.
Eden Prairie Schools: Face coverings will be required for all students through sixth grade, and for all students, adults and staff on district buses. Masks are recommended for students in seventh through 12 grade. Face coverings will also be required for staff and visitors who cannot maintain 6 feet of social distancing with students. Visitors who are not fully vaccinated will be required to mask up.
Edina Public Schools: Everyone 2 and older must mask up on district buses, in schools and in athletic and activities settings, regardless of vaccination status.
Ely Public Schools: Face coverings are required for all K-12 students, staff and visitors in all indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status.
Fridley Public Schools: The school district will require every person in their buildings to wear a mask when classes start this fall, regardless of vaccination status.
Hibbing Public School: All staff, students and visitors must wear a face covering regardless of vaccination status. Some exemptions may be granted.
Hopkins Public Schools: Masks are required indoors and on school buses for all students, staff and visitors, regardless of vaccination status.
Laura Jeffrey Academy: All staff must be fully vaccinated, and masks are required.
Minneapolis Public Schools: Masks are required for staff, students and visitors inside all school buildings, regardless of vaccination status. Employees are required to be vaccinated or get tested regularly.
Minnetonka Public Schools: Visitors, students and staff in kindergarten through eighth grade will be required to wear masks at school, with exceptions. Students and staff in ninth through 12th grades are strongly recommended to wear masks.
Moorhead Area Public Schools: Masks are required indoors for all staff, students and visitors.
Mounds View Public Schools: Masks are required inside school buildings for all staff, students and visitors.
Northfield Public Schools: Masks are required in school buildings and on school district transportation for ages 2 and older.
North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District: Face masks are required for all students, staff and visitors, regardless of vaccination status.
Orono Public Schools: Students, staff and visitors must wear face coverings indoors and on school buses.
Osseo Area Schools: Staff, students and visitors over the age of 2 must wear face coverings inside school facilities.
Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools: Masks are required indoors and on district transportation for early childhood through eighth grade, plus for staff and visitors who work with or are around those age groups, regardless of vaccination status.
Robbinsdale Area Schools: Face coverings will be required for all students over age 2, staff and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, on school buses and inside all schools and district buildings.
Rochester Public Schools: Students between 2 and 12 years old will be required to wear masks inside all public school facilities during the next academic year.
Roseville Area Schools: Masks are required for anyone 3 and older indoors, regardless of vaccination status. All staff are required to be vaccinated or get tested weekly.
Rock Ridge Public Schools: Students and staff are required to wear masks.
South St. Paul Public Schools: Masks are required for anyone 2 and above inside all school buildings and all school-provided transportation, regardless of vaccination status.
South Washington County Schools: Masks are required indoors for staff, students and visitors age 2 through eighth grade, including on buses, regardless of vaccination status. Masks are strongly recommended for all people in high schools.
St. Cloud Area School District 742: Universal masking is required for children and adults inside district buildings and using district transportation.
St. Louis Park Public Schools: All students and staff must wear masks while indoors and on school buses.
St. Paul Public Schools: Masks are mandated in all St. Paul Public School buildings. The school has also voted to require school employees to get COVID-19 vaccines or get tested weekly. The policy will go into effect Oct. 15.
Wayzata Public Schools: Students pre-K through eighth grade and all staff, volunteers and visitors in schools with those students are required to wear masks inside on school days between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Students in grades nine through 12 and staff, volunteers and visitors of Wayzata High School are required to wear masks inside between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools: Everyone 2 and older will be required to wear face coverings, regardless of vaccination status. Masks will also be required on all school bus and district transportation.
White Bear Lake Area Schools: Masks are required for anyone 2 and older in district buildings and transportation regardless of vaccination status.
Winona Area Public Schools: All people in district buildings during classroom hours are required to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status.
Worthington Public Schools: Masks are required indoors in district buildings for the time being.
Hospitals, clinics and health systems
Allina Health: Employee vaccination is required.
CentraCare: A full vaccination series is required for all employees and clinicians by Dec. 15, including those working remotely.
Essentia Health: Employees will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. They must complete their series by Nov. 1. Vaccination will also be required for anyone entering Essentia Health facilities to do any work.
HealthPartners: Employees must be fully vaccinated or document a medical or religious reason for declining a vaccine by Oct. 30. Volunteers, vendors and students will also be required to be vaccinated.
Hennepin Healthcare: All employees, including those working remotely, must be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1. Employees can request an exemption for medical or religious reasons.
Mayo Clinic: All employees must be fully vaccinated or get a religious exemption by Dec. 3, or face a month of unpaid leave. If they do not get vaccinated or receive an exemption by Jan. 3, they face job termination.
M Health Fairview: The COVID-19 vaccine is required for all employees by Oct. 31, with limited exemptions.
North Memorial Health: All North Memorial Health, Maple Grove Hospital and Blaze Health employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 1.
Wabasha Eye Clinic and Plainview Eye Clinic: Only scheduling appointments for people who have been vaccinated, are under 12 years old or have a medical exemption for vaccines.
Entertainment venues and museums
Children’s Theatre Co.: All guests ages 12 1/2 and older must show either proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours prior to attending a performance, or on-site class, camp or special event. All guests and staff are also required to wear masks indoors.
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory: Masks are required both indoors and outdoors throughout the entire campus for visitors 3 and older regardless of vaccination status.
The Cedar Cultural Center: All eventgoers and staff are required to show either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within the past 72 hours.
First Avenue: All concertgoers are required to provide proof of completed vaccination, with the final dose at least 14 days prior to the event, or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken in the last 72 hours. This policy also applies to events at 7th Street Entry and Fine Line in Minneapolis, and the Turf Club, the Fitzgerald Theater and Palace Theatre in St. Paul.
Great Lakes Aquarium: All staff and visitors over the age of 3 must wear a face covering.
Great Wolf Lodge: All guests ages 5 and older are required to wear a face covering in all public areas of the resort, with some exceptions.
Guthrie Theater: Beginning Sept. 30, ticket holders are required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test received within 72 hours, including children who aren’t yet eligible for vaccines. Masks are also required for all ticket holders regardless of vaccination status.
Hennepin Theatre Trust: Attendees of all performances at the Orpheum, State and Pantages theatres 12 and older will be required to provide proof of full vaccination. Those 12 and older who “cannot be vaccinated due to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief” are required to show a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours prior. Guests are also required to wear masks in these venues.
Minnesota Children’s Museum: Everyone 5 and older is required to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status.
Minnesota Historical Society: Everyone is required to wear a mask indoors at historic sites and museums, regardless of vaccination status.
Minnesota Orchestra: Proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID test from the last 72 hours is required for entry into Orchestra Hall. Masks are also required inside the Orchestra Hall auditorium.
Minnesota Transportation Museum: Masks are required. The museum is considered a public transportation facility because short train rides are offered, so it must follow guidelines from the Transportation Security Administration.
Minnesota Zoo: Face masks are required when visiting indoor trails for everyone 3 and older.
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts: All guests are required to show proof of a full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within the past 72 hours.
Science Museum of Minnesota: Masks are required for all visitors 5 and older.
Winona Arts Center: Masks are required inside the building, unless you are actively eating or drinking. Additionally, anyone attending films, concerts, exhibit openings and special events must provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test from the last 72 hours. Artists will not be required to wear masks while rehearsing or performing on stage, but are required to be vaccinated.
Stores and businesses
Hark! Cafe: All indoor diners over 12 are required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test.
Mississippi Market Co-op: All staff and shoppers must mask up, regardless of vaccination status.
WA Frost: To eat indoors, diners must show proof of vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours.
Wedge and Linden Hills Co-op: All shoppers and staff are required to wear masks.