Here’s where there are new mask and vaccine requirements in Minnesota – TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press
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.
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.
SCHOOLS
UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS, HAMLINE UNIVERSITY, ST. CATHERINE UNIVERSITY
The University of St. Thomas is joining Hamline University and St. Catherine’s and a slew of other universities in the state and nationwide to require vaccines for students, faculty and staff during the fall semester.
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
The University of Minnesota is now requiring everyone to wear a mask while inside campus buildings. Other schools are reviewing their plans.
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
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.
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.
