 | Christine T. Nguyen | MPR News
July 23, 2020
Everything you need to know about the mask mandate | |
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Good morning. Today, it's all things mask mandate — after the weather.
A cloudy start to the day. Twin Cities will clear by evening with highs in the lower 80s and a chance of late-night showers. Statewide, highs from the mid-70s to mid-80s with a chance of nighttime storms in the northwest. More on Updraft | Forecast
It's official: Minnesotans must wear masks in restaurants, stores and other indoor gathering spaces. “This is the quickest way to ending the COVID pandemic,” Gov. Tim Walz told reporters. “It is the surest way to getting us to the therapeutics and vaccines” while continuing to reopen the economy.
The order takes effect Saturday. And it'll remain in effect until Minnesota's peacetime emergency ends.
There are many situations where a mask will be required: - At public, indoor spaces and businesses
- Waiting outside to get into those spaces
- On public transportation, in taxis and in vehicles used for a business purpose
- While working outside in situations where distancing cannot be maintained
- Inside or outside at businesses requiring face coverings
There are a few exceptions... Children under 5 aren't required to wear a mask, though those age 2 and older are encouraged to do so. People with other certain conditions or those who can't remove a mask without help also have exceptions. And, of course, you can take your mask off when eating or drinking at a socially distanced establishment or when visiting a dentist, among other situations.
Businesses must enforce the order. They must communicate the order to workers and customers by, at minimum, posting a visible sign saying face coverings are mandatory.
For those who don't listen and refuse to wear a mask ... Treat them like any other challenging customer, said Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove. Best practices, he said, include offering customers masks; requesting that they leave if they refuse to wear a mask; offering alternatives, including curbside pick-up; if necessary, calling law enforcement.
“We don’t want businesses to feel like they're the mask police,” Grove said. “We don’t want physical altercations.”
There are potential penalties for violating the order. Minnesota leaders say they expect voluntary compliance with the order, saying their goal is protectiong people — not enforcement. However, individuals who don't comply face a possible petty misdemeanor citation and a fine of up to $100. For businesses, penalties may include criminal charges, civil fines up to $25,000, and government action to regulate the business.
For everything else on masks and the mandate ... read our full FAQ.
The mandate comes as hospitalizations continue climbing, once again. Here are the latest coronavirus statistics: - 47,961 cases confirmed (507 new) via 888,551 tests
- 1,552 deaths (4 new)
- 4,771 cases requiring hospitalization
- 273 people remain hospitalized; 119 in intensive care
- 42,234 patients no longer requiring isolation
— Cody Nelson, MPR News | @codyleenelson |
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