Minnesota's mask mandate officially ended today after 10 months.
Gov. Tim Walz ended the order shortly after the CDC announced that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks in almost any setting.
Here are answers so far to the most common questions we've heard:
Note: This is a developing change - questions and answers will be added and revised as we get more information.
Is the state mask mandate officially over?
Yes - it officially ended shortly before 1pm, according to several state news sources.
Is Winona's local mask order still in effect?
No. When the order was made in July 2020, it was tied to any state mandate superseding it. That happened a few weeks later when MN's mask mandate was announced, and the council did not extend the local order.
Where are masks still required?
Per the state order, masks are still required on public transit, in healthcare and long-term care facilities, and in jails, prisons and shelters.
Will businesses still require masks?
Businesses can set their own rules. Please be patient as businesses sort out this change and make decisions in the coming days.
Can my employer still require masks?
Yes - private employers can set their own rules.
Will masks be required at city facilities, like the library, Friendship Center, or City Hall?
Do kids and teachers still have to wear masks at school?
Yes. Minnesota's Safe Learning Plan still requires masks for schools and childcare settings through the end of the 2020-21 school year. This includes all buildings and buses.
Wearing a mask is a choice for any setting - especially for those who are not yet fully vaccinated, immunocompromised, caring for or with younger children, and other situations.
I'm not fully vaccinated. Should I still wear a mask?
Some people are choosing to. Your risk depends on a lot of factors - the number of people you interact with, whether you physically distance, whether folks around you are vaccinated, etc.
What does it mean to be "fully vaccinated?"
You're considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your final shot.