Gov. Walz: MN Mask Mandate Will End By July 1

MINNESOTA — Minnesota's statewide mask mandate will end by July 1, Gov. Tim Walz announced Thursday. It could end earlier, though, once 70 percent of Minnesotans 16 or older receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Nearly all other statewide COVID-19 restrictions will end by May 28, according to the governor.

As of Thursday, more than 2.6 million Minnesotans have received at least one dose of the vaccine. The state is on track to vaccinate 70 percent of Minnesotans by the end of June, Walz's office said.

"Our nation-leading vaccination effort has put us in a strong position to safely transition toward life as we used to know it," Walz said in a statement Thursday.

"The pandemic is not over and we have work to do. But from the State Fairgrounds, to doctor’s offices, to retrofitted Metro Transit buses that deliver vaccines where they’re most needed, Minnesotans now have more opportunities than ever to get the vaccine when and where they want to. As cases recede, more people get vaccinated every day, and vaccines are readily available to all who want it, we can now confidently and safely set out our path back to normal."

The governor unveiled a three-step plan for ending COVID-19 restrictions in Minnesota:

Starting May 7

• No more limits for outdoor dining, events, and other get-togethers, and ends the mask requirement outdoors except for "large venues" with more than 500 people.
• No more state-mandated closing time for bars and restaurants

Starting May 28

• Face masks only apply indoors and for outdoor events that exceed 500 people
• No more capacity and distancing limits, including for indoor gatherings

July 1 or earlier

The mask mandate will end no later than July 1, regardless of vaccination rates. However, the mandate could end earlier once 70 percent of Minnesotans age 16 years and older — or a total of 3,087,404 Minnesotans — get at least one dose of the vaccine.

When the statewide mask mandate ends, local governments can set their own mask policies if they choose.

Schools

Policies under Minnesota's "Safe Learning Plan" for schools for the remainder of the spring will continue because residents under 16 are not able to get the vaccine yet, according to the governor.