Essentia Health says that universal masking for patients, visitors and staff will remain a requirement in all of their facilities across Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota.
They add that while they respect the decision to loosen the mask mandates, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent guidelines do not cover health care settings like hospitals, clinics and long-term-care facilities. In fact, the CDC recommends visitors to health care settings continue wearing a well-fitted face covering, regardless of an individual’s vaccination status.
COVID-19 remains prevalent in the communities we serve and wearing a mask has been proven to reduce transmission of the virus. This is especially important among the vulnerable populations often found in health care facilities, including those with compromised immune systems.
Let’s Give Businesses A Minute To Figure Out Mask Policies
On Friday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz abruptly declared Minnesota s mask mandate to be over. By Friday afternoon people were already blasting businesses on social media who were asking them to wear a mask in the store.
It s been a challenging year for businesses not named Google, McDonald s or Amazon during the pandemic (to say the least). Ever-changing hours of operation, constantly changing mandates and laws about masking, employee shortages, etc.
After saying just last week that the mask mandate would be lifted on July 4th, Governor Walz simply did not give businesses enough time to figure out the best way they can keep their employees, customers and business safe moving forward.
DTA Will Still Require Masks On Buses and In Transit Hubs
The recent announcement from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz regarding the ending of the face covering requirement was an encouraging sign in the fight against COVID-19. However, private businesses and local municipalities may still put in place face covering requirements. One such business in Duluth that will still require face coverings is the Duluth Transit Authority.
The DTA announced to the public Friday that despite the change in guidance from the Centers For Disease Control, they are still requiring masks on all buses and in transit hubs. This policy applies to all passengers, including those who are fully vaccinated.
Jennifer Lewerenz/KNSI News
Update posted 11:12 a.m.
(KNSI) – After saying a budget deal has been reached, legislative leaders at the Capitol now say there is no deal, but rather they’ve “reached an agreement on target numbers” with Governor Tim Walz.
In a statement, Governor Walz says, “This bipartisan budget confronts the challenges we face today while investing in the future to help Minnesotans emerge from this crisis stronger than before. Not every Minnesotan was hit by COVID-19 equally – many families and small businesses have struggled tremendously over the past year. That is why it’s so important that we make it easier for families to get by, ensure our students catch up on learning loss, and provide support to our small businesses.”
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz kicked off the Minnesota fishing opener today in Otter Tail County by casting a line this morning on Otter Tail Lake.