Mask mandate lifted in Minnesota
In an announcement on Friday, May 14, the city of Eden Prairie signalled it was following the executive order by Governor Tim Walz ending the Minnesota statewide mask mandate. Walz’s order follows a May 13, 2021 notice by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) announcing new mask guidance.
As noted in the May 14 City of Eden Prairie announcement:
- The City of Eden Prairie does not have a mask mandate in place and will continue to follow executive orders issued by the governor and COVID-19 guidance provided by the CDC
- Effective today, residents visiting City facilities are no longer required to wear face coverings or physically distance
- The CDC recommends those who are not fully vaccinated to continue wearing masks indoors
- Private businesses may still require face masks inside their facilities and the public should follow those requirements
- Minnesota’s Safe Learning Plan, along with the existing face covering guidance for schools and child care settings, remain in effect
COVID-19 vaccines are now available to residents ages 12 and over, visit mn.gov/COVID19/Vaccine to learn more and sign up.
Eden Prairie Schools in-school mask mandate remains in place until May 28, 2021
Following Walz’s announcement and the notification by the city of Eden Prairie, Eden Prairie Schools reiterated that the in-school mask mandate will remain in place until the end of the current school term.
“The Minnesota Department of Education provided guidance that the state’s Safe Learning Plan remains in effect through the last day students are in school,” stated the EP schools announcement, and “Face coverings must continue to be worn on school buses and inside school buildings.”
The face covering requirement will end for Eden Prairie Schools after May 28, 2021, according to the EP schools announcement.
(Editor’s note: This article was updated to reflect the announcement by Eden Prairie schools maintaining an in-school mask mandate. On a related note, Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN) recently changed its “COVID Resources” menu category to “Health” (COVID Resources are now a subsection of the Health category).)