Olmsted County Public Health Services supports City of Rochester mask mandate

  • News
  • Jan 15, 2022
Wear a Mask

On Saturday, January 15, 2022, Rochester Mayor Kim Norton signed a Declaration of Local Emergency requiring masks to be worn in all indoor areas in Rochester, regardless of an individual's vaccination status.

The mandate begins at 6 a.m. on Sunday, January 16, 2022, and will be in effect until 11:59 p.m. on February 7, 2022, unless rescinded sooner. The Rochester City Council voted in favor of the plan on January 16. 

Olmsted County Public Health Services (OCPHS) has continued to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Minnesota Department of Health  guidelines, both of which recommend that individuals in communities of high transmission wear masks indoors to reduce the spread of COVID-19.  

Olmsted County also acknowledges and supports that each city’s elected officials will institute masking policies most appropriate for their respective communities as situations evolve locally.

With the rapid spread of COVID-19 currently impacting hospitals and health care systems, Olmsted County supports the City of Rochester’s decision to implement a mask mandate at this time. Olmsted County also continues to require masks in all of its buildings and facilities until further notice.