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begins at 6 a.m. on Sunday, January 16, 2022, and will be in effect until 11:59 p.m. on February 7, 2022, unless rescinded sooner.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. 

Read this week's COVID newsletter for details on boosters; other COVID-19 mitigation efforts; recommendations for large events; updates from Olmsted County Public Health Services, Mayo Clinic, and Olmsted Medical Center; and a reminder to not go to the emergency department if experiencing mild COVID symptoms. 

Olmsted County, Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota, and the Rochester Salvation Army have developed an isolation plan for residents who are homeless, seeking shelter, and have tested positive for COVID-19. This plan is effective immediately.

There is still time to submit your application for the 4(d) Affordable Housing Incentive Program. The 4(d) program helps property owners obtain property tax reductions for agreeing to keep a portion of rental units affordable for 10 years. Submit your application materials before 5 p.m. on Monday, January 31, 2022.

Pfizer boosters available at five months after primary series.

Additional primary dose for certain immunocompromised children.

Isolation and quarantine periods updated.

Redistricting listening sessions are an opportunity for you to share valuable information with local governments before redistricting occurs. This can include sharing perspectives from communities of interest, such as a neighborhood, community, or group of people who have common policy concerns and would benefit from being maintained in a single district. 

To help Olmsted County residents learn more about updates to the General Land Use Plan (GLUP), a collection of StoryMaps is now available for public review on the county’s GLUP webpage. These user-friendly summaries introduce Olmsted County’s land use planning efforts and policies, the factors that influence them, as well as plan updates and implementation strategies.

Commissioner Mark Thein assumed the role of chair of the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners on January 4, 2022. He shared these words at the January 4 Board of Commissioners meeting.

If you would like to make a difference in your community, Olmsted County has several volunteer openings on several advisory boards/commissions!

Olmsted County Public Health Services will be holding a clinic for individuals to receive their COVID Pfizer booster on Saturday, January 8, 2022 from 9 a.m. to noon. Only Pfizer boosters will be administered at this clinic and you must register in advance.