Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued Executive Order 20-81 on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 requiring people in Minnesota to wear a face covering in all public indoor spaces and businesses beginning Saturday, July 25, 2020.
Governor’s Executive Order 20-81
Governor’s Face Covering Requirements
Governor’s Face Covering FAQ
For more information about face coverings and the Governor’s Executive Order, please see the Frequently Asked Questions About the Requirement to Wear Face Coverings.
The Governor’s face covering order preempts and ends the amended emergency order passed by the Roseville City Council scheduled to go into effect on Monday, July 27, 2020. Section 14.a. of the resolution adopted by the Roseville City Council states that Roseville’s order will stay in place until “Gov. Walz enacts a statewide order requiring face coverings.”
Similar to Roseville’s emergency order, the Governor’s order requires all Minnesotans to wear face coverings:
- In all public indoor spaces and businesses, including when waiting outside to enter the public indoor space or business
- When riding on public transportation
- When working outdoors in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained
- When present in a business that has elected to require face coverings
Exemptions to the Governor’s order include:
- Children under age 2 years and children between the ages of 2 and 5 years old who cannot wear a face covering reliably in compliance with CDC guidance
- Persons who have medical or other health conditions, disabilities or mental health, developmental, or behavioral needs that make it difficult to tolerate wearing a face covering
- Any person who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, sleeping, incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance
- Persons at their workplace when wearing a face covering would create a safety hazard to the person or others as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines
- Alternatives to masks such as clear face shields may be considered for those with health conditions or situations where wearing a mask is problematic
Face coverings are also exempted from use when at home or in an assigned room or living unit in a place of temporary lodging, when in a private vehicle being used for private purposes and when outdoors or participating in outdoor recreation.