Minneapolis mask requirement remains in effect for all indoor public places

Minneapolis’ mask requirement remains in place pending review of public health data and local vaccination rates. Schools, private businesses, public transportation and other settings also have face covering requirements.

For now, if you’ve been fully vaccinated you still need to follow local requirements, guidance at your workplace and individual businesses. You should still watch for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick, and get tested if they appear.

If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, get a vaccine as soon as you can. We know that vaccinated people are less likely to spread COVID-19 and that COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing COVID-19 disease, especially severe illness and death.

Minnesota now vaccinating 12- 15-year-olds

Minnesotans ages 12 to 17 can now be vaccinated at state sites that have Pfizer vaccines, including the State Fair Grounds, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, and the Mall of America. Appointments are not necessary; these sites take walk-ins. A parent or guardian must be present with 12-15-year-olds, and 16-17-year-olds can get consent in person or online beforehand through the registration process. Families – join your child and get vaccinated at the same time.

Vaccinating kids will get them back to the summer activities they love: sports, seeing friends, concerts. Getting vaccinated will give them a significant level of protection to keep them, their families and their communities safe.

Get a free COVID-19 test and help stop the spread

Testing is still an important way to help stop the spread of COVID-19 along with vaccinations, wearing masks correctly, keeping 6 feet from anyone you don’t live with and washing hands.

The State is urging athletes, coaches, referees, volunteers and other sports participants to get tested for COVID-19 weekly. Students not participating in sports or other group activities are still strongly encouraged to test every two weeks.

The State is offering free at-home saliva tests. Any person in Minnesota can order a saliva test kit from the COVID-19 Test at Home program.

Other options include testing sites at the Masjid Omar Islamic Center, Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, and Minneapolis Convention Center. Visit the State’s COVID-19 testing webpage to register.

COVID-19 emergency rent and utility bill assistance

If you have experienced hardship due to the pandemic and need help paying your rent or utility bills, you may be eligible for COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance.  

While you can’t be evicted for not paying rent during Gov. Walz’s executive order, rent is still due. When the order is lifted, people owing unpaid rent could be at risk for eviction.

Eligible Minneapolis renters can receive help with rent and utility bills dated on or after March 13, 2020. If you qualify, you could receive up to 15 months total assistance.  

Get ready by downloading this checklist to see if you’re eligible and find out what documents you’ll need to be ready when the program opens for applications later this month. 

RentHelpMN is a collaborative effort among the City of Minneapolis and other local and State governments across Minnesota to provide emergency rental assistance to Minneapolis households and households across the state.

Landlords

Download the landlords checklist for information about how to alert your tenants, help them get ready to apply and prepare your documentation for when the program opens for applications.

You can sign up for email updates about when RentHelpMN will open and how to apply on the State’s website.

Free COVID-19 tests available Thursdays at Columbia Golf Course

The City of Minneapolis is offering free COVID-19 saliva testing at Columbia Golf Course.

The testing will take place at the Columbia Manor reception hall from 4-7 p.m. on March 25 and April 1, 8, and 15. You can expect to get test results in about 24 hours.

Testing is encouraged and available to everyone, whether or not you have symptoms. It’s one of the best ways to stop the spread of COVID-19 and help prevent exposing your loved ones to the virus along with wearing masks correctly, keeping 6 feet from anyone you don’t live with and hand-washing.

Testing is especially important now with people going back to school and because some of the recently found variants seem to spread more easily than the original strain — up to 70% more.

Do not eat, drink or use tobacco products for 30 minutes before taking a COVID-19 saliva test.

Find information about other free COVID-19 testing location on the city's website.