Following updated guidance today from the state of Minnesota for all state agencies, the Met Council is reinstating our mask requirement.

Effective immediately, all employees who are inside Met Council facilities must wear a face covering, regardless of vaccination status.

This applies to all Met Council employees, Council members, contractors, vendors, and volunteers when in the workplace or public service environment. Visitors are strongly encouraged to wear a mask.

Remember:

• Properly fitted masks must cover both your mouth and nose.
• Under a federal requirement, masks must always be worn on transit.
• Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Use the mask ear straps or ties to take it off. Wash your hands before putting on your mask and after taking it off, and wash your mask regularly.
• Keep the mask on your face the whole time you are indoors onsite, except if you are eating and/or drinking.

Mask requirement signs will be posted onsite

Met Council facilities will post signage reminding employees and visitors face coverings are required.

• Facilities are asked to post the mask requirement signage they were using previously, including the Met Council poster (PDF) and safe masking tips from the Minnesota Department of Health (PDF).
• Metro Transit managers and supervisors are asked to post today's all-staff bulletin (PDF) and updated poster for facilities (PDF) about the mask requirement.

Transmission rates increasing in the region

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance to recommend that everyone, including fully vaccinated people, wear a mask indoors in public if they are in an area of substantial or high transmission, or if their personal circumstances make it advisable, to reduce the risk of being infected with the delta variant and possibly spreading it to others. As shown in the CDC's interactive COVID-19 data map, transmission rates in Twin Cities counties are high enough that even fully vaccinated people should wear masks indoors.

Masks are an important part of a multi-layered approach to preventing the spread of COVID-19. In addition to mask wearing, employees should continue these health and safety practices:

• Get vaccinated if you have not yet done so and are eligible. Free vaccines are available at the Met Council’s Well@Work clinics and through medical providers and retailers. Visit VaccineConnector.mn.gov to make an appointment to get vaccinated.
• Stay home if you’re sick.
• Get tested if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or think you may have been exposed to COVID-19. Stay home if you tested positive for COVID-19, and contact your manager.
• Wash your hands often.
• Practice physical distancing when possible.
• Clean your work space frequently.
  
  

Share your questions and concerns

​The pandemic planning team and Met Council leaders across the organization will continue to closely monitor transmission in the region, our own Met Council cases, and updated guidelines from federal and state public health officials. We know employees are concerned about the increase in cases and the rate of infection with the variants. We are hearing from many employees who are sharing their questions and concerns with the pandemic planning team; thank you for continuing to send your feedback through the online form.