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This newsletter provides updates on the City's response to COVID-19, recovery efforts underway, the State's investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department and other important news and information from the City of Minneapolis.
For information about the response to the pandemic and the impacts to City services, visit minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus.
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Mayor Jacob Frey’s emergency regulation requiring people in Minneapolis to wear cloth face masks or coverings when they are in an indoor place of public accommodation is in effect.
Medical research has indicated that COVID-19 may have a high rate of transmission through respiratory droplets, particularly while indoors, and that wearing a mask can help reduce the risk of community spread. Research has also shown that people who don’t show signs of the virus can still spread it without knowing they have it.
Businesses will not be required to provide masks to customers or employees themselves, though employers shall be required to mandate the use of masks by their staff.
Watch and share these videos about how to use and make masks: English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong.
Non-compliance should be reported through 311. Find more information here.
Donate homemade face masks at Minneapolis fire stations for Mask Drive Mondays
Minneapolis residents can deliver homemade masks to their local fire station from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Monday for Mask Drive Mondays.
Remember to stay 6 feet away from others when dropping off your donation. Note: fire stations are not equipped to take any other donations at this time. The City plans to distribute the donated masks throughout Minneapolis to residents, organizations and businesses that are most in need, including food shelves, congregate living facilities, small corner stores and shelters.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joined City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins and community leaders from across Minneapolis on Monday to announce the formation of his Minneapolis Forward: Community Now Coalition. The coalition will help accelerate repair and recovery efforts in Minneapolis. Frey is convening leadership from Twin Cities foundations, businesses, and community organizations to rebuild and repair Minneapolis as a stronger and more equitable and inclusive city.
The coalition’s co-chairs include Allison Sharkey, executive director of the Lake Street Council; Felicia Perry, executive director of the West Broadway Business and Area Coalition; and Jonathan Weinhagen, president & CEO of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber.
Frey is also bringing together a Minneapolis African American Commission on Economic Inclusion with community leadership to provide direction and support to the mayor and city leadership. The commission will establish a feedback loop that is rooted in the Black community and unfiltered through the lenses of non-Black people.
Read more.
Hennepin County Court has approved the proposed court order filed by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) that requires the Minneapolis Police Department to implement initial structural changes, as part of MDHR’s ongoing civil rights investigation. The court has the power to enforce these preliminary measures and failure to comply with the order could lead to penalties.
Under the court order entered by Hennepin County District Court Judge Karen Janisch, the City of Minneapolis must implement several measures immediately, including banning the use of all neck restraints and choke holds.
The court order also requires the Minneapolis Police Department to fully comply with the ongoing civil rights investigation by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
Any Minnesotan who witnesses or experiences violations of the terms in the order should contact the Minnesota Department of Human Rights by calling 651-539-1100 or 1-800-657-3704.
Read the stipulation and order.
Phase III of the Stay Safe MN plan, including a gradual turn of the dial to allow cautious and safe re-opening of indoor dining, gyms, and entertainment venues, begins today.
Occupancy rates will be limited based on risk, with an overall occupancy maximum of 250 people. All critical businesses are required to develop and implement a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan by June 29, and the Department of Health (MDH), Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), and Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) will publish industry guidance by June 15. Under Phase III of the Stay Safe MN plan:
- Restaurants can begin offering indoor dining while maintaining social distancing, requiring reservations, and seating no more than 50 percent occupancy.
- Indoor social gatherings can take place with 10 people or less; outdoor social gatherings can take place with 25 people or less.
- Gyms, personal fitness and yoga studios, and martial arts may open at 25 percent capacity.
- Indoor entertainment venues, such as theaters and concert halls, can open at 25 percent capacity.
- Recreational indoor entertainment venues, such as bowling alleys, arcades, and museums may open at 25 percent capacity.
- Personal services, such as salons, tattoo parlors, and barbershops, may increase occupancy rates to 50 percent while requiring reservations.
- Outdoor entertainment venues, such as sporting events, concerts, and theaters may open at 25 percent capacity.
- Places of worship can increase occupancy rates to 50 percent.
Restaurants, salons, and barbershops have been able to offer limited service since June 1. Takeout, curbside, and delivery services have been permitted throughout the pandemic in Minnesota.
City of Minneapolis guidance for businesses on opening.
The State has added special COVID-19 testing sites for critical communities for people who have recently been a part of large gatherings whether or not they have symptoms. Make sure to preregister for a time slot if you can before heading over to be sure you have a spot. Appointments have been filling up fast. People who arrive without an appointment might have to come back later or another day. Appointments for the next week will open up on Wednesdays, so if you don’t find anything available, keep checking back.
The Minnesota Department of Health recommends that any Minnesotan who has attended a protest, vigil or community cleanup get tested for COVID-19, which can spread easily and quickly in large groups of people who are close together for long periods of time. Even people who do not have symptoms can still spread the virus to others.
Residents who live in the area of these three sites who have recently been a part of large gatherings are invited to preregister for free COVID-19 testing:
- Holy Trinity Church (pedestrians)
2730 E. 31st St.
- Sabathani Community Center (drive up, limited pedestrians)
310 E. 38th St.
- New Salem Baptist Church (pedestrians)
2507 Bryant Ave. N.
Make sure to preregister for a time slot if possible before heading over to be sure you have a spot. Appointments have been filling up fast. People who arrive without an appointment might have to come back later or another day. Appointments for the next week will open up on Wednesdays. People who join the waiting list will be notified when slots open up.
The registration form is in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong. Spanish, Somali and Hmong interpreters will be onsite. Interpreting for other languages will be available by phone.
Preregister for a time slot and find more information online here or by phone at 1-800-657-3903 if you don’t have internet access or need interpreting.
If you do not live in the neighborhood of one of these three new sites, use this directory to find a testing location near you.
Once you’ve been tested for COVID-19, it’s important to self-isolate until you receive your test results to avoid infecting others in case you test positive. If your test is positive, the Minnesota Department of Health recommends staying home for at least 10 days and until you have three days fever-free without using fever reducing medication.
With the loss of grocery stores and other damage affecting people’s access to food, clothing, financial assistance, groceries, medical care and equipment, and medication, the City is compiling this list of resources to help residents.
Note: Information is changing rapidly. Please confirm the locations are still accepting or handing out donations before heading out.
An overview of resources.
Please do not enter any damaged buildings. This is very dangerous. The City is blocking sidewalks to keep people away from damaged buildings and working with property owners to secure their properties and get emergency demolitions started as fast as possible.
Property owners seeking to begin emergency demolitions need to contact the appropriate utility providers to make sure natural gas, electrical and water have been shut.
Read more for additional guidance for property owners.
Guidance in Spanish, Hmong, Oromo and Somali.
If you’re moved to support your community by donating food, the best way to reach hungry people is through food shelves. And the best way to help food shelves is with monetary donations. The dollars go much further through their own purchases, it prevents food donations from spoiling, and it allows the food shelves to purchase specific items that are needed for the community.
Please note that Minneapolis Public Schools is not able to accept food donations or supplies at its food distribution sites or schools at this time.
How to donate food
For information on how to support food shelves and meal sites, please visit the Health Department’s food donations page or view the pdf for specific needs shared by food shelves.
Tune into the City's cultural radio programs for COVID-19 updates. The City has programs on KMOJ 89.9 FM (English); La Raza 95.7 FM (Spanish); KALY 101.7 FM (Somali); and WIXK AM 1590 (Hmong.) Radio shows schedule
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