Mayor Melvin Carter Renews Facemask Requirement in Licensed Businesses and City Controlled Facilities in Saint Paul

Today, Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter signed Executive Order 2021-21, requiring facemasks to be worn indoors in all city-controlled facilities and at all businesses licensed by the City of Saint Paul at all times when social distancing of at least 6 feet is not maintained, except for temporary removal of face covering when eating or drinking. All businesses are strongly encouraged to continue to require that all individuals wear a face covering indoors at all times when social distancing of at least 6 feet is not maintained. The renewed mask requirement comes as the statewide mask mandate lifts, and as local public health officials continue working to increase vaccination rates across the city. 

“Even as more Minnesotans are vaccinated, our work to increase vaccination rates at the local level continues,” said Mayor Melvin Carter. “Keeping this measure in place protects the public health and safety of our community as we emerge from this pandemic, and look toward the brighter days ahead.” 

ABOUT EXECUTIVE ORDER 2021-21

Executive Order 2021-21 applies to all individuals except young children at risk of suffocation and persons who cannot medically tolerate wearing a face covering. Acceptable face coverings include manufactured or homemade cloth face coverings, and are not required to be medical-grade masks.  Face coverings must fully cover a person’s nose and mouth.  

Saint Paul’s previous municipal mask requirement was allowed to expire because of the statewide mask order. Today’s renewed measure comes in close consultation with public health partners at Saint Paul-Ramsey County Public Health amid ongoing community acquired COVID-19 cases in Saint Paul. 

Currently, just over 292,000 Ramsey County residents have received at least one vaccine dose, however, 32% of the population has not received any doses of the vaccine. While the COVID-19 testing positivity rate is trending down, the positivity rate in Ramsey County last week was 5% (up from a low in March of 2.3%), which remains an indicator that transmission is elevated and community mitigation measures are warranted to reduce transmission.

The potential for community contact transmission is especially concerning for individuals who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine, and vulnerable populations who cannot receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The City will continue to work in close consultation with local public health professionals to determine when masking measures can be safely lifted at the local level. 

View Executive Order 2021-21 here.