Edina Balks At Mask Mandate With COVID-19 Cases At All-Time High

EDINA, MN — The Edina City Council called for an emergency meeting Friday to discuss the city’s response to the omicron variant and a new wave of the coronavirus, with cases surging faster than ever in recent weeks.

Council members spent about two hours hearing from public health experts and considering citywide policies but stopped short of adopting a new mask mandate.

Instead, the council adopted a resolution that says residents, employees and others in Edina are “requested and strongly encouraged” to mitigate the spread of the virus by wearing masks, maintaining social distance and getting vaccinated.

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Council member James Pierce likened a potential mask mandate to hurricane-evacuation orders, saying there will always be a portion of residents who do not heed warnings despite officials' best efforts.

“I think we have to get to a point where we … accept the fact that we’re not going to reach everybody,” Pierce said.

“I think there’s a subset of the population, beyond Edina, who says, ‘Let me choose to do what I want to do,'" Pierce said. "I personally feel like respecting that, but being clear about, ‘OK, if you don't do this, this is what the consequences are for you and others.'"

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The newly adopted resolution says “new COVID-19 infections in Edina are occurring at a rate higher than at any time in the pandemic” and warns that local health care system is experiencing “significant stress” from the surge in cases.

“Residents, employees and guests in Edina are requested and strongly encouraged by the Edina City Council to take all reasonable protective actions, such as wearing appropriate face coverings, maintain social distancing in public places, washing hands regularly and getting vaccinated, if possible,” the resolution states.

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The Edina City Council also directed city employees to develop plans to use federal money to offer Edina residents high-quality masks, rapid coronavirus testing, vaccines and boosters, and flu shots.

The council is set to meet virtually through the end of February.