City Of Minnetonka: City Council To Consider Mask Mandate

Press release from the City of Minnetonka:

01/11/2022 2:35 p.m.

The Minnetonka City Council will meet Friday Jan. 14 at 3:30 p.m. to consider a citywide mask mandate. The meeting is a continuation of Monday's regularly scheduled council meeting. It comes as the community and region see a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.

Minnesota health officials reported a record 19.1% positivity rate of diagnostic testing in the seven-day period that ended on Jan. 3. The state also reported another 29,487 coronavirus infections and 28 COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday.

While Minnesota's new seven-day infection rate is among the lowest in the country, it is actually higher than it was last fall when it recorded the nation's worst rate. The Centers for Disease Control says this is due to the rapid spread of the omicron variant throughout the country.

Minnetonka currently recommends face masks be worn inside city facilities. As it has throughout the pandemic, the city follows COVID-19 guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC continues to list Hennepin County as an area with high community transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

State and federal health officials advise that vaccinations remain the most effective tool in preventing and recovering from the evolving family of viruses currently being monitored by the CDC. Use of face masks is also widely considered an effective preventative measure that will slow the spread of the virus and keep you and others safe. 

• Everyone 5 years and older is recommended to receive a primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine to be considered fully vaccinated 

• CDC now recommends booster shots at 5 months after the completion of the primary series of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for those aged 12 and older.

• For children 5 years through 17 years of age, a primary series consists of 2 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine 

The state provides online tools for residents to locate vaccine and testing clinics.

More information

• Jan. 14 meeting notice - including link to speak at the meeting and submit written comments

This press release was produced by the City of Minnetonka. The views expressed here are the author’s own.