Rochester leaders express concern about impact of mask mandate ending on at-risk communities
Sabol says she would have liked to have seen a much more deliberate end to Minnesota s mask mandate with better communication.
Posted: May 14, 2021 11:04 PM
Posted By: Anthony Monzon
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Med City leaders are expressing concern about how the end of Minnesota s mask mandate might impact marginalized communities.
Dee Sabol, the Executive Director of Diversity Council-Rochester, tells KIMT vaccination rates are lagging behind in many of our minority and immigrant communities. She worries if officials begin relaxing efforts to get everyone vaccinated, a lack of immunity will allow the virus to continue spreading within those groups.
Adolescents ages 12 to 15 are now eligible to get one of the COVID-19 vaccines. 6:32 pm, May 13, 2021 ×
A COVID-19 vaccination is prepared to be administered. (Forum News Service file photo)
Vaccine clinics and pharmacies in Southeast Minnesota began offering COVID-19 vaccinations to adolescents ages 12 to 15 on Thursday.
This comes as nearly half of the new COVID-19 cases last week in Olmsted County were either among or traced to school-age children, said Amy Evans, who is heading Olmsted County Public Health’s vaccination planning.
Dr. Robert Jacobson, a pediatrician at
Mayo Clinic, said the clinic strongly urges parents to vaccinate eligible children.
“Until we vaccinate children, we’re not going to achieve the herd immunity we need to knock COVID-19 down from a pandemic status,” he said.
Move comes after new CDC guidelines.
Posted: May 13, 2021 6:16 PM
Updated: May 13, 2021 6:44 PM
Posted By: Mike Bunge
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Governor Tim Walz says he will sign an executive order Friday morning to end the state’s mask mandate.
The move comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended fully vaccinated people no longer needed to wear masks outdoors in crowds or in most indoor settings. Walz says Minnesotans who are not fully vaccinated are strongly recommended to wear face coverings indoors. Private businesses and local municipalities may still put in place face-covering requirements and the state s Safe Learning Plan, along with the existing face-covering guidance for schools and child care settings, remain in effect.
Olmsted County Public Health weighs in on mask-wearing in the future
Face masks in Minnesota could soon be a thing of the past, but only if the majority of Minnesotans get vaccinated.
Posted: May 12, 2021 9:29 AM
Updated: May 12, 2021 10:25 AM
Posted By: Madelyne Watkins
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Dr. Anthony Fauci said federal guidance on wearing a face mask indoors could soon change and the Olmsted County Public Health Director, Graham Briggs, doesn t think we will see a mandate for seasonal mask wearing in the future. However, there are a few things you should know.
There s a state mandate for face masks right now until at least July 1st in Minnesota, which Briggs said is giving people something to look forward to. The key to taking our masks off is all of us coming together and getting vaccinated as your turn arrives. for those who haven t been yet, your turn is now, he explained. That is the key to getting us to a place where we don t need masks anymore and we don t need