Minneapolis, St. Paul city buildings join list of places requiring masks

A growing number of institutions and companies in the Twin Cities are once again requiring masks amid increasing infections and concerns about the Delta variant.

What's happening: Minnesota, local counties and cities haven't enacted any new mandates for private businesses, but organizations are again taking matters into their own hands. Those requiring people to mask up indoors — in accordance with last week's guidance from the CDC — now include:

Businesses

• Target, for employees in high-transmission areas. Masks are recommended for shoppers, regardless of vaccination status.
• Cub Foods and Lunds and Byerlys are taking a similar approach.
• Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley
• Haus Salon

Colleges, universities and schools

• University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State system
• Minneapolis Public Schools
• St. Paul Public Schools

Local government buildings

• Hennepin County facilities
• Ramsey County facilities
• Minneapolis city facilities
• St. Paul city facilities
• Duluth city facilities
• Brooklyn Park facilities
• Dakota County facilities

Medical centers

• Mayo Clinic

Meanwhile, First Ave and its sister venues will require proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID test taken in the prior 72 hours.

• University of Thomas will also mandate shots for students and staff.

The big picture: While we've seen a very small number of "breakthrough" cases among the vaccinated, state officials say the vast majority of serious illnesses are occurring among those without a shot.

• Just 1% of fully vaccinated Minnesotans have tested positive. An even smaller share — 0.016% — have been hospitalized, per MinnPost's Greta Kaul.