Minneapolis: COVID-19 Health & Safety Information

As COVID-19 restrictions continue to evolve in Minnesota and in the city of Minneapolis, we want to provide you with the latest information so that you can explore and visit Minneapolis again with confidence. These are the protocols and procedures currently in place to help keep you safe. Please check this page and resources often, as information is changing frequently.

Updated: May 10, 2021

Current Status

  • Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's Stay Safe Plan provides a set of phases for the safe reopening in a number of settings.
  • Governor Walz's Executive Order 21-21 provides a series of measured steps to end COVID-19 restrictions on social gatherings and businesses, and sets a timeline to rescind numerous other executive orders that will no longer be necessary. As of May 7, capacity limits have been removed for outdoor events, dining and other gatherings, and the face covering requirement outdoors is rescinded except at large venues with over 500 people. The 11 p.m. mandatory closing time for bars, restaurants, and other food and drink businesses has also come to an end.
  • On May 28, remaining capacity and distancing limits will be removed, including for indoor events and gatherings. Face covering requirements will remain for indoor and outdoor events with more than 500 people. On July 1 (or sooner if Minnesota hits 70% of adults vaccinated), the face covering mandate ends, as does the requirement for businesses to have COVID preparedness plans. Local governments/cities can implement their own face mask mandates if they wish, as can private businesses.
  • Governor Walz's Executive Order 20-81 currently requires people in Minnesota to wear a face covering in all public indoor spaces and businesses, unless alone. Additionally, workers are required to wear a face covering when working outdoors in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained. Children between the ages of 2 and 5 years old are not required to wear face coverings, but are encouraged to wear a face covering when in public.
  • Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is currently requiring individuals to cover their nose and mouth with a mask or cloth face covering in accordance with CDC guidance when in Minneapolis indoor spaces where people gather, including retail stores, government buildings, schools and recreation centers. This applies to individuals who are over age two and able to medically tolerate a face covering.
  • All employers of Minneapolis businesses that are spaces of public accommodation shall require their employees to wear a cloth face covering whenever employees have face-to-face contact with the public.

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State - Minnesota

Meet Minneapolis and Sports Minneapolis are operating in accordance with guidelines set by the State of Minnesota. To keep up-to-date and learn more about what Minnesota is doing to keep visitors safe at a state level, please visit the following resources:

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City-Specific Information

Meet Minneapolis and Sports Minneapolis are operating in accordance with guidelines set by the City of Minneapolis. To keep up-to-date and learn more about what Minneapolis and our metro area are doing to keep visitors safe at the city level, please visit the following resources:

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MSP International Airport

The Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport has has earned two major industry cleaning and safety facility accreditations - GBAC STAR and Airport Health - as part of its robust effort to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus and combat future health threats. MSP's Travel Confidently program is a thorough, multi-layered cleaning and sanitization regimen, and requires face coverings, promotes social distancing, provides hundreds of hand sanitizing dispensers, has built and installed hundreds of Plexiglass shields at customer interaction points, allows for touchless food and beverage ordering and payment, and offers touchless parking through its online, pre-booked reservation program.

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Minneapolis Convention Center

The MCC is following the recommendations made by the Minnesota Department of Health, the Governor of Minnesota and the Mayor of Minneapolis. The MCC is holding indoor events in accordance with the applicable percentage limitations available on the Stay Safe Minnesota website. Social distancing and face-covering requirements remain for all indoor events. Under Executive Order 21-21, occupant capacity restrictions for outdoor events have been removed. Face coverings are required for outdoor events with over 500 people. For more information about a specific event at the MCC, please contact Marcus Travis at 612-335-6257 or Marcus.Travis@minneapolismn.gov. The MCC continues to be a Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Community Testing Site.

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Meeting Venues

Under Executive Order 21-21, groups of up to 50% occupant capacity, not to exceed more than 250 people, are currently permitted within indoor venues so long as social distancing and face-covering requirements are met. If the occupant capacity of the entire indoor venue is greater than 500 persons, then the venue must use the Venue Occupancy Calculator to determine the maximum occupancy. Occupant capacity restrictions for outdoor events have been removed. Face coverings are required for outdoor events with over 500 people.

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Hotels

Minneapolis hotel properties are prioritizing cleanliness and safety for their guests. For individual policies, please check out their web pages.

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Mass Transit

Metro Transit is supporting efforts by regularly disinfecting vehicles and busy boarding areas, encouraging employees who feel ill to stay home and adapting service levels to make the most of limited resources. Face coverings are required to be worn on all Metro Transit buses and trains.

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Restaurants & Bars

Under Executive Order 21-21, restaurants, bars and other places of public accommodation offering food and beverages are currently allowed to be open for indoor dining at 75% capacity up to a maximum of 250 patrons, with required reservations, up to 10 people per table, with a six-foot distance between tables. Restaurants and bars with sufficient normal capacity may exceed 250 people per applicable percentage limits available on the Stay Safe Minnesota website. Many restaurants and bars are offering delivery, takeout, window service, walk-up service, drive-thru or drive-up service.

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Retail Stores & Malls

Retail stores and malls are currently allowed to be open. Attractions and in-person dining at the Mall of America are allowed to be open with restrictions. Visit individual store and mall websites for their current statuses.

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Major Attractions

Under Executive Order 21-21, all indoor theaters, cinemas, performance venues, and museums are allowed to be open at 50% capacity, not to exceed 250 people. Indoor sites with sufficient normal capacity may exceed 250 people per applicable percentage limits available on the Stay Safe Minnesota website. Occupant capacity restrictions for outdoor venues have been removed. Face coverings are required at outdoor venues with over 500 people.

Visit individual attraction websites for updates.

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Stadiums & Arenas

Under Executive Order 21-21, all indoor stadiums and arenas are allowed to be open at 50% capacity, not to exceed 250 people. Indoor sites with sufficient normal capacity may exceed 250 people per applicable percentage limits available on the Stay Safe Minnesota website. Occupant capacity restrictions for outdoor stadiums have been removed. Face coverings are required at outdoor venues with over 500 people.

To keep up-to-date and learn more about the status of major Minnesota stadiums and arenas, please visit the following resources:

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Parks & Outdoor Recreation

Keep track of what is open and how to safely experience the beauty of Minneapolis parks, lakes, and outdoor spaces.

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Skyway System

Downtown Minneapolis skyways are managed by individual buildings. Hours of operation and open/close statuses may vary.

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Visitor Center

The Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center is currently closed. Visitor Services staff are available during business hours by phone, email and through social media:

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Other Helpful Resources

To ensure you are reading the most accurate and up-to-date news regarding COVID-19, follow the CDC’s updates on cdc.gov or their social channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube).

If you have questions about COVID-19, the Minnesota Department of Health offers a specific COVID-19 hotline: 1-833-431-2053 (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. / Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

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