Walz dialing back Minnesota’s COVID-19 restrictions

May 7, 2021

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota will lift nearly all its COVID-19 restrictions just before Memorial Day weekend and drop its statewide mask requirement no later than July 1.

Gov. Tim Walz announced the rollback Thursday, saying the mask mandate could go even even sooner once 70% of residents age 16 and older get their first vaccine shot.

The Democratic governor said in a televised address that Minnesotans should no longer wait for others to get vaccinated first.

He called on people to urge their unvaccinated friends and family members to roll up their sleeves.

Walz made the announcement 14 months to the day since Minnesota recorded its first confirmed coronavirus case.