Masks: COVID-19

• Ntaub Npog Qhov Ncauj Qhov Ntswg: COVID-19 (Hmong)
• Waji-xirka: KOFID-19 (Somali)
• Mascarillas: COVID-19 (Spanish)

Updated 6/2/2023

On this page:
COVID-19 hospital admission levels and individual considerations
When to wear a mask
Laws or policies may require masks in some settings
Types of masks
How to wear a mask
Reasonable accommodations

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is spread by respiratory droplets and aerosol particles that go into the air when people breathe, talk, cough, or sneeze. Because of how the virus spreads, wearing a well-fitting mask can help prevent infection. Wearing a mask may also prevent the spread of other respiratory infections, such as flu (influenza).

COVID-19 hospital admission levels and individual considerations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses COVID-19 hospital admissions to classify risk for every county in the United States as either low, medium, or high. Admission levels are updated weekly. These levels reflect the impact of COVID-19 on health and health care systems.

CDC recommends different prevention measures for each level. To learn your current CDC county level and the precautions for each level, visit CDC: COVID-19 by County. Note that COVID-19 transmission occurs at all levels. A "low" level does not equal "no risk."

Many people with certain medical conditions are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. To find a list of factors that may put someone at higher risk, visit CDC: People with Certain Medical Conditions.

The factors a person should consider in deciding when to wear a mask include the CDC COVID-19 hospital admission level in their area, whether they are at high risk of severe illness, the risks of people around them, and personal preference and comfort level.

When to wear a mask

This section describes CDC mask recommendations based on the CDC COVID-19 hospital admission level in your county and the individual COVID-19 risks for you and others around you. It also includes additional MDH recommendations for people who are immunocompromised or at higher risk of severe disease. While MDH encourages all Minnesotans to follow these minimum precautions, it is important to know that you may always choose to wear a mask if it makes you feel safer, regardless of current risk factors or the CDC hospital admission levels. Wear the most protective (highest quality) mask that is available to you, that fits well, and that you will wear consistently, especially if you are immunocompromised or at higher risk of severe disease from COVID-19. Refer to the "types of masks" section below for more information.

Always follow public health recommendations on when to wear a mask, regardless of your CDC COVID-19 county level, if:

• You have symptoms or a positive test. For more information on how long to wear a mask and stay home (isolation), refer to If You Are Sick or Test Positive: COVID-19.
• You were exposed to someone with COVID-19. For more information on how long to wear a mask and take precautions, refer to Close Contact or Exposure to COVID-19.

Travel can bring you into contact with people coming from places with different levels of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases. You may be in crowds and in areas with poor ventilation. CDC recommends during travel that you consider wearing a mask in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor areas, including on public transportation and in transportation hubs. Transportation hubs include airports, train stations, and bus stations. Visit CDC: Masking During Travel for information on when masking is most useful during travel, including when a person has a weakened immune system or a higher risk of severe disease.

High CDC COVID-19 county level

If you are in an area with a high CDC COVID-19 county hospital admission level, wear a mask in public, including in K-12 schools and other community settings, regardless of vaccination status, risk factors for severe illness, or previous COVID-19 infection.

In addition, if you are immunocompromised or at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness, consider avoiding nonessential indoor activities in public settings where you could be exposed to COVID-19. Also consider asking your health care provider for advice on additional COVID-19 precautions you should take.

Medium and low CDC COVID-19 county levels

When your CDC COVID-19 county hospital admission level is medium or low, the decision to wear a mask should be based on the following considerations:

• Your risk factors and health conditions.
  If you are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease from COVID-19, you should wear a mask indoors in public when the CDC county level is medium and may want to consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings. You should also consider wearing a mask even when the county level is low. You may want to ask your health care provider for advice on when to wear a mask and any additional COVID-19 precautions you should take.
• Risk factors of others around you.
  If you live or frequently interact with someone who is immunocompromised or at higher risk for severe disease from COVID-19, consider wearing a mask around them, regardless of the COVID-19 county level.
• Settings where people at increased risk gather.
  People in settings where those at higher risk of severe illness gather should consider wearing masks regardless of the CDC COVID-19 county level, especially if the setting is crowded. Even if the level is medium or low, settings that serve people at increased risk may also want to consider masking policies and other available measures to reduce COVID-19 transmission, such as improving ventilation. Learn more about how to improve airflow, ventilation, circulation, and more at Indoor Air Considerations: COVID-19 and CDC: Ventilation in Buildings.
• Outbreaks or clusters.
  Public health authorities or health care settings like hospitals or long-term care facilities may recommend that you and others around you wear a mask due to an outbreak or cluster (group) of COVID-19 cases.
• Vaccination status.
  If you are not vaccinated, especially if you do not have a history of prior COVID-19 infection, consider wearing a mask in public indoor settings, regardless of the county level.
• Personal preference.
  You may choose to wear a mask at any time based on your personal preference, even if others around you are not wearing masks or the CDC COVID-19 county level in your area is medium or low.

For additional considerations and layers of protection, visit Protect Yourself & Others: COVID-19.

Note: Health care settings like hospitals, clinics, and skilled nursing homes have their own recommendations and requirements for masks. Follow any masking recommendations or requirements for the setting you are in.

Laws or policies may require masks in some settings

Some settings may have specific federal, state, local, or business-level rules about wearing masks, regardless of the CDC COVID-19 county level. For example:

• Health care settings, including long-term care, may have mask requirements set by federal, state, and/or local law.
• Local authorities (such as a city, town, or county) may establish mask requirements (rules) and those requirements must be followed.
• Businesses and entities may require masks, and workers and customers may be legally required to follow those rules.

This is not an exhaustive list of potential mask requirements. Be sure you understand your region and industry's legal requirements. Businesses or people that are uncertain about applicable legal requirements should consider seeking legal advice.

Types of masks

• MDH recommends wearing a high-quality, well-fitting mask to help protect against COVID-19, including variants like Omicron. Examples of high-quality masks include N95 or KN95 masks, which are very good at blocking droplets. Surgical masks (also called disposable masks) have also been shown to be effective.
• If you do not have a high-quality mask like an N95 or KN95, wear a mask with two or more layers of tightly woven fabric. You can also layer a disposable mask under a cloth mask to give more protection. The cloth mask should press the edges of the disposable mask snugly against your face.
• Wearing a high-quality mask is even more important if you are immunocompromised or at high risk of getting severely ill from COVID-19.
• Look for masks with nose wires. They can make the mask fit better and help reduce gaps or holes.
• Avoid face coverings made of thinner, loosely woven, or single-layer fabric such as certain types of masks, scarves, neck gaiters, or bandannas. They are not as good at blocking droplets that come out when speaking, coughing, or sneezing. If you wear a scarf or neck gaiter for warmth, also wear a mask underneath it.
• Any masks that incorporate a valve that is designed to make it easier to exhale; mesh masks; or masks with openings, holes, visible gaps in the design or material, or vents are NOT sufficient, because they allow droplets to be released from the mask.
• Masks may make it hard for people with certain conditions, such as people who are deaf or hard of hearing, to communicate with others. Please refer to Communication and Masks, which contains helpful information from the Minnesota Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division of the Department of Human Services about clear masks and communication aides.
• For more information on recommendations for types of masks, visit CDC: Types of Masks and Respirators.

How to wear a mask

• Wash your hands before putting your mask on and after taking it off.
• A mask should cover the nose and mouth completely and fit snugly against your face without gaps. The mask should not be overly tight or restrictive and should feel comfortable to wear.
• For children 2 years and older, find a mask that is made for children to help ensure proper fit. Children under age 2 should NOT wear a mask.
• If you wear glasses, find a mask that fits closely over your nose or one that has a nose wire to help keep glasses from fogging up.
• Do not touch the mask while wearing it. If you have to touch or adjust your mask often, that means it does not fit you properly and you may need to find a different mask or make adjustments.
• If you wear a cloth mask, wash it after each time you wear it.
• If reusing an N95 or KN95, store it in a paper bag. Do not wash an N95 or KN95 between uses. Refer to instructions that came with your mask for information on when it should be replaced.
• Do not wear a mask that is dirty, damp, or damaged.

Select the following links for more information and tips on how to select and wear a mask:

• How to Safely Wear Your Mask (PDF)
  Poster to download and print.
• Videos for COVID-19 Response
  How to Safely Wear Your Mask and COVID-19 Mask Do's and Don'ts. Includes transcripts and other languages.
• CDC: Masks
• Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center: How to Make an Accessible, Deaf-friendly Face Mask
• Considerations for Face Shields (PDF)

Reasonable accommodations

Existing law may require certain businesses and organizations to offer reasonable accommodations to some people, such as someone who cannot wear a mask due to a disability, to allow that person to participate in or benefit from the goods or services they offer.

Businesses and other entities should be aware that:

• People who have certain disabilities, behavioral needs, or other health, mental health, or developmental conditions may have difficulty wearing a mask or other face covering safely.
• People who have trouble breathing, are unconscious, or are unable to remove a mask without help should not wear a mask.
• Children under age 2 should not wear a mask.
• Certain situations (e.g., swimming or other activities that will soak or submerge a face covering in water) may make masks unsafe.

Minnesotans with disabilities have the right to live free from discrimination. The Minnesota Human Rights Act prohibits disability discrimination in public places, employment, schools, and other areas. If you have a disability that prevents you from wearing a mask and you believe you have been discriminated against because of your disability, report the incident to Minnesota Department of Human Rights: Report Discrimination or call the Discrimination Helpline at 1-833-454-0148.