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Minnesota Department of Health
March 30, 2023
COVID-19 community levels and when to wear a mask
As COVID-19 continues to spread in our communities, it can be helpful to review COVID-19 prevention recommendations. For additional information, see Protect Yourself and Others.
When the CDC: COVID-19 community level is high, everyone should wear a mask in indoor public settings.
When the COVID-19 community level?in your county is medium or low, the decision to wear a mask should be based on the following considerations:
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Personal risk factors and health conditions. If you are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease from COVID-19, when the CDC community level is medium you should wear a mask indoors in public and may want to consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings. You should also consider wearing a mask even when the community 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.
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Risk factors of others around you. If you live or frequently interact with someone who is immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease from COVID-19, consider wearing a mask around them, regardless of the COVID-19 community level.
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Settings where people at increased risk gather. People in settings where those at increased risk of severe illness gather should consider wearing masks, regardless of the CDC COVID-19 community 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.
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Outbreaks or clusters. Public health authorities may recommend that you and others around you wear a mask in settings that have an outbreak or cluster (group) of COVID-19 cases.
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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 community level.
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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 community level in your area is medium or low.
Regardless of the COVID-19 community level, wear a mask if:
Find out more:?Masks: COVID-19
Updates to booster eligibility for certain children
Everyone age 6 months and older should get an updated (bivalent) booster when they are due!
More children now have the opportunity to receive enhanced protection against serious illness caused by COVID-19. This month the FDA authorized an updated (bivalent) Pfizer booster for children who:
- Are ages 6 months to 4 years, and
- Previously completed a 3-dose original (monovalent) Pfizer primary series, and
- Completed their primary series at least two months ago.
Talk to your or your child?s health care provider about which COVID-19 vaccine doses you need to be up to date and visit About COVID-19 Vaccine for more detailed information on how you can boost your young child?s immunity to COVID-19!
We are adding new videos, print materials, and translated documents often. Check out the pages below to view, download, or print these resources.
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