The Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) will be handing out masks received from the State of Minnesota on Tuesday, July 28th from 9 – 6 pm and Wednesday, July 29th from 9:00 am – noon in the north parking lot at the Chamber Office located on Main Street, 333 Main Street North, Stillwater, MN. If these times do not work for you, please contact Executive Director, Robin Anthony on her cell at, 612-860-0947 to arrange for a pick-up appointment, or call the general office number at 651-439-4001. This is a one-time effort and it will be first come, first serve. These masks are available to our entire business community.
Reminder: Please make sure your business has updated your COVID-19 Preparedness Plan to address the face covering requirements to align with the requirements of the Executive Order. Governor Walz announced Executive Order 20-81 requiring Minnesotans to wear a face covering in certain settings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 effective Saturday, July 25th. See the Executive Order here: Executive Order 20-81
For more business information on #MaskUpMN go to The Minnesota Department of Health site HERE. We ask that businesses complete a simple request form so the Chamber can track the distribution. Our Chamber will receive 28,000 masks and we ask that our businesses request no more than 200-500 masks depending on the size of their business. This is an interim assistant program as we continue to educate and encourage the public to carry a mask with them at all times.
FAQ for Businesses on Facial Coverings Executive Order from DEED
What are the requirements for face coverings at work?
Generally, workers are required to wear a face covering at all times when indoors, when outdoors in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained, or when specific industry guidance has stricter requirements. Please see Stay Safe Guidance for Businesses and Organizations to find information about specific work industries. Industry-specific requirements that differ from or impose greater requirements than the Executive Order are also summarized at Face Covering Requirements and Recommendations under Executive Order 20-81. Businesses are responsible for clearly communicating the applicable requirements to their workers.
The Executive Order also identifies a number of situations where a face covering may be temporarily removed, such as when a worker is working alone (for example, when in a closed office, a cubicle with walls above face height when social distancing is maintained, or other enclosed space with no other individuals present). In addition, if a worker cannot wear a face covering due to a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability, a business must provide an accommodation to the worker if possible.
Are businesses responsible for requiring that workers, customers, and visitors wear a face covering?
Yes, it is the responsibility of the business to require that its workers, customers, and visitors are wearing face coverings consistent with the provisions of Executive Order 20-81.
Businesses must update their COVID-19 Preparedness Plan to align with the requirements of Executive Order 20-81. Businesses must also communicate to workers and customers that face coverings must be worn when required by the Executive Order—meaning, when indoors, for both customers and workers, and also when outdoors for workers, when social distancing cannot be maintained—unless circumstances allow for the temporarily removal of the face covering. At a minimum, businesses must communicate face covering requirements by clearly posting signage in places that are visible to all workers, customers, and visitors. A best practice would be for businesses to notify customers about face covering requirements through communication while they are making reservations, appointments, or placing orders for pickup.
Where can business owners find masking materials for their storefront?
Digital and print materials related to the #MaskUpMN campaign are available for download on the State of Minnesota’s COVID-19 website.
What should a business do when a worker, customer, or visitor claims to be exempt from the face covering mandate?
The Executive Order contains exemptions to the face covering mandate, including for certain medical and mental health conditions and disabilities. When a customer or visitor claims to be exempt due to a medical or mental health condition or disability, businesses may not require proof of the condition or disability or require customers or visitors to explain the nature of their condition or disability. When possible, businesses must provide accommodations to customers and visitors who are unable to wear a face covering (for example, by offering curbside pick-up) and mitigate worker and customer exposure to individuals who are unable to wear a face covering.
If a worker claims to be exempt from face covering requirements, businesses must follow the requirements of applicable laws (including civil rights laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Minnesota Human Rights Act) that relate to verification of a worker’s condition or disability. The business should also provide any exempt worker an accommodation to the extent possible. For example, if the worker will interact with customers, visitors, or other workers, the employer could offer the worker the option of wearing a face shield as an alternative. The employer should also consider taking steps to mitigate the worker’s interaction with other workers and, if the business is customer-facing, with customers as well.
What should a business do when customers or workers refuse to comply with face covering requirements?
When an employee does not claim a legitimate exemption from face covering requirements (for example, due to a disability) but still refuses to wear a face covering, businesses should take appropriate disciplinary action.
If a customer who does not claim a legitimate exemption refuses to comply with face covering requirements, businesses should assess the situation and determine how best to proceed, using normal procedures for dealing with a difficult customer. Because businesses have an obligation to protect their workers from hazards—including COVID-19 infection—businesses must take steps to mitigate or eliminate the risks posed by a person who refuses to wear a face covering.
Here are some best practices to consider: