Mayo Clinic brings back universal mask policy, citing spread of delta variant

Mayo Clinic is again requiring all staff, regardless of their role or Covid-19 vaccination status, to wear masks while in Mayo buildings.

The universal mask mandate took effect Monday. Mayo said the decision to extend masking to all staff is a result of the continued spread of the delta variant. Patients and visitors had already been required to mask up.

This is the second big announcement from Mayo in as many weeks regarding its Covid-19 response. Last week, the Clinic told staff they would be required to get a vaccine or complete a “declination process” by Sept. 17.

“The delta variant is more contagious than the previous strains that we've had in the U.S,” said Dr. Melanie Swift, co-chair of Mayo Clinic's Covid-19 vaccine work group. “But it's also causing more severe illness that is causing hospitalizations to increase and ICU admissions to increase. And we're looking at another wave of the pandemic. It's more contagious, and that's concerning. It's more serious, and that's concerning.”

Mayo noted that it is seeing “dramatically” increased rates of transmission in a number of areas it serves, including Arizona, Florida and northwest Wisconsin, as well the nearby counties of Dodge and Waseca.

To lower the rising number of cases and hospitalizations — and to once again lift masking mandates — Mayo reiterated the importance of getting vaccinated. While new evidence suggests that vaccinated people with breakthrough infections can spread the delta variant, completing both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine does still offer significant protection against the virus and can also be effective at preventing serious disease.

In expanding its masking requirements, Mayo joins a number of high-profile institutions across the country and state — including Target and the University of Minnesota system — that have recently reintroduced measures aimed at slowing the spread of the delta variant.

The U of M said masks will be required for students and employees when the fall semester starts in a few weeks. Target, meantime, will require masks for staff and “strongly recommend” them for customers in areas where community transmission is at high levels.