SAINT PAUL, MN – MDH Commissioner Jan Malcom announced today that masks would no longer be required for athletes in outdoor youth sports during competition. Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove, has been a vocal advocate for the removal of the youth sports mask mandate. She sent a letter along with 16 other House colleagues to Gov. Walz last week urging him to rescind the outdoor youth sports mask mandate during competition and she supported the Minnesota State High School League in their calls to remove this mask mandate.
“I am so pleased that the mask mandate for young people competing in outdoors sports has been lifted,” said Rep. Robbins. “I am happy to see Gov. Walz and Commissioner Malcom are following the science, which shows that student athletes do not need to be masked during competition as a COVID-19 precaution. I am also grateful for all the efforts by parents, coaches, and student athletes, as well as the Minnesota State High School League Board, to advocate for this common-sense change. As the weather warms, parents and coaches can be assured that youth athletes in outdoor sports will be able to compete without the health and safety concerns posed by masks in competition.”
Findings from both the CDC and World Health Organizations show that children should not wear masks during physical activity as it can cause difficulty breathing. Data also shows that household and community spread of COVID-19 from children is minimal, while transmission rates for young people have remained low.