Coronavirus COVID-19

COVID-19 Testing Options in Saint Paul

The State of Minnesota and Ramsey County have opened COVID-19 testing sites that are free and open to everyone who believes they need to be tested, with or without symptoms.

• The State of Minnesota has opened a saliva testing site at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Appointments can be made through the Vault Health registration site. For more information about the saliva testing site in Saint Paul, please visit COVID-19 Community Saliva Testing.
• Free nasal swab testing is available in Saint Paul at the Consulate of Mexico. No insurance and no ID is required. Drive-thru and walk-thru testing will be available with interpreters onsite. Registration opens the Monday before each testing date at ramseycounty.us/testingsites. 
  • Nov. 18, Dec. 2 & 16 (2 - 6 p.m.) at Consulate of Mexico - 797 E. 7th St.
• Additional testing locations are open throughout the state

The City of Saint Paul government continues to provide services and respond to the needs of our community in alignment with both the Governor's Stay Safe MN plan and guidance from public health officials. We’ll be sending regular email updates about the City’s response to COVID-19. Subscribe to our COVID-19 bulletin.​ 

Face coverings required in City-controlled facilities and in licensed businesses

Executive order 2020-09 requires face masks to be worn indoors in all city-controlled facilities and at all businesses licensed by the City of Saint Paul at all times when social distancing of at least 6 feet is not maintained.  

The order will apply to all individuals except young children at risk of suffocation and persons who cannot medically tolerate wearing a face covering. Acceptable face coverings include manufactured or homemade cloth face coverings, and are not required to be medical-grade masks.  Face coverings must fully cover a person’s nose and mouth.  

All businesses in Saint Paul are also strongly encouraged to include a requirement that all individuals wear a face covering at all times when social distancing of at least 6 feet is not maintained in their COVID-19 Preparedness Plan under Governor Walz’ Executive Order 20-56.

• La ciudad de Saint Paul ha acordado una política de cobertura de cara que esta vigente a partir del 1ero de Junio. Esta política requiere que toda persona que visite una de las locaciones en control de la ciudad y cualquier negocio que tenga una licencia de la ciudad use una mascarilla de cara cuando no sea posible mantener la distancia de al menos 6 feet/2 metros entre personas.
• Saint Paul txoj cai npog ntsej muag pib lub 6 hli ntuj hnub tim 1. Txoj cai hais tias yus yuav tsum npog ntsej muag thaum mus rau hauv  Saint Paul cov tsev thiab cov lag luam thaum siv kev nyob nrug deb ntawm lwm tus li 6 feet.
• Nidaamka daboolaya wajiyada Magaalada  ayaa dhaqan galay Juun 1.  Siyaasaddu waxay u baahan tahay waji-bixin wajiga in lagu xiro gudaha dhammaan xarumaha magaalada laga xukumo iyo dhammaan meheradaha ay Ruqsad ka siisay Magaalada marwalba markii fogeynta bulshada ugu yaraan 6 fuudh aan la ilaalin karin.
• Imaamatni magaalaa ‘Saint Paul’ fuula aguuggachuu ilaallatu Waxabajjii 1 irraa eegalee raawwatamaa jira. Imaamatni kun manneen fi bakka daldalaa magaalichan to’ataman akkasumas hayyama qaban keessatti yeroo miilla 6 wal irraa fagaachuun mijataa hintaanetti maskii fuulaa uffachuu dirqisiisa.

Business Licensing Measures to Supports Bars and Restaurants Safely Reopen 

The City of Saint Paul has streamlined processes for restaurant and bar owners who wish to safely reopen on June 1, as permitted by the Governor’s executive orders. The City has created detailed guidance for business owners, including an interactive form that will automatically send business owners the materials and forms they need based on provided information.

Fine, Fee, and Collection Relief Measures 

Mayor Carter has announced a set of fine, fee and collection relief measures in response to the economic impact of COVID-19 affecting businesses and residents. The measures include a reduction in business license fees, business license renewal extensions, suspending all dunning and collection processes through June 30th, and delaying multi-year street assessments that would be levied this year until 2021. Learn more about these measures.

COVID-19 Consumer Financial Protection Planning Effort

Mayor Melvin Carter announced today the launch of a local consumer financial protection planning effort in partnership with the national nonprofit organization the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund), and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Saint Paul will begin planning a communications campaign to raise consumer awareness of and protect residents from COVID-19 related scams and continue planning in the coming months for broader consumer financial protection capabilities within the City

City of Saint Paul Meal Service

To address growing food insecurity in Saint Paul due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City is partnering with Youthprise, Arts-Us, and the Sanneh Foundation to provide free meal service to Saint Paul families in need. Learn more at stpaul.gov/free-meals.

Personal Protective Equipment Donations

The City of Saint Paul is grateful for all of the community members who have expressed interest in donating personal protective equipment (PPE) to assist the City's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The City is currently accepting donations for some items. Donations must be in unopened, original packaging in accordance with approved medical standards. Learn more and get involved.

Road Closures

Find the latest road closure information using the City's interactive road closure map.

Department Updates

 State of Minnesota Updates

Governor Walz announced updates on COVID-19 health guidelines that begin November 20 at 11:59 p.m. The following new COVID-19 guidelines must be followed as part of the latest Stay Safe MN safety precautions: 

• All bars and restaurants will end dine-in service and operate exclusively with takeout or delivery.  
• Fitness centers, public pools, and recreation and entertainment facilities, such a bowling alleys, theaters, museums, and arcades, are closed. 
• Indoor and outdoor events, such as festivals and fairs, are closed. Drive-in events may continue.
• Adult and youth sports practices and competitions will be paused (professional and collegiate sports will continue).
• Weddings, funerals, and other similar planned ceremonies can be held with the current rules in place, but all receptions and gatherings around these ceremonies must be canceled or postponed.
• No changes are being made to retail, personal services (such as salons and barbershops), schools, or places of worship. 
• Outdoor recreation activities are allowed (and encouraged!) but must be limited to immediate household members ONLY. 

Governor Walz has also announced an additional $10 million in support for small businesses that have already applied through the grant program so they can pay their workers and their bills. More information on these announcements can be found at staysafe.mn.gov.

The Minnesota Department of Health has developed guidelines for business sectors.

Governor Walz's Face Covering Order

Governor Walz’s face covering order is now effect. Wearing a face covering is a simple way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, allowing everyone to safely leave their homes more frequently. Click here to watch a video about mask do's and don'ts from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).  

Minnesotans will be required to wear a face covering in all indoor public spaces and businesses (including waiting outdoors to enter), unless alone. Exceptions include medical/mental health concerns, children under 5, and workers for whom a mask would create a job hazard. View the MDH FAQ on Governor Walz’s order.

Business owners must take reasonable steps to enforce the Governor's face covering requirement for workers, customers, and visitors. Ramsey County and City of Saint Paul will be supporting direct distribution to high-priority businesses unable to access this site, including those owned by people of color located in areas with higher numbers of COVID cases. Contact Clare Verbeten at 651-266-8922 at the City, or Prince Corbett at 612-430-0897 (or racialequity@ramseycounty.us) at Ramsey County for questions regarding this focused distribution.  

Other business requirements can be found under the "Businesses' obligations under the Executive Order" headline on the Minnesota Department of Health’s website. #MaskUpMN materials for business owners are also available for download.

COVID-19 Scams

• The Minnesota Department of Commerce and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) are warning Minnesotans to be on alert for text scams related to contact tracing of COVID-19. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), scammers are sending texts that tell the recipient that someone with whom they had contact has tested positive, and to click a link for more information. Depending on the specific attack, by clicking on the link, the victim could be prompted to download unwanted software that can access data on their phone, or they may be directed to a site that tries to trick them into revealing sensitive information like their Social Security number, bank information, passwords or medical information. Remember official public health workers conducting contact tracing initially will reach out to people by phone, NOT text.

• FEMA Coronavirus Rumor Control: The purpose of this FEMA page is to help the public distinguish between rumors and facts regarding the response to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. ​
• Scammers are taking advantage of fears surrounding COVID-19. Learn more about Coronavirus scams from the Federal Trade Commission. Tips for avoiding these scams:
  • Hang up on robocalls.  
  • Ignore online offers for vaccinations and home test kits. 
  • Don’t click on or respond to emails asking for personal information in order to receive an economic stimulus check from the government. 
  • Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know. 
  • Don’t click on or respond to emails that claim a positive COVID-19 test within your workplace. 
  • Don’t click on or respond to emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization.