Policy on Face Coverings

Carondelet has received additional guidance in accordance with the Governor's Executive Order 20-81. Therefore, all students and faculty will wear a face covering in accordance with the Minnesota Department of Health. Each family shall provide their own face covering.

Children age 5 and under will be required to wear a face mask or shield when entering and exiting the buildings, in common spaces, and when physical social distance of 6 feet or less is not an option, and under teacher direction. 

All other students and faculty members will be required to wear a face shield in accordance with the state mandate, summarized here:

Types of face coverings can include: 

• paper or disposable mask 

• cloth mask

• neck gaiter

• scarf

• bandanna

• A face covering must cover the nose and mouth completely.

• Other:

  • Masks with valves, mesh, openings, holes, visible gaps or vents are not allowed

  • Face shields  are allowed for students age 5 and under or for students unable to wear a mask under health care directive)

• Persons who have:

  • Medical or other health conditions that prohibit them from wearing one safely.

  • Disabilities or mental health developmental, or behavioral needs that make it difficult to tolerate wearing a face covering.

  • Trouble breathing, is unconscious, sleeping, incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance.

When is it Required to Wear a Face Covering:

• In all public indoor spaces and businesses-

  • including when waiting outside to enter the public indoor space or business.

• When riding on public transportation such as buses 

• When working outdoors in situations where- 

  • social distancing (i.e., maintaining physical distance of at least six feet from other individuals who are not in the same household) cannot be maintained.

When is it not Required:

• When outdoors or participating in outdoor recreation
  
  -Workers are required to wear face coverings when working outdoors in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained.

When can a Face Covering Be Temporarily Removed (as long as social distancing can be maintained at all times):

• When participating in an activity in which the face covering will get wet.

• While eating or drinking

• While communicating with someone where communication with that individual while wearing a mask would be difficult 

• During practices or performances in an indoor space when a face covering cannot be used 

  • While playing a musical instrument

  • Singing

  • Public Speaking

  • Organized sports where the level of exertion makes wearing a face covering difficult.

• When alone In an offic or cubicle with walls higher than face level 

Businesses’ Obligations:

• Require that all persons, including their workers, customers, and visitors, wear face coverings as required by Executive Order 20-81 and take reasonable steps to enforce the requirement.

• Post one or more signs that are visible to all persons—including workers, customers, and visitors—instructing them to wear face coverings as required by Executive Order 20-81. https://mn.gov/covid19/media/share-message/for-businesses/index.jsp

• Accommodations to persons who state they have a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that makes it unreasonable for the person to maintain a face covering. Accommodations could include permitting use of an alternate form of face covering—a face shield, for example—or providing service options that do not require a customer to enter the business.