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The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) recently recommended that all people wear cloth face masks or coverings when in public. While face masks do not replace social distancing measures, they help prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others.

Mayo Clinic, and local government and health care partners, have come together to collect and distribute masks to organizations in need.

Community mask requirements

Masks should follow CDC guidelines. They should fit snug but be comfortable against the face and allow for breathing without restriction. It is recommended that all masks adhere to the CDC's mask pattern. 

Mask drop-off locations

Finished masks should be placed in a clean plastic bag, such as a plastic grocery store bag and tied shut, or placed in another type of sealed plastic bag.

Masks can be dropped off at:

Rochester fire stations

Rochester fire stations have bins in their parking lots that are available 24/7. Here's where you can find the fire stations:

• Fire Station 1, 521 S. Broadway
• Fire Station 2, 2185 Wheelock Drive NE
• Fire Station 3, 2755 Second St. SW
• Fire Station 4, 1875 41st St. NW
• Fire Station 5, 305 28th St. SE

Mayo Clinic

Donations will be accepted weekdays from 8 to 4 p.m. at drive-up donations centers at:

• Gonda Building, east entrance, 200 First St. SW
• Mayo Family Clinic Southeast, 4544 Canal Place SE

Donated masks will be used by staff who do not work in patient care areas, as well as by patients and visitors.

Olmsted Medical Center

Finished masks can be donated weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon at Olmsted Medical Center's Marketing and Foundation Offices at102 Elton Hills Drive NW. Learn more on the Olmsted Medical Center website.

Rochester Public Schools

Masks can be dropped off from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at four locations:

• Franklin Elementary School, 1801 Ninth Ave. SE, door 1
• Gage Elementary School, 1300 40th St. NW, door 1
• Jefferson Elementary School, 1201 10th Ave NE, doors 1 and 2
• Sunset Terrace Elementary, 1707 19th Ave NW, door 1

Masks will be prioritized first for staff supporting emergency child care, student nutrition services and transportation.

People who would like to donate fabric or elastic are asked to call the city of Rochester's COVID-19 Information Hotline at 507-328-2822. Collection bins for materials also are located outside Rochester fire stations (see information above). Zumbro Valley Medical Society will direct these materials to people making face masks for agencies providing essential services.

If your organization needs masks

Homemade face masks will be provided to congregate living facilities, first responder agencies, and home care and other health care settings (other than Mayo Clinic or Olmsted Medical Center) first. Other agencies providing essential services to the public needing masks will also be provided, if supplies allow. Agencies can request a mask by calling the city of Rochester's COVID-19 Information Hotline at 507-328-2822.

Thank you

Mayo Clinic, along with the local government and health care partners, thank the individuals donating their time to sew masks. Your assistance provides essential workers with additional safeguards as they continue to perform their daily responsibilities. By working together, our community will defeat the COVID-19 virus together.

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Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding along with guidelines and recommendations may have changed since the original publication date. 

Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for additional updates on COVID-19. For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.

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