
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.
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.
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:
Mayo Clinic
Donations will be accepted weekdays from 8 to 4 p.m. at drive-up donations centers at:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Flu cases and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) rates are beginning to drop in the U.S.; however, reported cases of COVID-19 are increasing. A new COVID-19 omicron variant, XBB.1.5, is spreading quickly and ...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu infection rates across the U.S. continue to be very high. "As we predicted, this flu season has ...
According to the Food and Drug Administration, a national shortage of different medications, including a common antibiotic, is expected to last several months. "The most notable ...