Minot Mayor Shaun Sipma, through executive order, has lifted the citywide mask mandate, effective at 8 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 29.

Sipma’s decision coincides with Gov. Doug Burgum’s announcement that he has moved the entire state to the low risk category based on North Dakota’s falling coronavirus positivity rates and number of hospitalizations related to COVID-19. Burgum’s change also takes effect at 8 a.m. on Friday.

“With these reductions, I feel it is prudent at the local level to lift the mask mandate through executive order to coincide with the governor’s statewide risk reduction,” Sipma said.

Mask mandates will remain in place at the Minot International Airport and on City of Minot buses due to federal executive orders concerning public transit that remain in place.

All four City of Minot fire stations and the Minot Police Department will remain closed to the public to help protect the City’s first responders. Visitors to the Police Department should ring the buzzer on the door at the east entrance and an officer will meet them outside.

Mask mandates relating specifically to City buildings and City employees were adopted by the City Council, and will remain in effect until they are modified or terminated by the Council. Those items will be on the agenda for the Feb. 1 Council meeting.

“It is premature to think COVID-19 is behind us, and we will continue to communicate with local health officials about what’s best for the health and well-being of our community,” Sipma said. “We continue to advise people to wear masks when around large groups of people and to maintain proper social distancing and personal hygiene.”