Duluth, Minnetonka add mask mandates as pressure grows for statewide order
A couple wears masks in Minnesota.
MINNETONKA, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is facing mounting pressure from both sides on the idea of a statewide mask mandate. This come as more cities vote to make face coverings a requirement while out in public.
Monday night, city councils in Minnetonka and Duluth were among the latest to unanimously pass a citywide mask mandate. Other cities like Edina, Rochester and Mankato, have already approved resolutions to wear masks indoors.
LIST: Where you are required to wear a mask in Minnesota
Some say this city-by-city patchwork isn’t effective.
“If Minnetonka does it, it’s great, but if Golden Valley doesn’t do it, then we’re still potentially spreading because people are going to move back and forth between Minnetonka and Golden Valley,” said Dr. Keith Stelter of the Minnesota Medical Association.
Dr. Stelter is urging Governor Tim Walz to issue a statewide order, the possibility of which stirred plenty of debate at the state legislature Monday.
“Minnesotans at least where I live aren’t ready for mandatory face masks,” said Sen. Jim Abeler (R – Anoka).
“States that have taken a chance at laxing their rules, that have taken a chance at pulling back, thinking that we can open the doors are clearly paying the price for it now,” said Sen. Jason Isaacson (DFL – Shoreview).
More than 20 states have made masks mandatory, but Governor Walz has yet to decide whether Minnesota will join them.
The Senate Majority Leader, Republican Paul Gazelka, said while he’s not against masks, he is against a mandate.
“We don’t need a statewide or the governor making that decision for people,” said Gazelka.