Minneapolis, St. Paul to require masks in city buildings and for city staff
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter say masks will be required for government staff and inside city-owned buildings beginning Wednesday. Author: Samantha Fischer Updated: 4:35 PM CDT August 3, 2021
MINNEAPOLIS
Video above first aired Aug. 2, 2021
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter issued new mask guidance for indoor spaces in their respective cities Tuesday, requiring face coverings for local government staff and inside city-owned buildings.
The mayors are also encouraging mask use in all other indoor public spaces, despite vaccination status. The new guidelines will go into effect Wednesday.
The Latest: Judge says migrant stops could worsen pandemic Associated Press Text size Copy shortlink:
AUSTIN, Texas A federal judge has ordered Texas to keep state troopers from stopping vehicles that are carrying migrants on the grounds that the migrants may spread the coronavirus.
The temporary restraining order handed down Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone comes as coronavirus infections are rising along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last week authorized Texas growing presence of state troopers along the border to stop any vehicle upon reasonable suspicion that it transports migrants.
The Biden administration accused Abbott of potentially worsening the spread of the coronavirus. It argued that impeding the movement of migrants would prolong the detention of unaccompanied children in increasingly crowded facilities.
Twin Cities Mayors Order Masking for City Employees
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul said Tuesday they ll require city employees to wear masks in indoor public spaces as the delta variant of the coronavirus spurs concern nationwide.
Mayors Jacob Frey and Melvin Carter said they ll also require visitors to city-owned buildings to wear masks. The moves are in line with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control.
The mayors also urged businesses to require masks indoors to less the chances of virus spread.
Minnesota reported 1,667 more infections on Tuesday, a positivity rate of 4%. That s just below the state s caution level but up significantly from 1.1% in early July.
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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is pressing forward with efforts to allow schools to mandate face masks as coronavirus infections continue to rise in the state.
Hutchinson on Tuesday called the legislature back into session to consider revising a law he signed in April that prohibits mask mandates by schools and other governmental entities. Some lawmakers in the Republican-controlled body are opposing a mandate.
Face masks to become mandatory in Olmsted County government buildings
Requirement applies regardless of vaccination status.
Posted: Aug 3, 2021 3:22 PM
Updated: Aug 3, 2021 3:33 PM
Posted By: Mike Bunge
ROCHESTER, Minn. – Starting Tuesday, visitors and county employees will be required to wear facial coverings in all Olmsted County government buildings.
County officials say this follows the county reaching the status of substantial community transmission of COVID-19 and is following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health.
The mask requirement applies to everyone, vaccinated or not, and officials say it will remain in place until further notice.