Now that we are adding Minnesota to the list of states that require masks in public spaces, there are 31 states with a current mask mandate as the country tries to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The CDC is recommending masks in public spaces, yet with many people refusing to wear them state leaders have been forced to require them. Businesses who had tried to enforce their own mandates had been calling on Governor Walz to step in and take the onus off them as well.
On Wednesday, along with Minnesota, Indiana and Ohio have announced mask requirements.
RELATED: Governor Walz to issue mask mandate at 2pm press conference.This is a current list of states requiring masks:WashingtonOregonCaliforniaHawaiiMontanaNevadaColoradoNew MexicoTexasKansasArkansasLouisianaIllinoisMichiganOhioIndianaKentuckyWest VirginiaVirginiaAlabamaNorth CarolinaMarylandDelawarePennsylvaniaNew JerseyNew YorkConnecticutRhode IslandMassachusetts Maine
Starting Friday at midnight, you can add Minnesota to that list of course.
While masks have become politicized, and most states requiring masks are governed by Democrats, it's certainly a bi-partisan list with Texas, Kentucky, Alabama, North Carolina, Kansas and others being solidly "red".
Most of the mandates have similar rules, but there are some differences. In Texas, for example, masks are not required for religious services or at gyms. CDC Director Robert Redfield said last week that the U.S. could get the pandemic under control in one to two months if everyone wore a mask.
“The time is now,” Redfield said. “I think if we could get everybody to wear a mask right now, I think in four, six, eight weeks we could bring this epidemic under control.”
On WCCO Radio Wednesday morning, University of Minnesota's Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Dr. Michael Osterholm said, "I think it's time. We have said over and over again, understand that the face cloth covering, as opposed to N95 masks for health care workers, are something you can use to provide at least some protection."
Minnesota's mask mandate goes into effect this Friday night at midnight.
