Governor Walz: No intention of issuing statewide mask mandate

Photo by: Governor Tim Walz - Facebook
Photo by: Governor Tim Walz - Facebook

(St. Paul, MN) -- Governor Tim Walz says he has no plans to issue a statewide mask mandate as COVID-19 cases surge.  

Governor Walz says he does however support a move by Minneapolis and St. Paul to reinstate local indoor mask mandates. The new masking requirements go into effect in the Twin Cities this evening.  

Positivity rates and hospitalizations in the state are trending sharply upward as the highly infectious omicron variant fuels a nationwide spike in cases.