Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth to require masks in city buildings
| | Aug. 3, 2021
COVID-19 cases are continuing to rise in Minnesota because of the delta variant of the coronavirus.
The state health department reported nearly 1,700 new cases over the last three days, pushing the seven-day rolling average to near 600, a level not seen since late May. However this latest increase is far smaller than the spike of late last year, when the average daily case count hovered near 7,000.
Health commissioner Jan Malcolm says the delta variant is responsible for about 85 percent of new cases in the state. Malcolm says she’s concerned about the trend.
“They have been going up very quickly. Our absolute numbers are still a little bit lower than our neighbors, but we're on a trajectory to just keep growing," Malcolm said.
About half of Minnesota counties now have what’s considered substantial community spread. New cases are growing far faster among Black Minnesotans, who are seeing nearly twice the per capita case growth of any other racial or ethnic group during this current wave. The mayors of Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth announced a new mask requirement in city-owned buildings which also goes into effect tomorrow.
Masks will be required for anyone older than two in city buildings in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Duluth did not specify an age limit.
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| Editor's note: Inclusion at MPR News | | At MPR News, we are considering how we may deepen connections and trust with the communities we cover. MPR News has been intentional about our coverage and programming to reflect the vast mosaic of people and experiences that make up Minnesota. MPR News managing editor Sarah Glover shares an update on newsroom inclusion efforts. | |
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