Mask Mandate Goes Into Effect In Rochester, MN

ROCHESTER, MN — Rochester, Minnesota Mayor Kim Norton signed a declaration of a local emergency Tuesday that will require masks to be worn indoors "by all individuals in all indoor public settings within the City where medically vulnerable individuals or children under the age of 12 are expected to be present."

The new mask mandate went into effect immediately. The mandate will expire on Aug. 20 if the Rochester City Council does not act to extend it.

The mandate comes as the highly infectious delta variant of the coronavirus brings a surge in new cases and hospitalizations across the nation.

On Tuesday alone, 3,054 new cases of COVID-19 were reported. A month ago on this date, 129 cases were reported.