ST. PAUL, Minn. — Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order requiring face masks to combat the coronavirus. Effective Saturday, masks will be required at indoor businesses and indoor public settings. “There’s no better way to demonstrate our Minnesotan values than by wearing a mask,” Walz said. The order has the backing of Minnesota Hospital Association The order, however, is unpopular among Republican legislators. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, called the requirement “heavy-handed.” Many parts of the state, Gazelaka said, have been affected only slightly by the virus. The Walz order has exceptions like children under 5. Violations are a petty misdemeanor punishable by a $100 fine.
