Should Minnesota Consider Mandating Masks In Public Places?

The Minnesota Medical Association says that Minnesota should take into consideration mandating the wearing of masks in public places.  I find it unsettling that it may have to be mandated to be considerate of other peoples well being but that's pretty much where we are now.

To help control the spread of COVID-19, the MMA and 20 other state medical societies are recommending the state require face coverings or face masks.

15 other states plus the District of Columbia already have mandates in place.   California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia all have mandates.

Keith Stelter, MD, the president of the Minnesota Medial Association stated  "The medical benefits of wearing a mask are clear – a mask helps reduce virus transmission, particularly by individuals who are sick but have no symptoms and by individuals who have been infected but do not yet show any symptoms. Masks are also safe to wear”.

The Minnesota Medical Association would also like to see "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Mask, No Service" in every private and public location in Minnesota.

Stelter added “Statewide use of masks now in all indoor settings and on public transportation can help Minnesota avoid the resurgence of cases that is happening in many other states and avoid a backwards turn of the dial”.

(NPR)