![Minnesota Hospitals Ask for Statewide Mask Mandate](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2020/07/GettyImages-1219613666.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Minnesota Hospitals Ask for Statewide Mask Mandate
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota's hospitals have asked Gov. Tim Walz to impose a statewide mask mandate to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The Minnesota Hospital Association urges the governor to act quickly to protect Minnesota from the surge hitting other states.
While hospitalizations in Minnesota for COVID-19 have been declining, the group pointed out that the state's positivity rate and new case counts are rising again.
Walz says he hasn't decided yet. While the Democratic governor said he's willing to order a mandate "at some point in time," he'd like to get Republican support rather than impose it unilaterally.
More From AM 1240 WJON
![Boys and Girls Clubs Offering New Reading and Math Programming](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2021/02/DSC05326.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Blaine Man Charged in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2020/09/Courtroom.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Reasons Why COVID Can Be Worse on Some and Not Others](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2021/12/attachment-Coughing.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Why More People in Central MN are Getting the Latest Version of COVID](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2021/12/attachment-Coughing.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Where to Dine Outdoors in Central Minnesota](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2020/05/RS26088_GettyImages-475888436.jpeg?w=980&q=75)
![City of St. Cloud Tracking COVID Through Wastewater](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2014/02/Wastewater-Facility.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![COVID-19 Patients Way Down at St. Cloud Hospital](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2018/08/St.-Cloud-Hospital-5.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests Available for All Online](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2022/02/attachment-annie-spratt-PXZEg4hnyVw-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests Available for All Minnesotans](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2022/02/attachment-annie-spratt-PXZEg4hnyVw-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)