Duluth now requires mask wearing in public spaces

A gorgeous summer day tomorrow. We’ve earned this beautiful Wednesday after the rain and storms over the past few days. Across Minnesota, it’ll be sunny and pleasantly warm, with highs in the upper 70s to the mid-80s. Some parts in far southeastern Minnesota may see rain and storms tomorrow.

After attempt to normalize masks, Duluth now mandates mask wearing. The city ordinance, passed by the City Council Monday night, took effect immediately and applies to “spaces of public accommodation,” like retail stores, restaurants, churches, government buildings, skywalks and buses. Children under age 10 are exempt, and businesses that don’t comply may get penalties, including warning letters, fines of up to $1,000 and possible misdemeanor prosecution.

Which Minnesota cities require masks? Check out this map to see more mask-mandatory cities.

Saw someone coming into your business without a mask, and didn’t know how to speak out? You’re not alone. As many cities require mask wearing in businesses in Minnesota and across the U.S., business owners are expressing their concerns over what to do when they see customers who don’t comply with the rule. While those guidelines are imposed by officials, it's often left up to restaurants and stores to enforce them, and if they don't, they can face lawsuits. "Sometimes they'll say, 'You're being very disrespectful.’ … and you're just standing there, going, 'What do I do? What do I do?'" said a barista who works at a coffee shop in suburban Chicago.

Soon, we may be able to know COVID-19 test results in minutes, thanks to 3M-MIT paper tests.The Maplewood-based company says it’s partnering with MIT scientists to develop paper-based COVID-19 tests that could make diagnosing infections nearly as simple as a home pregnancy test. Although 3M didn’t specify the timeline of when it’d be available to the public, the research is part of a fast-track effort by the National Institutes of Health to get rapid-results tests available across the country by the end of the summer.

COVID-19 in Minnesota today: If you’re going to New York, Minnesotans now have to quarantine. The East Coast state announced today that visitors from Minnesota and Wisconsin are required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. That announcement came as Minnesota health officials reported 403 newly confirmed cases, while the daily hospitalization and ICU counts continue to dip.

Under new guidelines, those designated "essential caregivers" will be permitted to visit loved ones in long term care settings. How will your family be handling the new guidance? What are you considering when deciding who will be an "essential caregiver?” Please, share your story with us here and help inform our journalism.