GRAND FORKS, N.D. F (AP) - Grand Forks County residents will still be required to wear face coverings in many public settings even though Gov. Doug Burgum is dropping a statewide mask requirement effective Monday.
Grand Forks Health Officer Dr. Joel Walz says the order goes into effect Monday as the state mandate expires. It requires masks in indoor businesses and public settings and outdoors when physical distancing isn’t possible in public.
Exceptions are made for children under the age of five, individuals with medical or mental health conditions or disabilities that make it unreasonable to wear a mask, and when an individual is participating in a religious service.
“Keeping the mask order in place is an additional mitigation mechanism especially as we get our most vulnerable population vaccinated and get through the peak of influenza season,” Walz said.
Burgum on Friday said he will drop a statewide mask requirement as well as limits on the number of people who gather in restaurants, bars and event venues, citing a dramatic drop in active COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations due to the coronavirus.
State health officials reported Saturday eight additional people have died from coronavirus complications, bringing the total number of deaths in North Dakota to 1,381 since the pandemic began. Six of the deaths included people in their 80s or 90s.
An additional 127 people have tested positive, bringing the total number of positive cases to 95,714 since the pandemic began.
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