Masks required at Black Bear Casino, Fond-du-Luth Casino

Anyone heading to Black Bear Casino Resort in Carlton or Fond-du-Luth Casino in Duluth will need to bring a mask. On Wednesday, the Fond du Lac Reservation Business Committee approved a 30-day mask mandate which begins Friday, January 21 and will be in effect until February 18th. According to the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Facebook page, the mask mandate will also include the Fond du Lac Gas & Grocery at 1510 Big Lake Rd, Cloquet.

Both casinos have also added similar COVID-19 statements to their websites. It says on the Black Bear Casino website, "Due to the rising number of COVID 19 cases, Black Bear Casino Resort will be under a 30 day Mask Mandate. The mandate will start at 8 am on Friday, January 21st, 2022 and end at 8 am on Friday, February 18th, 2022. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation."

Also on Wednesday, Cloquet Mayor Roger Maki signed a 30-day emergency declaration proclamation siting a rise in COVID-19 cases. The proclamation includes a mask mandate for businesses and public indoor spaces, and city meetings will be held remotely.

The Fond du Lac Health and Human Services warns that the Omicron variant continues to spread throughout the community. Officials say the two-week positivity rate for Fond du Lac administered tests has increased to 19.5%.

According to the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, as of January 18th, 7,946 patients have been tested at Min No Aya Win Human Services Center and CAIR, with 578 positive tests. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, Carlton County has 6,667 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, with 83 deaths.