Opinion Editorial IN YOUR VIEW | Mask or No Mask? Does delta variant surge make you more likely to opt for face covering? With the COVID-19 delta variant surging across Arkansas and Texas, some have suggested that wearing face masks in public would still be wise, especially for those who have not been vaccinated. Jul. 22 2021 @ 7:12pm With the COVID-19 delta variant surging across Arkansas and Texas, some have suggested that wearing face masks in public would still be wise, especially for those who have not been vaccinated. Indeed, some states are mulling a return to a mask mandate. That's unlikely here since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott shot down the idea on Wednesday and a new law means the state legislature in Arkansas would have to approve such a move. So it would have to be voluntary in the Twin Cities.