MAP: Breaking down which states require — or don’t require

In the age of COVID-19, the act of wearing a mask in public has become another front in America’s bitter culture wars. But even amid the partisan divide, a growing number of states — including some led by Republican governors — are now mandating face coverings.

More than half the states had issued mask requirements as of October 30, a move that public health experts say will help stop the spread of the coronavirus as cases surge in many regions.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican who had resisted a statewide mask requirement, issued one in July, as did Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat.

But some political squabbles show no sign of abating: Georgia’s governor in July sued Atlanta’s mayor over the city’s mask law, a day after he banned local governments from requiring the coverings.

Between July and late October, several new states issued mask mandates, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Vermont, Indiana and Ohio.

Here’s a look at where masks are now mandated by state governments, according to NBC News’ reporting. We’ll update this page in the days ahead.