Mask mandate extended as vaccines are limited
Gov. Tony Evers signed Executive Order 104 and Emergency Order 1, Jan. 19, establishing a new statewide public health emergency and face coverings requirement, respectively, as the state continues to expand vaccination distribution across the state.
“We’re working every day, to get vaccines distributed and get shots in arms, to get our state back to some sort of normal,” said Evers. “At the end of the day, vaccine supplies are limited, so while we continue to ask the federal government for more vaccines and faster, we have to keep working together to stop the spread today, by continuing to wear our masks, staying home whenever we can, avoiding gatherings and doubling down on our efforts to keep our friends, neighbors and families safe.”
As of Jan. 19, Wisconsin has administered 248,185 vaccines across the state, and began administering vaccines in Phase 1B to first responders and law enforcement earlier in the week.
The order will expire March 20, unless a superceding order occurs.
The emergency order mandates that face coverings must be worn in a confined space open to the public, where individuals congregate, including, but not limited to, outdoor bars, outdoor restaurants, taxis, public transit, ride-share vehicles and outdoor park structures.
“Face covering” means a piece of cloth or other material, that is worn to cover the nose and mouth completely. A “face covering” includes, but is not limited to, a bandana, a cloth face mask, a disposable or paper mask, a neck gaiter or a religious face covering. A “face covering” does not include face shields, mesh masks, masks with holes or openings, or masks with vents.
Every individual, age five and older, in Wisconsin, shall wear a face covering if the individual is indoors or in an enclosed space, other than at a private residence; and another person or persons who are not members of an individual’s household, or living unit, are present in the same room or enclosed space.
Face coverings are strongly recommended in all other settings, including outdoors, when it is not possible to maintain physical distancing.
Exceptions to the mandate include while eating or drinking; when communicating with an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing, and communication cannot be achieved through other means; while obtaining a service that requires the temporary removal of the face covering, such as dental services; while giving a religious, political, media, educational, artistic, cultural, musical or theatrical presentation for an audience; when engaging in work where wearing a face covering would create a risk to the individual, as determined by government safety guidelines.
Those exempt from wearing a face covering, include children under the age of two; individuals who have trouble breathing; individuals who are unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance; individuals with medical conditions, intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental health conditions or other sensory sensitivities that prevent the individual from wearing a face covering.
