Health & Fitness
What Is The Mask Requirement In Wauwatosa?
People ages five and older are required to wear masks or face coverings in enclosed spaces.
September 23, 2020
Governor Ever issued an executive order declaring public health emergency and requiring face coverings statewide beginning August 1, 2020 and expiring September 28, 2020. This was then extended to November 21, 2020.
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People ages five and older are required to wear masks or face coverings in enclosed spaces. This includes indoor spaces as well as outdoor spaces in which people gather.
The Wauwatosa Common Council passed a local ordinance requiring the use of face coverings. Wauwatosa's local ordinance has a similar age requirement and also requires masks in indoor places. The main difference between the state's order and Wauwatosa's ordinance is that we've extended the timeline through January 31, 2021. However, the Common Council may set a different expiration date by a future amendment to this ordinance.
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There are exceptions to wearing a mask, such as people who have a medical condition, or when eating and drinking.
How to Wear a Fabric Mask
- Clean your hands before touching the mask
- Adjust the mask to your face without leaving gaps on the sides
- Cover your mouth, nose, and chin
- Avoid touching the mask
- Wash the mask in soap or detergent, preferably with hot water after use
Signage and Infographics
We encourage business owners to download a sign to put in their business about the mask requirement.
- Face Covering Required (8.5x11 sign)
Research
World Health Organization Guidance (June 2020): WHO has updated its guidance to advise that to prevent COVID-19 transmission effectively in areas of community transmission, governments should encourage the general public to wear masks in specific situations and settings as part of a comprehensive approach to suppress COVID-19 transmission (page 6).
CDC: Effectiveness of Cloth Masks for Protection Against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (Oct 2020): In community settings, however, cloth masks may be used to prevent community spread of infections by sick or asymptomatically infected persons, and the public should be educated about their correct use.
This press release was produced by the City of Wauwatosa. The views expressed here are the author’s own.