07/31/2020- Face coverings will be required in all public places in Wisconsin beginning tomorrow. Governor Tony Evers Thursday declared a Public Health Emergency and issued an Emergency Order requiring individuals age five and up wear face coverings when indoors and not in a private residence. The order also enumerates exceptions to the requirement, listing activities such as when an individual is eating, drinking, or swimming and those with health conditions that would preclude the wearing of a face covering safely are also exempt from the requirement. Wisconsin has experienced a drastic rise in COVID-19 cases throughout the entire state, with 84 percent of counties now experiencing high COVID-19 activity. That’s compared to June when only 26% of the state’s counties had high COVID-19 activity. Governor Evers says as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the medical and scientific community continues to learn more about the virus and that recent scientific studies show that wearing face coverings is highly effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19. The mask order takes effect at 12:01 August 1st and is currently set to expire on September 28.