State 'Considering' COVID-19 Mask Requirement; 495 New Cases

MADISON, WI — Dane County issued a public health order requiring COVID-19 face masks — the first municipality in Wisconsin to issue such an order. On the same day, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said it's unlikely that he will issue a public health order requiring masks statewide.

"The Supreme Court ended not only Safer at Home, but really created a chaotic situation. We really don’t know if I have the authority to do that," Evers said about the possibility of health officials issuing a statewide mask requirement during a conference call Tuesday. "It's something we're considering."

Nearly 500 New Cases Tuesday

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the state saw 495 new COVID-19 cases over the last 24 hours, and nine new virus-related deaths. Hospitalizations increased by 37 to 3,639 as of July 7.

State health officials said 12,594 tests were performed over the last 24 hours, and that the positive test rate was 3.9 percent — a drop from earlier this month. There are 5,988 active COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin, officials said.

PPE Being Distributed Across State

Evers announced additional efforts to distribute personal protective equipment to schools, food processors, and businesses across the state.

Officials said Wisconsin Emergency Management personnel will begin shipping more than 2 million cloth face masks and more than 4,200 infrared thermometers to K-12 public, charter, and private schools throughout the state.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection is also helping to facilitate the delivery of approximately 60,000 masks to local food processors and businesses.

A survey was sent to school administrators in mid-June to determine their interest in getting masks. The governor's office said at least 398 public school districts, 23 charter schools and 617 private schools said they would like to receive supplies, with more requests expected.

The shipments are intended to supplement additional efforts districts may choose to undertake to purchase masks and other PPE, the governor's office said.