WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A new policy regarding masks begins on Monday for city employees.
City of Wausau employees will be required to wear face coverings when in public spaces. The new policy begins on Monday, August 3rd, and is an employee handbook modification according to Mayor Katie Rosenberg.
“It’s a modification to the handbook so that’s how we’re approaching this. The exceptions would be if they’re behind protective barriers if they’re in their own office or space if they’re six feet away from other people.”
The decision to require face coverings started with the discussion around COVID-19 cases quickly rising in Marathon County. Rosenberg says she’s also heard from other communities in the city about face masks.
“We saw cases triple in the last month, which is alarming. We’re seeing our national businesses and local businesses starting to get really concerned about the possibility of a surge around here. And they’re requiring masks in their stores.
“And we’re getting feedback from the public too that they’re a little nervous. We just want to make sure that we’re doing our best to model good behavior.”
Over the next two days, this week city employees will receive masks from the city. The masks will come with instructions on how to don, doff, store, and wash them.
Rosenberg says the policy will be evaluated by the city’s Public Health and Saftey Committee to look at how long the policy will be in place. “They’ll decide if it should be permanent or when it should cease to exist. We’re anticipating that this won’t last forever.
“But you know I watched that school board meeting and one of the public health folks were talking. And they said it could last 18 more months. This is something that we’re going to have to continuously look at.”
Employees are also allowed to wear their own cloth face masks, disposable 3-ply, or KN95 masks. The policy is similar to one instated by Marathon County for its employees in early July.
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