Wausau City Hall. MWC file photo
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The debate over masking is set to re-ignite Monday night in Wausau where the city’s Public Health and Safety Committee will debate a new masking resolution in the face of a new mutated strain of COVID-19 that originated in England.
The proposal would require anyone over the age of 5 to wear a face-covering in any city licensed, publicly-accessible, indoor space.
Exceptions to the measure would include those with upper respiratory conditions and those whose Religious beliefs prohibit them from wearing a face covering. Those interacting with residents who may be deaf or hard of hearing and communication cannot be made through other means would also be exempt.
Anyone working out in a gym setting would not be required to wear a face-covering during activity if they can maintain appropriate physical distance.
The requirement would also extend to taxi cab and ride-sharing services like Lyft or Uber. Both the driver and rider would be required to wear a face-covering for the duration of the ride.
Scientists and medical experts have said the mutated strain of COVID-19, which has been found in Wisconsin, is more contagious than the original that was first detected in China in November of 2019.
City leaders cite an obligation to act “for the health, safety, and welfare of the public” along with state health leaders’ call for everyone to wear a face-covering as reasons for the proposal.
If passed by both Public Health and Safety and the City Council the requirement would take effect on February 1st and last through at least March 31st unless further action is taken to cancel or extended before that date.
It does not appear that the requirement would come with any penalties, much like last November’s resolution. To see the proposed requirement in its current form, click here.
RELATED: Public Health and Safety Committee Passes Mask Resolution
The city originally debated a mask ordinance in November 2020, which prompted a protest outside City Hall and a verbal incident inside that led to one person being thrown out of the meeting. City leaders ultimately settled on a masking resolution, which encourages masking in public spaces but does not come with any penalties for violators.
That resolution runs through the end of January.
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