Wisconsin Department of Health Services Plans to Update Mask Mandates to Match CDC

Thursday, July 29th, 2021 -- 11:01 AM

(WRN) The Department of Health Services says they're going to be updating their recommendations alongside the Centers for Disease Control.

While the state probably won't be issuing statewide mandates, those might come from local health departments, says Deputy secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk.

"They monitor their local data on a daily basis and many of them have had conversations with their own local elected officials about mask requirements or mask advisories."

Van Dijk says that while masking up indoors is a good idea, it's not foolproof. "Masks continue to be a good tool but the perfect tool in our toolbox is the vaccine."

Van Dijk says that the state is seeing a spike in positive COVID cases thanks to the Delta variant, and she's hoping this urges people to get the shot. "Encouraging our fellow Wisconsinites and our fellow citizens across the nation and the world to accept this vaccine and protect all of us."

Local health departments across the state have been updating and strengthening their recommendations on masking, especially in places where transmission is high.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.