People above the age of five will have to wear a mask indoors and in enclosed spaces for another 60 days following a new face coverings order from Governor Tony Evers on Tuesday. The mask mandate, which was paired with a new public health emergency, was supposed to expire on September 28th. The reopening of schools and college campuses are thought to be driving a recent surge in positive COVID-19 test results and the emergency order. Wisconsin currently has eight of the top 20 cities in the country in terms of COVID-19 case growth, six of which are home to University of Wisconsin campuses. In addition, the emergency order says there have been at least 76 facility investigations that have occurred at elementary, middle, and high schools since their years got underway earlier this month. The state has also seen its daily number of cases grow almost threefold since the end of last month, from 678 on August 31st to 1,791 on September 21st. Some of the state’s highest totals have occurred in the last week, including a record 2,533 on September 18th.
