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Governor Tony Evers considering statewide mask mandate

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MILWAUKEE — On Thursday, as Governor Tony Evers was urging Wisconsin residents to wear masks during a briefing on the coronavirus, about 50 people rallied outside the state capitol against a mask mandate. Many say it would violate their freedoms.

“Unfortunately, there are some folks in the state who don’t believe masks help,” Evers said. “We know they do, there’s no question. Even Donald Trump has suggested it’s a good idea. So we’re going to continue to monitor it. It’s something we’re considering.”

Evers acknowledging the only thing holding him back from issuing a statewide mask mandate is the legal battle it would likely cause. Similar to what happened when the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Evers’ Safer at Home Order a few months ago.

“Clearly the Supreme Court left this is a very messy state and created chaos,” Evers said.

Many Wisconsin cities and counties have put their own mask mandates in place, along with most states, including Wisconsin’s neighbors, Minnesota, Illinois, and Michigan.

“There is no conspiracy theory here, masks help,” Evers said. “Frankly, everyone should put on a mask right now if they have one.”

This comes after a single-day record of new positive COVID-19 cases earlier this week, on Tuesday. The Department of Health Services confirms younger people in the 15 to 35 age range are contracting the virus most right now, due in part to more people starting to attend social gatherings again.

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