CITY OF KENOSHA — The City of Kenosha Common Council has approved an order that requires all residents to wear face masks while in any indoor public space.
The measure comes as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in southeastern Wisconsin, and as Gov. Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate is set to expire this Saturday.
The ordinance requires people to wear masks in any building that is open to the public, as well as while waiting for or riding public transportation, taxes, private car services or ride-sharing vehicles.
All businesses and other groups must also now require both employees and customers to wear masks in a public space, where food is being prepared or distributed, and in any space where six feet of social distancing cannot be maintained.
There are some exceptions to the mask order: children five years or younger, people the CDC has concluded should not be wearing masks for health reasons, people with upper-respiratory chronic conditions, those who are hearing impaired, those who need to remove a mask for their job, people seated at a restaurant or other establishment while they are eating or drinking, places where federal or state law requires a person's face be identified, in a private office, people whose religious beliefs prevent them from wearing face masks, and while exclusively with members of your household, among other exceptions.
City of Kenosha police officers are authorized to enforce the mask mandate, according to the order.
Owners of businesses found guilty of not enforcing the order can be fined up to $500 plus the costs of prosecution.
The mask mandate will remain in effect until March 31, 2021, unless it is extended, terminated or modified by the Common Council.
The Council approved the measure 15-2 at a meeting Monday night, according to the Kenosha News.
Click here to view Kenosha's mask mandate order.