Wisconsin Watch is a nonprofit newsroom that focuses on government integrity and quality of life issues, and we always provide our news for free.
You can read all of our coronavirus/COVID-19 coverage by signing up for our Wisconsin COVID-19 Update newsletter, and please consider becoming a member to support our nonprofit journalism.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on Thursday declared a public health emergency and issued a statewide mask mandate for most buildings in a state where the coronavirus has infected more than 52,000 people and killed more than 900.
The move adds Wisconsin to a growing list of states to require wearing a mask — a tool public health experts call essential for preventing the virus’ spread. The order supersedes a patchwork of local masking regulations in Wisconsin, and it represents an about-face for Evers. The Democrat has repeatedly urged Wisconsinites to wear masks during the pandemic but previously called a mandate unlikely after the Wisconsin Supreme Court limited his administration’s powers.
At least 32 other states and the District of Columbia require the use of facemasks in some way, according to tracking by AARP.
Mitchell Schmidt of the Wisconsin State Journal has the full story, and Adam Rogan of Racine’s Journal Times further breaks down the order, which includes some exceptions.
Top Stories
Gov. Tony Evers changes course, issues statewide mask mandate — Wisconsin State Journal
Everything you need to know about Wisconsin’s new statewide indoor mask mandate — Journal Times
Oshkosh lawmaker misleads with claim that masks are ineffective — PolitiFact Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s paper mills are the latest victim of the pandemic — The Washington Post
Wisconsin groups tweak voter outreach strategies to address COVID-19 crisis, misinformation — Cap Times
COVID-19 testing at Alliant Energy Center could wind down in August without more federal support z— Wisconsin State Journal
The gulf between Republicans and Democrats on coronavirus aid, in 9 charts — The New York Times
What to know about Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, the federal program providing benefits to self-employed — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
What are we missing? And how are you coping? Help us provide critical information and accountability by filling out this form or emailing us at tips@wisconsinwatch.org.
Government updates
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
U.S. Centers and Disease Control and Prevention
Housing trouble?
Are you worried about losing your home or apartment because of the pandemic? Share your experience with News414, Wisconsin Watch’s service journalism collaboration with Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and Outlier media. Click here for details.
Quotable
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsFrom the beginning, our response to this pandemic has been guided by data and science—that hasn’t changed. That’s why today I signed an statewide emergency order requiring folks ages five and over to wear masks or face coverings in public spaces with some limited exceptions.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) July 30, 2020
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsI have previously stated my support for local efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus and do not favor a statewide mandate. It’s disappointing that yet again Gov. Evers has chosen to not communicate or work with the legislature. #wisconsin
— Speaker Robin Vos (@SpeakerVos) July 30, 2020
https://t.co/PLOivlXTbE
Data to note
Here are the latest visualizations of COVID-19 cases and deaths from our partners at WisContext.
!function(e,i,n,s){var t=”InfogramEmbeds”,d=e.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];if(window[t]&&window[t].initialized)window[t].process&&window[t].process();else if(!e.getElementById(n)){var o=e.createElement(“script”);o.async=1,o.id=n,o.src=”https://e.infogram.com/js/dist/embed-loader-min.js”,d.parentNode.insertBefore(o,d)}}(document,0,”infogram-async”); !function(e,i,n,s){var t=”InfogramEmbeds”,d=e.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];if(window[t]&&window[t].initialized)window[t].process&&window[t].process();else if(!e.getElementById(n)){var o=e.createElement(“script”);o.async=1,o.id=n,o.src=”https://e.infogram.com/js/dist/embed-loader-min.js”,d.parentNode.insertBefore(o,d)}}(document,0,”infogram-async”); !function(e,i,n,s){var t=”InfogramEmbeds”,d=e.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];if(window[t]&&window[t].initialized)window[t].process&&window[t].process();else if(!e.getElementById(n)){var o=e.createElement(“script”);o.async=1,o.id=n,o.src=”https://e.infogram.com/js/dist/embed-loader-min.js”,d.parentNode.insertBefore(o,d)}}(document,0,”infogram-async”);Resilient Wisconsin
People helping others and showing resilience during this time of anxiety. Send suggestions by tagging us on social media — @wisconsinwatch — or emailing us: tips@wisconsinwatch.org.
Frustrated while waiting for your unemployment claim to be processed? Now there’s a podcast for that. Chenon Times-Rainwater, a 41-year-old life coach and small business owner, has launched a podcast to offer a “sounding board not only for my own experience but as a voice for others I advocate for.”
Access to some stories listed in the Wisconsin COVID-19 Update may be limited to subscribers of the news organizations that produced them. We urge our readers to consider supporting these important news outlets by subscribing.
The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (wisconsinwatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.
