A city-wide mask mandate goes into effect for Milwaukee on Thursday.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett joined WTMJ to answer questions about the mandate.
How long will it be in place?
“As long as we have this health emergency that’s still in effect, or the Council and I decide to remove it. My preference is we don’t even have it, but obviously we have to have it at this stage. It’s not something we want to have for a long time, but I don’t think anyone can predict anything at this stage.”
How will it be enforced?
“The enforcement is through the Health Department, it’s not through the police department. This is primarily an educational effort. Businesses who do not follow it can see fines ranging from $50 to $500. Enforcement provisions are aimed more towards businesses than individuals. What this means is if you go into a restaurant or a business, they’re the ones that will be doing the enforcement more than anybody.”
What do you say to those who don’t want to wear a mask?
“If you’re 25-years-old and you’re superman or superwoman, this isn’t about you. It’s about not spreading this disease. We’ve got 136,000 people in this country who have died from this disease. None of them wanted to get it; nobody wants to get this disease. It’s not about you, it’s about making sure others don’t get the disease.”
For much more from Mayor Barrett on Wisconsin’s Morning News, click in the player above.