Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers implemented a new statewide mask mandate on Thursday, shortly after the Republican-controlled Legislature voted to revoke his previous order requiring face coverings in public places.
Evers said in a video posted to Twitter that his priority is keeping Wisconsinites safe and that wearing a mask is “the most basic way” to stop the spread of the coronavirus and the B.1.17 variant.
“If the Legislature keeps playing politics and we don’t keep wearing masks, we’re going to see more preventable deaths, and it’s going to take even longer to get our state and our economy back on track,” the Democratic governor said.
Republicans in the state Assembly voted to repeal Evers’ mandate arguing he didn’t have the authority to extend the order without their approval.
To counteract the GOP’s decision, the governor issued the new order an hour later.
Evers’ extension of the mask mandate will run though March 20 effective immediately.
With Post Wires
