Mayor encourages Milwaukeeans to wear masks inside and in large groups following new CDC guidance

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Mayor Tom Barrett is encouraging Milwaukeeans to wear masks inside and in large groups following new guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday, July 27. 

Barrett stopped short of a new mask mandate for now.

"Our preference of course is that we don't, but I simply cannot rule that out," Barrett said. "That is not out of the question. But as I indicated in my comments, enforcement has been an issue."

Mayor Barrett is encouraging everyone to get vaccinated to curb infections.

COVID-19 cases are rising nationally. Milwaukee city and county leaders said they are rising locally as well.

"Right here in Milwaukee County we've seen cases quadruple in the last few weeks, as vaccination rates in nearly al demographic groups slow down," Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said.

Dr Ben Weston with the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management said a rise in "breakthrough" cases, where those vaccinated get COVID-19, should not increase vaccine hesitancy.

"Is it possible you might have a breakthrough case, that you might get infected? Certainly," Weston said. "But if you do get infected, you're far less likely to get severe symptoms, you're far less likely to have severe symptoms, you're far less likely to get hospitalized, and you're far less likely to die."

Barrett made the announcement during a weekly coronavirus briefing with county health leaders. Watch it below.