Racine mayor signs order suspending enforcement of city's mask ordinance

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Racine Mayor Cory Mason signed an executive order Thursday, Feb. 24, suspending enforcement of the city's face mask ordinance. 

The order takes effect at noon Thursday, according to the mayor's office.

A full sunset of the ordinance will be sent to the Common Council for a vote at their regular meeting on Tuesday, March 1 at 7 p.m.

“I have been in discussion with the Public Health Department for several weeks, monitoring the trend of the case rate of COVID-19 in our community. With the decline in cases, the Public Health Department is comfortable suspending enforcement on the City’s mask ordinance and recommend the ordinance be permitted to expire at next week’s meeting of the Common Council,” said Mayor Mason.

“This does not mean that the pandemic is over," he continued. "We hope it is in serious decline, but that does not mean it does not still present a serious threat to health, especially if you are not vaccinated. Getting vaccinated and wearing a mask are still two highly recommended ways to mitigate your risk of getting sick from Covid. And while the ordinance may get repealed next Tuesday, that does not prevent individual businesses, schools, or organizations from requiring masks and I encourage everyone to continue to take precautions they feel are best to protect themselves and their loved ones."

Members of the public who want to watch the meeting of the Common Council on Tuesday can do so on the city's Facebook page at 7 p.m.