What you need to know about Milwaukee's new policy of mandatory masks

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett on Tuesday signed into law a mask ordinance for indoor and outdoor public spaces, a day after the city's Common Council passed the measure unanimously. 

"The reason this is happening is because we cannot say as a community that we have conquered COVID-19 in Milwaukee, in Milwaukee County, in the state of Wisconsin or in the United States of America," said Barrett, who was sporting a mask bearing the People's Flag of Milwaukee. 

He asked people who object to wearing masks to rethink their stances, saying the mask policy is not about them but about the larger community. And he asked those who don't want to wear a mask for political or philosophical reasons to stay home. 

Here's what it means for you:

Where do I have to wear a mask?

The mask mandate requires anyone in the city who is at least 3 years old to have a face covering when they leave home. 

Masks must be worn whenever you're in a building that is open to the public and when you are outside in a public space and within 6 feet of any other person who is not your household or family member.

What about offices? What about the hallways of apartment buildings? What about public patios?

Yes, yes and yes. 

Your home is your private space, Milwaukee Health Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik said. Anywhere a person can come in as a visitor or patron is considered open to the public.

In an apartment building, the common areas such as hallways are considered public space because delivery people come through there, as do other residents. Therefore, masks should be worn whenever residents leave their units, she said. 

In an office building, clients and employees come into the space, Kowalik said. And although someone in their own office with no one else around doesn't have to wear a mask, if other people are in the same space, a mask is required because that's where the virus can be transmitted.

"It's very black and white," Kowalik said of where masks are required. "It's everything outside of where you live."

Wearing a mask isn't necessary for those exercising outside who are not around others, she said, but they should still have a mask with them in case they come into contact with other people.

When does the ordinance go into effect? 

Thursday at 12:01 a.m.

What 'counts' as a mask?

The ordinance requires a mask that covers your nose and mouth. Those include cloth face coverings and surgical masks as described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Are free masks available?

Yes. 

A separate measure approved by the Common Council on Monday and signed by Barrett on Tuesday directs Kowalik to create a program in which city residents can request and receive a free face mask.

The measure seeks to provide masks to at least half the city's residents.

In the meantime, the Health Department has masks available that are packaged in envelopes with educational materials in English and Spanish, Kowalik said.

Those are available at the department's administrative office at 841 N. Broadway, the Keenan Sexual Health Clinic at 3200 N. 36th St., the Northwest Health Center at 7630 W. Mill Road and the Southside Health Center at 1639 S. 23rd St.

The plan, she said, is to have cloth masks and other types of masks available. Because the legislation moved quickly, the department is in the process of procuring a large number of masks. 

The initial distribution will be aided by other city departments, including the Milwaukee Fire Department, Police Department and Public Library.

Are there exemptions to this policy? 

Yes: 

• People who should not wear face coverings according to the CDC because of a medical or mental health condition, a developmental disability or those "for whom no other accommodation can be offered under the Americans with Disabilities Act."
• People with chronic upper-respiratory conditions, "silent or invisible disabilities" or who are communicating with someone who is deaf or cannot hear well when there isn't another way to communicate.
• Settings in which it is not practical or possible to wear a mask, including during dental work or medical treatment, or when eating or drinking.
• Circumstances in which mask-wearing is not allowed by law or where it's necessary to verify someone's identity.
• Those with religious beliefs that prevent them from wearing masks. 
• Those in government buildings that aren't open to the public, higher education institutions, schools and child care facilities that have a mitigation strategy that the health commissioner has approved. 

What should I do if I see someone who isn't wearing a mask?

Don't call 911 or 211 to report them. 

People may have a condition that prevents them from wearing a mask, Kowalik said. So officials want people to focus on their own efforts to prevent the virus' spread.

That's why more of the city's focus right now will be on businesses. 

How will this policy be enforced?

The city's Health Department will take progressive enforcement steps to ensure that businesses are complying with the ordinance, from education up to the revocation of a license to operate.

Under the ordinance, owners or operators of buildings that are open to the public must make sure that those inside wear masks. They can refuse entry or service to anyone who isn't complying. 

The first step for businesses that aren't complying is education, Kowalik said. Repeat offenses can lead to a fine of between $50 and $500. If a business still doesn't comply, the city could revoke the business' license to operate. 

"Why would you jeopardize your business just to stick a point or try to focus on making up for some lost revenue?" Kowalik said. "The whole point of this is to save lives and to protect our public from additional illness and disability."

She said the department is working to provide tools and resources to business owners to help them enforce it. When business owners have masks they can give out, she said, that increases the odds of compliance. 

Not everyone has the resources to pay for a mask, she said.

Why am I being required to wear a mask?

The measure aims to slow the spread of COVID-19. 

According to the CDC, face coverings may help prevent COVID-19 from spreading between people.

"Cloth face coverings are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the cloth face covering coughs, sneezes, talks or raises their voice," according to the CDC.

People who don't have symptoms and are unaware that they are infected can still spread the virus.

Contact Alison Dirr at 414-224-2383 or adirr@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter @AlisonDirr.