Racine Sun

Racine Mayor Cory Mason has ended the city's mask mandate for the public while visiting city buildings.

The public health department is comfortable with letting the mask ordinance end March 1, according to Fox 6 Now. 

"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," Mason said, according to Fox 6 Now. "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."

They know the pandemic isn't over, but hoping it's in a serious decline, according to Fox 6 Now.

"This does not mean that the pandemic is over. 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," Mason said, according to Fox 6 Now. "Getting vaccinated and wearing a mask are still two highly recommended ways to mitigate your risk of getting sick from COVID-19. And while the ordinance may get repealed next Tuesday, that does not prevent individual businesses, schools or organizations from requiring masks and I encourage everyone to continue to take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."

Fox 6 Now reports that Mason's announcement means the mask requirement is dropped for the public visiting city buildings. Racine employees will still be required to wear masks and follow testing guidelines. The employee requirements will be reviewed over the next few weeks.