MADISON, WI (WTAQ) — The deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services says that with several variant strains of COVID-19 circulating across the globe, including one in Wisconsin, now isn’t the time to get rid of the state’s mask mandate.
Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk spoke Tuesday, as some Republicans in the State Assembly argued that Governor Tony Evers went too far in extending the state’s mask mandate for another 60 days last week.
“This is no time to remove the mask mandate in our state,” said Willems Van Dijk. “That’s why the governor issued one last week and why it continues to be incredibly important.”
At least one COVID-19 variant, the B.1.1.7 variant first detected in the UK, has been detected in Wisconsin. In neighboring Minnesota, the B.1.1.248 variant, first discovered in Brazil, has been detected as well.
Dr. Anthony Fauci this week suggested that you should wear TWO masks to protect from COVID-19 and its variant strains. Willems Van Dijk said that “couldn’t hurt” on Tuesday.
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