As you know, Pubic Health Madison & Dane County has issued a new order requiring facial coverings indoors as this pandemic continues. The new orders are essential to reducing the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

There was considerable thought and many discussions that took place before these orders were developed. We reached out to community leaders and we know there are concerns. We also know many people have been asking for this order and don’t understand the process we have gone through to get here. 

We have seen firsthand that, in some cases, people who wear masks face discrimination. In some cases, people of Asian descent have experienced discrimination and attacks for wearing masks. In other cases, Black residents who wear masks have been asked to remove them or have been treated differently because of racial stereotypes. This is not acceptable. 

We also know there are some in our community who do not have access to masks. We are working with Public Health, Dane County and community organizations to make masks available to anyone who cannot afford or access them otherwise. This takes time. 

And we know some people cannot wear masks because of underlying health conditions. The order exempts people with physical, mental or developmental conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask. 

It is not the job of individuals to enforce this order. Not all disabilities and health conditions are visible. If someone is not wearing a mask, there may be a good reason for that. You can still protect each other by staying 6 feet apart and being careful not to come in contact with the same surfaces without sanitizing first. If someone wearing a mask causes you concern, please take a moment to consider why that is, and remember that in the era of COVID-19, wearing a mask is an act of care and kindness. 

We are asking all residents who are able to wear masks because they care about the health of our entire community — our parents, our students, our children, our health care and other front-line workers, and our vulnerable residents. We ask everyone to wear a mask because we are all in this together.