Dane Co. extends mask term until October, includes exemptions for performers

MADISON, Wisconsin – Dane County public health officials are extending their indoor mask tenure until October, citing a growing number of coronavirus cases due to the delta variant.

The new emergency decree will come into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday September 10 and will be in effect until 12:01 a.m. on October 8.

The new order includes new exemptions for those who actively play a wind instrument with a cloth horn. Those who present or perform a religious, political, media, educational, artistic, cultural, musical or theatrical presentation are also exempt from the indoor mask mandate as long as the other spacing and vaccination requirements are met.

Madison & Dane County Public Health’s previous mask order, which was due to expire next week, has been criticized by performers as well as school orchestra instructors who feared the lack of exemptions could lead to cancellation of performances.

“Given the lack of guidance from the CDC and given guidance from other communities, this latest version of the ordinance includes a narrow exemption for certain performers when performing or training,” said PHMDC director Janel Heinrich said in a statement announcing the order. “We strongly encourage all performing arts to consider all ways they can reduce disease transmission, especially as the highly contagious Delta variant continues to spread in Dane County.”

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Public health officials say while Dane County has one of the highest vaccination rates in the country with over 84% of the eligible population receiving at least one dose, there are still around 75,000 eligible people. in the county that are not yet vaccinated.

That number, combined with cooler temperatures as fall approaches, has led the PHMDC to expand its order of masks.

“We expect to see more epidemics and disease transmission as the weather cools and schools and universities resume in-person learning,” said Jerry Halverson, MD, Chairman of the Board of Health. “Our high level of vaccine coverage combined with the continued ordering of face coverings will hopefully continue to mean cases in Dane County remain below the state average.”

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