The City of Whitewater should require that people wear masks in public places and maintain physical distancing until health professionals say these practices are no longer needed. The alternative is more lockdowns, the failure of beloved local businesses, and serious illness and death. 

Medical professionals, health officials, and scientists say that wearing face masks helps prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19. Masks help prevent a wearer from infecting others. But mask wearers are not protected if others don't wear masks. Not wearing masks puts everyone in public spaces -- including customers and employees -- at risk.

Mandatory mask use is already required at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff. This measure CAN and SHOULD be put in place on a larger scale to protect our entire community. 

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INSPIRED BY REILLY KOCH , WHO STARTED A PETITION FOR MANDATORY MASK USE IN THE CITY OF MADISON:https://www.change.org/p/mandatory-mask-use-in-madison-wi#:~:text=The%20City%20of%20Madison%20should,and%20serious%20illness%20and%20death