Sept. 3, 2021 11:40a
(WGTD/AP)---A proposal to reinstate an indoor mask requirement in public places in Kenosha was formally withdrawn Friday morning by its sponsor, Ald. Anthony Kennedy.
The city’s Public Safety and Welfare Committee recommended unanimously Monday night against adoption by the full council, and Kennedy told WGTD News immediately after the meeting that support for the ordinance had eroded in recent days and he predicted that it wouldn’t pass.
Monday night's committee meeting did not follow the COVID mitigation guidelines of the city’s own health department. Social distancing was non-existent, few masks were worn and ventilation in the standing-room-only meeting room was poor.
Meeting this week, the Racine City Council voted 8-6 to adopt a mask ordinance for that city. Racine is joining the entire state of Illinois in requiring that masks be worn in indoor, public places under most circumstances.
Also Friday, Gov. Evers announced that the state’s $100 reward program for those receiving the COVID-19 vaccine will be extended two weeks until Sept. 19.
The program began Aug. 20 and was originally scheduled to end on Monday.
Between Aug. 20 and Sept. 1, more than 65,000 people received their first dose.
Evers launched the program amid a spike in COVID-19 cases across the state caused by the more infectious delta variant. The level of new cases and hospitalizations are at a level not seen since January.
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