By Al Stanek
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
December 16, 2020

A Whitewater citywide ordinance requiring face coverings in all interior public and business spaces that had originally been set to expire at the end of the year has been extended through March 31, 2021 by Common Council action at the body’s last meeting of 2020. It was one of three actions related to COVID. The other actions include an extension of a citywide COVID-19 Emergency Declaration and a decision to continue holding city meetings “virtually” as opposed to allowing for in person participation.

The actions took place with little debate compared to the initial July Common Council discussion of the ordinance that lasted over three hours and featured a dozen public participants and petitions that supporters claimed were signed by over 1000 residents and petitions from opponents that reportedly had over 200 signatures.

Discussion at the July 21 Common Council meeting referenced the fact that, at the time, an analysis of just the Walworth County portions of the City of Whitewater reported 70 active cases in the roughly 4-month period between March and early July. That compares with recently released state data that indicates 74 new active Whitewater COVID-19 cases in the most recent week. Fourteen of last week’s 74 City of Whitewater COVID-19 cases were attributed to UW-W students and staff according to the state’s most recent data.

COVID-19, a flu like virus that has reached worldwide proportions, is reported to have been at least partially responsible for over 300,000 American deaths so far. Hundreds of thousands of others have been treated in intensive care units (ICUs) across the country. The long-term effects of the virus have yet to be documented. A Whitewater Common Council briefing paper on the COVID-19 situation quotes the WI Department of Health Services (DHS) indicating that 87.8% of statewide ICU beds were in use as of the morning of December 11.

The City of Whitewater COVID-19 Ordinance requiring face coverings was one of the first in the State of Wisconsin. It states that “… wearing a mask is one of the most effective ways to reduce person to person transmission of COVID-19.” The ordinance goes on to state that masks “…when combined with other preventative measures, including physical distancing and proper hygiene practices, is a simple and effective way to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.” It was extended Tuesday night after waiving a generally required “second reading” because the Common Council will not meet again until after the first of the year.

The Emergency Declaration, which was originally issued in March and ratified by Common Council resolution in June is a viewed as a potential requirement for current and future financial assistance. It can be rescinded at any time. The decision to hold all City of Whitewater public meetings virtually began in April.