Madison Reporter

The dwindling COVID-19 cases in Madison and Dane County have led to the end of the mask mandate.

Public Health Madison & Dane County Director Janel Heinrich said in a press release that the decision was a sign that they had entered a new phase of the pandemic.

“Letting the face covering order expire doesn’t mean that the pandemic is over. Rather, it signals that we have made it through the omicron surge and are entering a new stage of the pandemic,” Heinrich said. “The most important thing you can do now is to stay up-to-date on our vaccines as they have proven to be highly effective in protecting you from becoming severely ill, ending up in the hospital or dying from COVID-19.”

NBC 15 reported that 58% of residents in Dane County were updated on their vaccinations with the seven-day rolling standard spiking at 1,491 cases daily on Jan. 12 that has dipped to 340 daily cases in the current data.

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said individuals who wish to remain safe and comfortable should continue to wear the mask.

“As we move forward in this pandemic, community testing and vaccination options will remain readily available to those who need them, and people are encouraged to continue to wear masks if it makes them feel more comfortable,” Rhodes-Conway said. “Wearing masks, especially well-fitting masks in indoor public settings, has been proven to reduce the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19.”

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi added that it was community effort that has led to the end of the mask mandate.

“It hasn’t been easy, that’s for sure; but your diligence, combined with the amazing work of Public Health and our many community partners, is the reason we have come through the pandemic with one of the lowest per-capita death rates in the nation. Thank you,” Parisi said.