As local rates of the virus continue to fall amid increased vaccinations, the City of Milwaukee has announced it will soon roll back most of its Covid-19 restrictions.
The city announced this morning it will loosen its Covid-19 restrictions starting June 15. The change means that limits on crowd sizes for businesses and events will be lifted, and that events occurring after June 15 will not need to provide safety plans to the city.
Immediately after the news, the Milwaukee Brewers announced plans to return American Family Field to full capacity starting June 25.
“Based on the science and evidence we have followed and learned from since day one, many of our restrictions will no longer be necessary,” Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson said in a statement.
The city's mask mandate will still be enforced indoors.
In a statement, Mayor Tom Barrett said the city is moving away from restrictions and toward guidelines and recommendations.
“We will still strongly urge the public to continue to follow the safety guidelines that have gotten us to this place,” Barrett said. “But during a year of personal and economic sacrifice, it is a reason to celebrate. We have an opportunity to return to a version of normal.”
The mayor also emphasized that Covid-19 will remain a threat, and that the city will continue to push for the vaccinations that have made it possible to reopen safely.
“I want to be clear. This does not mean that the pandemic is over,” Barrett said. “We all know that. The pandemic is not even close to being over. All you have to do is look around the world to see that the pandemic is still raging.”
Vaccines are now widely available in Milwaukee, with the city's Wisconsin Center one of many locations offering walk-in appointments. Vaccines have been deemed safe by the FDA and are nearly 100% effective at preventing serious illness or death from Covid-19.
And starting today, children between 12 and 15 years old can get the Pfizer vaccine from the city. The vaccines are available at the Wisconsin Center, the Northwest Health Center and the Southside Health Center. No appointment is required.