Special meeting planned to discuss Milwaukee's decision to end COVID-19 restrictions June 1

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Some members of Milwaukee's Common Council say the announcement that the City of Milwaukee's emergency health order will end on June came as a surprise to members of the Common Council and city residents. 

"We all wish the pandemic were over as it has cost us all a great deal. Wishing, however, does not make it so and the virus remains among us. Worse, the rate of vaccination among city residents has clearly plateaued and new efforts must be deployed to reduce inequity and increase the overall vaccination rate," a statement from Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic and Common Council President Cavalier Johnson. 

A special Public Safety and Health Committee will be held at 9 a.m. on May 26 so members of the Common Council and the public can ask Mayor Barrett and the health department questions about the decision to lift the health order. 

The statement from Dimitrijevic and Johnson said they have a number of questions. 

"While communities like Madison and those in Door County are reporting vaccination rates above 60%, Milwaukee’s is near 38%, and far lower for people of color. Was this considered? Was a metric considered to attach the lifting of the health order to such as an increase in vaccinations?" the statement said. 

Those wishing to comment for the meeting, can click here.