Democratic Governor Tony Evers extended Wisconsin's mask mandate on Friday for another 60 days.

His initial order was set to expire Saturday.

The move comes just days after the state Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a lawsuit contesting Evers authority to impose his earlier face covering mandate.

And it comes six months after that same court struck down a coronavirus stay at home order issued last spring, Siding with a legal challenge brought by Republican lawmakers.

Mask wearing has become deeply politicized in the United States, even though medical experts insist it's one of the most effective ways of breaking the viruses transmission cycle.

Evers moved to extend the mask order marked the latest in a series of new restrictions by state and local officials nationwide aimed at curbing the spread of the virus.