View Comments MADISON - The University of Wisconsin-Madison announced it would require students, employees and visitors wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status starting Thursday, as COVID-19 cases surge and political pressure mounts. The announcement comes mere hours after the approval of a legislative proposal aimed at blocking UW schools from implementing COVID-19 requirements for masks, testing and vaccines. UW-Madison followed the lead of UW-Milwaukee, which said Thursday that masks will be required indoors in light of new public health recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health officials in Milwaukee. UW-Madison officials did not immediately say whether they will comply with a motion approved by state Republican lawmakers earlier Tuesday that would require the university to seek approval for any COVID-19 mandates from the GOP-controlled rules committee, which could block part or all of the policy.