The Wisconsin Safer at Home order was extended to 8 a.m. on May 26 today, according to a press release from the office of the governor. The order was set to expire April 24.
“We aren’t out of the woods just yet,” said Gov. Evers in a press release. “As I’ve said all along, we are going to rely on the science and public health experts to guide us through this challenge.”
That’s why we are extending Wisconsin’s Safer at Home order to May 26, 2020 with some new measures to ensure safety and support the progress we’ve made, but also allow certain activities to resume. More on that is available at the FAQ document here: https://t.co/wExOObmkU2
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) April 16, 2020
Gov. Tony Evers directed the Department of Health Services to extend the order. DHS Secretary-designee Andrea Palm said that in order to lift the Wisconsin Safer at Home order, testing needs to be improved and better public health measures must be in place. However, the new Safer at Home order came with some changes, which include:
- Public libraries can offer curb-side pick-up of materials.
- Golf courses may open, with some restrictions.
- Non-essential businesses can do “minimum basic operations,” which include deliveries, mailings and curb-side pick-up.
- Arts and crafts stores can offer curb-side pick-up of materials needed to make face masks and other personal protective equipment.
- Aesthetic or optional exterior work like lawn care or construction is allowed as long as it’s done by one person.
Other changes include:
- Public and private K-12 schools will remain closed through the rest of the school year.
- Local parks and open spaces can be closed by local officials if they’re too hard to maintain.
As of Thursday afternoon, Wisconsin has 3,934 cases of COVID-19, according to DHS. There are over 2,000 cases in Milwaukee County and over 1,500 in Milwaukee alone, according to the county’s COVID-19 dashboard. There have been 197 deaths across the state, including 114 in Milwaukee County.