Governor Evers Issues “Safer at Home” Order
Today Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers issued a “Safer at Home” shelter in place order to be in effect from Wednesday, March 25 at 8:00 AM until Friday, April 24 at 8:00 AM. This means all non-essential in-person services will stop and Wisconsinites are discouraged from leaving their homes except for essential activities and to conduct work at essential business and operations as defined below. Note: The following is a summary. For exact language, please refer to the linked order.
Essential Activities
Individuals may leave homes or residences to perform any of the following:
- Health and safety.
- Obtain Necessary supplies and services.
- Outdoor activity.
- Certain types of work at essential business and operations.
- Take care of others.
Essential Business and Operations
Individuals may leave their homes or residences to work at the following:
- Healthcare and Public Health Operations
- Essential Governmental Operations
- Human Service Operations
- Essential Infrastructure
- Many others to be found in the order language
This marks the latest in a series of actions taken by the state since earlier in March. Following is a timeline of major state actions to address the growing COVID-19 pandemic.
Timeline: Official Wisconsin Action on COVID-19
- Wednesday, March 11, 2020: UW System suspends all in-person classes
- Thursday, March 12, 2020: Governor Tony Evers declares a Public Health Emergency with Executive Order #72 In general, the order does the following:
- Designate the Department of Health Services as the lead agency to respond to the public health emergency.
- Direct the Department of Health Services to take all necessary and appropriate measures to prevent and respond to incidents of COVID-19 in the state.
- Suspend the provisions of any administrative rule, if the Secretary of DHS determines compliance with that rule would prevent, hinder, or delay necessary actions to respond to the emergency and increase the health threat.
- Authorize the Adjutant General to activate the Wisconsin National Guard as necessary and appropriate to assist in the state’s response to the public health emergency.
- Direct all state agencies to assist as appropriate in the state’s ongoing response to the public health emergency.
- Proclaim that a period of abnormal economic disruption, as defined in Section 100.305 of the Wisconsin Statutes, exists in the State of Wisconsin.
- Friday, March 13, 2020: Governor Evers closes all K-12 Schools through April 5 in order issued by DHS Secretary-designee Palm
- Monday, March 16, 2020: Governor Evers places statewide ban on all gatherings of 50 or more people in order issued by DHS Secretary-designee Palm
- Tuesday, March 17, 2020: Governor Evers announces new bans on gatherings, bar and restaurant closures, and K-12 closures in order issues by DHS Secretary-designee Palm. In general, the order does the following:
- Places a statewide ban on all gatherings of 10 or more people
- Closes all bars and restaurants. However, restaurants are able to provide take-out or delivery.
- Closes all K-12 schools for the duration of the public health emergency or until a subsequent order lifts this restriction.
- Wednesday, March 18, 2020: Governor Evers announces new limits on child care centers in an order issued by DHS Secretary-designee Palm. In general, the order does the following:
- Prohibits more than 10 staff to be working at a child care setting at any one time
- Prohibits more than 50 children to be present at a child care setting at any one time
- “Child care setting” means all licensed and certified child care providers caring for any age or ages of children up to 18 years of age
- Wednesday, March 18, 2020: Governor Evers announces changes to unemployment insurance benefits in an order issued by DHS Secretary-designee Palm. In general, the order does the following:
- During a public health emergency, a claimant is considered suitable for work, and therefore eligible for benefits, if the claimant is perceived by an employer to be exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms preventing return to work or the claimant is quarantined, and one of the following applies:
- The employer has instructed the claimant to return to work after the employee no longer exhibits symptoms
- The employer has not provided clear instruction for the claimant to return to work
- The claimant would be available for other work with another employer but for the perceived COVID-19 symptoms preventing a return to work
- During a public health emergency, a claimant does not need to conduct four work searches per week to receive benefits.
- During a public health emergency, a claimant is considered suitable for work, and therefore eligible for benefits, if the claimant is perceived by an employer to be exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms preventing return to work or the claimant is quarantined, and one of the following applies:
- Sunday, March 22, 2020: Governor Evers announces an order regarding suspension of certain rules at the Public Service Commission. In general, the order does the following:
- Stop utility disconnection for nonpayment for all customers, including commercial, industrial, and farm accounts. Previously this applied to residential accounts only
- Cease assessing late fees to customer accounts
- Halt the practice of requiring deposits from customers for reconnection of service
- Allow deferred payment agreements for all customers who request them
- Remove any administrative barriers for customers establishing or reestablishing utility service
- Authorize water utilities to provide budget billing arrangements to customers. Electric and natural gas utilities are allowed to do this under current rules.
If you, your family, friends, or colleagues are searching for a variety of resources on the COVID-19 pandemic and the state’s response, please refer to following:
Resources for Small Businesses:
- S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Assistance
- Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation 20/20 Grant Program
- WEDC Guidelines for Navigating COVID-19
Resources for Health Care Providers and Public Health Professionals:
- WI DHS COVID-19 Provider Resource Page
- CDC COVID-19 Provider Resource Page
- DHS Weekly Provider Updates – Fridays at 7:00am
- WI ForwardHealth Resource Page
General Resources:
We hope this information is helpful to your family and businesses in this unprecedented time.