Evers orders child care restrictions
Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday directed the Department of Health Services to restrict the size of child care settings in response to the new coronavirus.
Under the plan, centers can’t operate with more than 10 staff present at a time and may not operate with more than 50 children present at a time, starting at 8 a.m. Thursday. The order will remain in effect for the duration of the public health emergency.
“Child care is an essential service for many of the folks working on the front lines to provide healthcare and vital services to our communities during the COVID-19 outbreak,” Evers said in a statement. “This is another step forward to ensure that service continues, while protecting our child care providers who are going above and beyond their regular duties to support our families, communities and state.”
The state asked child care providers to prioritize the families of healthcare and essential service providers. Families that are able to keep their children at home are encouraged to do so.
The Department of Children and Families and DHS updated guidance to providers.
Evers’ administration is also working with healthcare providers, child care providers and the National Guard to explore options to serve healthcare workers through on-site care. More information will be available in the coming days on that effort, his office noted.
The Department of Health Services reported 106 people have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Wednesday afternoon. There have been 1,577 negative tests.
DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said at a webinar hosted by the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce that they’ve documented community spread in Dane, Kenosha and Milwaukee counties. She said that it’s likely spreading elsewhere in the state.
“I would encourage you all to consider your community as one that has COVID-19 circulating,” she said.
Earlier in the day, Evers submitted a request to the U.S. Small Business Administration for assistance for small businesses and nonprofits in the state to help with the economic impacts of the outbreak.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation said it’s creating a program to provide grants to small businesses suffering losses due to COVID-19. Its board of directors approved $5 million for the program Tuesday.
“We understand that this is just a start, and WEDC is working to develop additional programming to help get resources out to the communities and increase eligibility for participation,” CEO Missy Hughes said in a statement. “We will be looking for additional solutions in the coming days as we learn more in this evolving situation.”
In response to a question about whether the state would move to a shelter-in-place order, Evers said during the WMC webinar that they believe what they have in place now will get the state to a better place.
“But if the present situation is not satisfactory as far as making sure that the virus is not expanding at such a significant level, obviously that is an option,” he said.
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