Gov. Tony Evers tweeted Monday morning that he’s planning to issue what he’s calling a safer-at-home order on Tuesday.
Evers said he’s acting on the advice of public health experts to protect front-line workers and the most vulnerable in Wisconsin. He said he’s talked with business leaders and local elected officials who agree that an “all-hands-on-deck” approach is critical.
“I know this has been difficult and has disrupted the lives of people across our state. That’s why issuing a #SaferAtHome order isn’t something I thought we’d have to do, and it’s not something I take lightly. But here’s the bottom line: folks need to start taking this seriously,” he tweeted.
He said that people are unnecessarily putting friends, neighbors and communities at risk by going out. Wisconsinites should limit their interactions to the same people, not different small groups, he said.
“You can still get out and walk the dogs—it’s good exercise and it’s good for everyone’s mental health—but please don’t take any other unnecessary trips, and limit your travel to essential needs like going to the doctor, grabbing groceries or getting medication,” he tweeted.
Workers providing essential care or service in communities will be allowed to continue to travel to and from work, he said. That includes healthcare professionals, grocers and family caregivers.
Evers said Friday that he didn’t anticipate issuing such an order.
“I believe we’ll be able to avoid that,” he told reporters. “People in the state of Wisconsin are taking this seriously. We continue to encourage them to stay at home.”
Republican legislative leaders said Saturday that “a further shutdown of businesses in Wisconsin is unnecessary” in response to the spread of COVID-19.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau; Senate President Roger Roth, R-Appleton; Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna; and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said that the consequences from COVID-19 have already been “tremendous.”
“As we move forward together in this fight to defeat the virus, we must keep in mind that the people we serve need the jobs they have today to help weather this storm,” they said in a statement. “Continued economic activity will not only help us in our fight against this virus today, it will also ensure that we don’t have to fight to recover from economic collapse tomorrow.”
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