Evers establishes benchmarks for reopening state’s economy

Gov. Tony Evers on Monday released details on his plan for the gradual reopening of the state’s economy.

“This plan is an all-out war on the virus,” Evers told reporters. “It begins the process of preparing our businesses and the workforce to begin the important planning that will result in a safe and logical phase-in of our economy.”

Evers said that the plan is based on guidelines released by the White House last week.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said in a joint statement the plan doesn’t dissuade them from pursuing planned legal action.

“These are not criteria for reopening,” they said. “They’re roadblocks.”

Per a Monday emergency order from Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm, the state will need to see a downward trajectory of positive tests for COVID-19 as a percent of total tests during a two-week period.

Hospitals should be able to treat all patients, have robust testing programs in place for at-risk healthcare workers and see decreasing numbers of infected employees.

According to the order, the ultimate goal for testing is 85,000 tests per week, or around 12,000 tests per day.

There are now 36 active testing labs in the state, with a daily capacity of 7,238 tests, Palm told reporters Monday.

The order calls for an increase in the number of contact tracers by 1,000, with technology solutions to ensure those infected or exposed can isolate or quarantine.

Palm said they have already brought on board around 150 additional contact tracers over the last several weeks.

The state would have to build on systems used to track the flu and the pandemic, acquire personal protective equipment and assess the need to support surge capacity in the healthcare system.

“We are committed to opening up the state without opening ourselves up to a resurgence of the virus,” she said. “That is how we can protect the well-being of our people and our economy in the most effective way.”

State officials announced 10 more deaths from COVID-19 Monday, bringing the total to 230. There were 153 new cases.

There have been 4,499 positive and 46,603 negative tests for the disease. That was an increase in 1,433 test results reported Monday.

Vos and Fitzgerald criticized the plan to hire 1,000 contract tracers, saying positive cases aren’t significantly increasing.

And they said that Evers wants to postpone reopening when the state is only using around 20 percent of its testing capacity.

“We continue to call on the governor to retreat from his one-size-fits-all approach and allow the state to safely open up regionally so people can get back to work,” they said in a statement. “Wisconsin is a diverse state; obviously, the Northwoods can’t be treated like Dane and Milwaukee counties.”

Vos and Fitzgerald said that Wisconsinites need certainty.

“We can’t afford to withdraw our impending legal action,” they said. “Too much is at stake. It’s clear one person shouldn’t be allowed to unilaterally rule over businesses, families and the state’s future.”

Under Evers’ plan, Wisconsin would first transition away from the safer-at-home order to allow gatherings of up to 10 people.

During that phase, restaurants would reopen with social distancing and child care facilities could resume full operation.

The second phase would allow gatherings of up to 50 people, with restaurants resuming full operations. Bars and non-essential businesses would reopen with social distancing, and colleges and universities could resume operations.

The final phase would involve resuming all business activity and gatherings, with minimal protective measures in place for the general public and more protective measures for vulnerable populations.