Evers expresses openness to regional restart of state economy

Certain regions of the state may open before others, Gov. Tony Evers told business leaders Tuesday, addressing a key Republican criticism of his restart plan.

“There are places in Wisconsin, mostly northern Wisconsin, where there are very few positive cases,” Evers said during a webinar hosted by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. ”There may be ways that we can use that small number to identify businesses and industries that could open.”

Evers unveiled a set of benchmarks Monday that he thinks the state must first meet, including a ramp up in testing for COVID-19, more contact tracing, sufficient healthcare capacity and a 14-day downward trajectory in cases.

Republican leaders criticized the plan Monday for its “one-size-fits-all approach.”

“Wisconsin is a diverse state; obviously, the Northwoods can’t be treated like Dane and Milwaukee counties,” Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said in a joint statement.

But Evers also cautioned Tuesday that most rural parts of the state, which have seen fewer cases than the state’s urban areas, have less healthcare capacity and an older population.

“They are the least resourced to respond to a surge. And also, percentage-wise, most of them, frankly, are my age, and percentage-wise the most susceptible,” Evers said. “We have to weigh all of those things. If something seems logical and we are making progress, we will consider that.”

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