Evers says small retail stores can reopen with restrictions

Updated at 3:07 p.m. with comment from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester

Gov. Tony Evers said Monday that standalone retail stores or stores in strip malls can again offer in-person shopping for up to five customers at a time while maintaining social distancing practices.

Under the order, signed by Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm, stores that are opening must have outside entrances. Drive-in theaters can also operate with some restrictions. The order takes effect immediately.

“This is another disciplined turn of the dial that will allow Wisconsin’s business owners to safely get back to work and Wisconsin consumers to support their favorite local spots,” Evers said in a statement.

Businesses will have to review and consider guidelines from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation on safe business practices.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, called the new order confusing.

“We’ve flattened the curve by being careful and using common sense,” he said in a statement. “With more testing, we’re seeing a smaller percentage of positive cases. This shutdown has put half a million people out of work. It’s time to get everyone back to work in every part of the state.”

Palm said Monday that the state has redeployed around 400 employees from nearly every state agency and the University of Wisconsin System to train as contact tracers.

They’ve also received about 3,350 applications for contact tracing positions and have started interviewing, she said.

There are 51 active labs running COVID-19 tests, with a daily lab capacity of 13,797 tests.

There were 10,418 confirmed cases, an increase of 199, and 409 deaths, an increase of nine.

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