Gov. Tony Evers to order Wisconsinites to stay at home, will close non-essential businesses

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers on Monday said he is preparing to order Wisconsinites to stay in their homes starting this week to fend off the coronavirus outbreak that is ravaging populations worldwide.

The governor's order will force the closure of all workplaces that aren't deemed essential. That will mean more people will have to work remotely and many could be at risk of getting laid off.

The Democratic governor made the announcement on Twitter just three days after saying he did not think he would have to issue such an order but that he would do what is scientifically necessary.

Republicans who control the Legislature criticized the change of course and contended Evers had "created mass amounts of confusion." They demanded to know what businesses would be affected and how long the order would be in effect — details Evers and his aides said they wouldn't provide until they had been worked out Tuesday.

On Monday, Evers' spokeswoman Melissa Baldauff said the governor took a new tack because of the "rapidly evolving" spread of the coronavirus, which has claimed four lives in Wisconsin. As of Monday, 416 people in the state had been confirmed to have the illness.

Nationwide, more than 35,000 people have the virus and nearly 450 people have died from complications after contracting it.

Evers said he would formally issue the order Tuesday and it was expected to take effect within a day or so of that.

The governor did not spell out how the state could conduct its April 7 presidential primary and election for state Supreme Court and local offices. As he has for weeks, Evers encouraged people to vote absentee.

The governor is calling his edict a safer-at home order rather than a shelter-in-place order, as ones in some other states have been described. Evers' phrasing is the same as what's been used in Ohio and is meant to get businesses to close and people to stay at home without terrifying them or making them think martial law is being imposed.

"I know this has been difficult and has disrupted the lives of people across our state," Evers tweeted. "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."

Baldauff said Evers' order won't include strict rules like requiring anyone outside to have a doctor's note.

Under the order, people will be able to go to grocery stores, doctor's offices and pharmacies and go outside to exercise or walk a dog. But people will be required to stay at home for most other reasons and the governor noted that means "no sleepovers, no playdates and no dinner parties with friends and neighbors."

Businesses will be forced to close unless they are deemed to provide essential services.

Restaurants, which were closed by the governor last week for dine-in service, will be able to continue to provide delivery and curbside takeout, according to the governor.

Some manufacturers, such as paper product maker Kimberly-Clark Corp., may also stay open under the governor's order.

The governor hasn't said what other operations would qualify as essential services, but he and his aides said details were being finalized and would be made public Tuesday.

"Folks, 'all hands on deck' means you too," Evers said in a live-streamed briefing. "Here is the bottom line: folks need to start taking this seriously."

As with Evers' past orders that limited the size of gatherings and closed schools and bars, local officials will be responsible for enforcement.

Kurt Bauer, president of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, said in a statement the business lobbying group wants Evers to take care of the state's economy along with the public's health.

"It is our hope that Gov. Evers exempts all manufacturers from this order, in addition to all businesses in the critical supply chains for health care, food access, transportation, construction, energy, financial services and other needed industries," he said in his statement.

Top GOP leaders expressed surprise at the order after hearing from Evers in recent days that he did not think he would have to put such a restriction in place. They were frustrated that Evers wouldn't specify yet what types of businesses would be affected.

"The governor’s sudden change of course and lack of specific guidance have increased the level of uncertainty and anxiety in our state. The people of Wisconsin deserve clear communications during a public health emergency," said the statement from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos of Rochester and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2020/03/23/wisconsin-gov-tony-evers-issues-safer-place-order/2897821001/