Wisconsin 'Safer At Home' Order Issued: 30 Days

MADISON, WI — Citing a need to step up efforts to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus in Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers ordered the state Department of Health Services to issue a Safer at Home order that bans all nonessential travel, with some exceptions.

You can read the full order here. The order is effective at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25 and will remain in effect until 8 a.m. Friday., April 24, 2020, or until a superseding order is issued.

Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters. Don't miss local and statewide news about coronavirus developments and precautions.

“I know the COVID-19 outbreak has been difficult and has disrupted the lives of people across our state. Issuing a Safer at Home 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,” said Gov. Evers in a statement Tuesday morning. “Each and every one of us has to do our part to help slow the spread of COVID-19 so we can flatten the curve to ensure our doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers have the opportunity to do their important work. Let’s all do our part and work together.”

Some Legislators Surprised About Order

On Friday, Evers said he did not think a shelter-in-place order would be necessary, saying he felt the state's mass-gathering order would be enough to limit social interaction to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. "We don't have plans to shelter in place," he said Friday afternoon. "We think what we have going right now works."

Republican lawmakers, who control the state legislature, said they were taken aback by Monday's announcement.

"The governor's executive order came as a surprise to the legislature," Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said in a statement Monday afternoon. "It was a complete reversal from his repeated assurances. It should be noted that legislative leaders have asked on a daily basis whether or not this was the direction the governor was headed, and we were told it was not."

Evers stopped short of calling his new order a "shelter in place" order similar to that instituted in other states. "Shelter in place means I could be walking down the street and I would need to stay right there," he said. "People should stay at home."

What's Allowed, Not Allowed Under New Order

Evers said people do not need special permission to leave their homes, but they must comply with this order about when it's allowable to leave home. If a business is an Essential Business or Operation as defined in this order, it does not need documentation or certification to continue its work that is done in compliance with this order, Evers wrote.

Under this order, Wisconsin residents are able to:

• Perform tasks essential to maintain health and safety, such as obtaining medicine or seeing a doctor.
• Get necessary services or supplies for themselves or their family or household members, such as getting food and supplies, pet food and supplies necessary for staying at home.
• Care for a family member in another household.
• Care for older adults, minors, dependents, people with disabilities or other vulnerable persons.

Businesses allowed to operate under the Safer at Home order include, but are not limited to:

• Health care operations, including home health workers.
• Critical infrastructure.
• Businesses that provide food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise vulnerable individuals.
• Fresh and non-perishable food retailers, including convenience stores, grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and food banks.
• Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food and goods directly to residences.
• Pharmacies, health care supply stores and health care facilities.
• Child care facilities, with some limitations.
• Gas stations and auto repair facilities.
• Banks.
• Laundry businesses, dry cleaners and services necessary for maintaining the safety, sanitation and essential operation of a residence, including garbage collection.
• Hardware stores, plumbers, and electricians.
• Educational institutions, for the purposes of facilitating distance learning.
• Roles required for any business to maintain minimum basic operations, which includes security, and payroll.
• Law and safety, and essential government functions will continue under the recommended action.

The order contains detailed information regarding the exemptions provided to certain businesses.

If a business is unsure about whether or not they are exempted from this order, please contact the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation here.

Related Reading

• Wisconsin Coronavirus Tracker
• More Hospital Beds Needed
• Coronavirus Closures: Walmart, Woodman's, Target, Mayfair, More

• What's going on in Wisconsin? Find Out Here
• Want to submit an article? It's easy.