Coronavirus: Some Wisconsin Businesses Can Reopen Under New Order

MADISON, WI — Citing a need to reopen some Wisconsin businesses in a limited fashion, Gov. Tony Evers issued a new emergency order Monday, calling for new freedoms for nonessential businesses to operate amid the coronavirus public health emergency.

As of Monday, Wisconsin has seen 281 coronavirus-related deaths and 6,081 positive cases. The state is under a "Safer-At-Home" order, which limits public travel and nonessential businesses. All schools have been closed for the spring semester.

Monday's order loosens some restrictions.

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“No one wants to reopen our economy as much as I do," Evers said Monday. “This order means that every business across our state can do things like deliveries, mailings, curbside pickup and drop-off, and it's an important step in making sure that while folks are staying safer at home, they can also continue to support small businesses across our state.”

The emergency order, signed Monday by Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm, allows nonessential businesses to do curbside drop-off of goods and animals. The new emergency order goes into effect at 8 a.m. Wednesday. The full text of the order is here.

Under the revised order, businesses such as dog groomers, small-engine repair shops, upholstery businesses and others can open in a limited fashion.

Monday's order also allows outdoor recreational rentals such as for boats, golf carts, kayaks, ATVs, and other similar recreational vehicles to be used. Additionally, automatic or self-service car washes would be able to operate.

Evers was questioned by a reporter about the timing of Monday's order, given that the state has yet to see enough of a downward trend in reported cases and hospitalizations.

"We believe these activities are one-off issues where it's a single consumer acting with a single provider of services," he said. "It seems we are able to to this is a way that is safe. There are enough control factors involved that we believe it's a safe expansion going forward."

On Monday, state officials said it would be up to local officials to decide whether people previously cited for violating the "Safer-At-Home" order would be prosecuted for offenses that happened when the earlier order was in place.

Officials said all of these businesses must operate "free of contact" with customers by providing payment options online or over the phone, enact proper disinfecting practices, and be able to perform operations with one staff member in a room or confined space at a time.

Last week, Evers and state health officials extended the order until until May 26, igniting fears about a prolonged downturn in the state economy and continued job losses. The extension sparked a number of protests across the state in which hundreds — and sometimes thousands — of people congregated along roadsides or in front of public buildings to voice their displeasure with state-mandated social policy.

Yet, as part of the order's extension, the following businesses were allowed to resume operations:

• Golf courses were opened this past weekend
• All businesses are allowed to offer curbside pickup, allowing customers to purchase goods online or over the phone from a local store.
• Construction businesses can do aesthetic or optional construction work so long as it is performed by a single person.
• Public libraries can provide curbside pickup of books and other library materials.
• Arts and crafts stores can offer expanded curbside pickup of materials necessary to make face masks.
• Landscaping businesses can do aesthetic or optional lawn care so long as it is done by a single employee.

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