Governor issues official “stay home” order

The order is, you’re “Safer at Home.” 

Governor Tony Evers issues a new order, to close businesses that are non-essential and prohibit gatherings of any size in Wisconsin for the next month. 

Evers says isolating at home, and having only a small circle of contacts of 5 people or less is recommended for slowing down the coronavirus.

Evers wants individuals to “limit their interactions to the same people, not different small groups. Shrinking your circle of interactions will help prevent the spread of COVID-19.”    

The order takes effect Wednesday morning at 8 o’clock, and runs until April 24th, or until new orders are issued.   

Andrea Palm, the state secretary of health services, says that based on studies of China and Italy, it’s predicted that COVID-19 could spread quickly in Wisconsin if actions are not taken.

Without the restrictions, “the models show us that we would likely have 22,000 Wisconsinites who are positive for COVID-19 by April 8th, and an estimated 440 to one thousand, 500 deaths,” said Palm.  

As of Tuesday afternoon, 457 positive cases of COVID-19 had been reported in Wisconsin, and 5 people in the state have died from the illness.

Governor Evers issued a list of essential businesses which will be able to operate under the statewide order. 

Evers says avoiding others is important because many people may be spreading the virus without knowing they have it.    

More information is available at: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/outbreaks/index.htm.