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Gov. Evers Extends Safer at Home Order
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On Thursday,
April 16th, Governor Tony Evers and DHS Secretary Andrea Palm made
the difficult but necessary decision to extend the Safer at Home
order until May 26th. Public health experts and leading health
care providers agree that the most effective thing we can do as a
state to keep Wisconsinites healthy and safe is to stay home.
I know this has been painful for so many of us. No one wants to shut
down parts of the economy unless it's absolutely necessary, and
unfortunately, staying at home is still the best course of action to
save lives until we have three things:
- A massive increase in
testing capacity.
- A sufficient and
steady supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- An increase in
trained public health personnel to conduct contact tracing
activities.
Right now,
the Evers administration and a bipartisan coalition of surrounding
Midwest states are coming together to make a long term plan for
slowly reopening and achieving these three goals.
In the meantime, I want to be clear - we are not making a choice
between between public health and the economy. The health of our
citizens and the health or our economy are absolutely linked. If we
don't manage the outbreak now, we will unnecessarily risk lives and
guarantee worse economic outcomes in the long run.
Lifting the Safer at Home order needs to be like turning a dial, not
flipping a switch. The more disciplined we are now, the faster we can
turn it on down the road. If we do this right, it will feel like we
overreacted.
I want to thank my constituents - those on the front lines in
hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, grocery stores and more, as well as
those who have stayed home. Due to people respecting the Safer at
Home order, we have successfully flattened the curve, and so far, we
have kept our hospitals from becoming overwhelmed. We have saved
lives by coming together as a state, and I'm proud of all of you.
Let's keep this going.
For more information on why this decision was
made and further details on the order, here is the Safer at Home FAQ.
The new Safer at Home order is largely the same with a few changes
that go into effect on April 24th. The order will remain in effect
until 8:00 a.m. on May 26th, 2020. Here are further details:
- Schools: Public and private
K-12 schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020
school year.
- Public libraries: Libraries may
provide curb-side pick-up of books and other library materials.
- Golf courses: Golf courses may
open, with restrictions including scheduling and paying for tee
times online or by phone only. Clubhouses and pro shops must
remain closed.
- Local parks and open
space: Local health officials may close public
parks and open spaces if it becomes too difficult ensure social
distancing or the areas are being mistreated.
- Safe business
practices for Essential Businesses and Operations: Essential
Businesses and Operations must increase cleaning and
disinfection practices, ensure that only necessary works are
present, and adopt policies to prevent workers exposed to
COVID-19 or symptomatic workers from coming to work.
- Safe business
practices for retailers that are Essential Businesses and
Operations: Retail stores that remain open to the
public as Essential Businesses and Operations must limit the
number of people in the store at one time, must provide proper
spacing for people waiting to enter, and large stores must offer
at least two hours per week of dedicated shopping time for
vulnerable populations.
- Non-essential
businesses: Non-essential businesses can do more things
as Minimum Basic Operations, including deliveries, mailings, and
curb-side pick-up. Non-essential businesses must notify workers
of whether they are necessary for the Minimum Basic
Operations.
- Arts and craft stores: Arts and craft
stores may offer expanded curb-side pick of materials necessary
to make face masks or other personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Supply chain: Essential
Businesses and Operations that are essential because they
supply, manufacture, or distribute goods and services to other
Essential Businesses and Operations can only continue operations
that are necessary to those businesses they supply. All other
operations must continue as Minimum Basic Operations.
- Aesthetic or optional
exterior work: Aesthetic or optional exterior lawn care or
construction is allowed, so long as it can be done by one
person.
- Travel: People are strongly
encouraged to stay close to home, not travel to second homes or
cabins, and not travel out of state if it is not necessary.
- Tribal Nations: Tribal Nations are
sovereign over their territory and can impose their own
restrictions. Non-tribal members should be respectful of and
avoid non-essential travel to Tribal territory. Local government
must coordinate, collaborate, and share information with Tribal
Nations.
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Earlier this
week, the Assembly convened in extraordinary session to take up
legislation that addresses the public health issues and economic
crisis caused by COVID-19 in Wisconsin. The bill passed the Assembly
and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support, and Governor Evers
signed the bill into law on Wednesday.
I've highlighted a few of the provisions below:
- Temporarily waives
the one week waiting period for unemployment benefits.
- Permits the
Department of Health Services (DHS) to apply for federal
Medicaid waivers, which will provide Wisconsin with emergency
healthcare funding.
- Requires health
insurers to cover COVID-19 testing without charging a co-pay.
- Allows former and
out-of-state healthcare providers to get temporary credentials
to practice in Wisconsin.
- Enables households to
apply for heating assistance through the Department of
Administration's (DOA) low-income home energy assistance program
anytime during 2020.
I believe
this bipartisan legislation takes important initial steps toward responding
to the immediate needs of individuals, families and businesses.
However, I believe there is still more work to be done.
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While I'm
glad we took action, there were some disappointments. Democrats
offered a few amendments, including hazard pay to health care
workers, changes to make voting safer and direct relief to our
hard-hit tourism industry.
I've heard from so many constituents who don't want a repeat of the
April election, choosing between their health and their vote. I've
also heard from business owners and employees across the 74th
Assembly District who are worried about the future of one of Northern
Wisconsin's biggest industries. I will not stop pushing for these
issues to be addressed in a future session.
At the same time, Republicans offered their own amendment, which I
voted against. Much of it was technical fixes, but I was disheartened
that they including changes to workers compensation for first
responders. If a first responder wants to qualify for workers
compensation, they now have to prove they came in contact with
COVID-19 on the job (you can read more about that in this Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel article). We must do more for those on
the front line of this outbreak.
In the end, I voted for the bill. We needed to get something passed
this week or else our state would have lost out on hundreds of
millions of federal dollars, and many of the changes will ensure that
many people get help sooner.
I know you're all looking for answers to help alleviate the suffering
so many Wisconsinites are experiencing, from staff in our hospitals,
to those working in essential businesses, to folks worried about
their livelihoods, to teachers and parents who are doing the best
they can to help our kids through this frightening time. Please know,
you are on my mind every day, and I will not stop working for
you.
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Unemployment and the Federal CARES Act
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The
Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has been working hard to
update their systems to adjust for the unemployment changes in the
federal CARES Act. This week, they announced:
- The Federal Pandemic
Unemployment Compensation (additional $600 per
week) will be available beginning the week of April 26. This
benefit will be automatically added to your weekly claims.
- The Pandemic
Unemployment Assistance (new unemployment
insurance for those not covered under the regular insurance -
self-employed, independent contractors, etc.) will begin
accepting applications the week of April 21. Your first payable
week will be retroactive to the first week you were out of work
due to COVID-19 (as long as that was not before the
week ending on February 8).
- The Pandemic
Emergency Unemployment Compensation (additional 13 weeks
of regular unemployment insurance) will be available soon.
- Full name
- Phone number
- Issue you want to be
resolved (i.e. When will I receive my benefits?)
- Status of your
application
- Did you apply
online?
- What date did you
submit it?
- Are you awaiting a
decision on something that had to be investigated?
My staff
will send this information to the Department of Workforce Development
(DWD) and request that they promptly look into your case. I
understand that this is a difficult financial time for many, and I am
committed to helping you receive your benefits in a timely manner.
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Important
note: The information in this update is relevant as of April 17th at
10:30 am. Things are moving quickly and bound to change.
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Again,
please reach out to my office with any questions or concerns. Email
me at rep.meyers@legis.wisconsin.gov
or call at (608) 266-7690.
We are all in this together, and I have great confidence that the
people of Wisconsin will rise and meet this challenge.
Be well, and thank you,
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