Remember the whole “We’re in this together?” thing? You know, the cry of solidarity in the face of the ongoing/not-over COVID-19 crisis? Well, in Wisconsin, if that slogan was ever true at all, it sure ain’t true now.
So here’s the deal:
• Wednesday’s Supreme Court decision immediately negated the statewide “Safer At Home” order issued by Gov. Tony Evers and Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm back in March. Want to hang out in large groups? Go ahead. Want to reopen your business? Just follow some reopening guidelines. Or not. Everyone can do whatever they want!
You can read the former order, which was set to expire May 26, HERE.
• You can do whatever you want, except in the City of Milwaukee. Since the Supreme Court decision concerned the legality of the statewide “Safer At Home” order only, Milwaukee’s previously issued stay-at-home order immediately went back into effect. “The City of Milwaukee Health Department issued a public health order on March 25, 2020 to protect public health and reduce the spread of COVID-19,” said Mayor Tom Barrett in a statement released Wednesday evening. “That order remains in effect, including all provisions on public gatherings, restaurants, and bar operations.”
The order is similar to the state’s former order, and can be found HERE. It has no expiration date. Other cities, like Racine, have followed suit.
UPDATE: The city has a new order that is similar to the suburban Milwaukee County order below.
• And now there’s a different order for suburban Milwaukee County. Late Wednesday night, suburban Milwaukee County officials issued their own joint stay-at-home order. The municipalities affected are Cudahy, Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Hales Corners, Oak Creek, North Shore (Bayside, Brown Deer, Fox Point, Glendale, River Hills, Shorewood, and Whitefish Bay), South Milwaukee/St. Francis, Wauwatosa, and West Allis/West Milwaukee.
Bars and restaurants in these municipalities must remain closed to in-person business. Gatherings of more than nine people are prohibited. However, “hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, day spas, electrolysis providers, waxing salons, eyebrow-care establishments, tattoo parlors, body art establishments, and tanning facilities” may reopen with proper precautions. Malls can reopen, too, with 25-percent occupancy. The order expires May 21. Read it HERE, via Urban Milwaukee. Other counties, like Dane County, have followed suit.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a list of various county and city orders HERE.