“Republicans think the pandemic is serious. We know that it’s real,” Vos said. What’s missing from Evers is an appreciation for how the economy is “starving,” he said.

Evers insisted he’s taking action in line with what health officials say is the best course to slow the spread of the virus and it would not help the economy to reopen before it is safe to do so. As of Friday, there were 205 COVID-19 deaths in Wisconsin and more than 4,000 confirmed cases. Health officials have said they think the curve is flattening in Wisconsin, but it could rise without continued mitigation efforts.

Vos on Friday encouraged people to attend a rally scheduled for April 24 at the state Capitol to urge Evers to reopen the state. Before Evers extended the stay-at-home order on Thursday, about 700 people said on Facebook they planned to attend. As of Friday evening that had more than tripled to 2,700, with 11,000 saying they were interested.

There have been similar rallies in other states.