Associated Press

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers signaled Tuesday that it may be another month before he starts relaxing social distancing mandates.

The governor’s stay-at-home and school closure orders are set to expire on April 24. Evers told KSTP-TV in Minnesota that lifting the mandates won’t be “like flipping a switch.” He said he wants to be sure more coronavirus testing is available, there’s better tracking of sick people and there’s enough personal protective gear for health care workers before he’ll consider allowing businesses to open and easing social distancing restrictions.

He added that it’s unlikely schools will re-open but he hasn’t made a final decision yet.

“I would fully expect another couple of weeks, a month, before we are in a position to actually say we’re ahead of the curve here and after that, we can start thinking about how we can relax things,” Evers told the television station.

Evers' emergency declaration in Wisconsin, under which the business closures and safer-at-home orders were issued, is set to expire in mid-May. The Legislature would have to extend the declaration, under state law.

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