Evers orders non-essential Wisconsin businesses closed

Governor: 'Here’s the bottom line: folks need to start taking this seriously'

Associated Press by Associated Press, Logan Rude

Copyright 2019 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers says he will order the closure of all nonessential businesses starting Tuesday due to the coronavirus outbreak.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers to order closure of non-essential businesses starting Tuesday; tells residents to stay home. — News 3 Now / Channel 3000 (@WISCTV_News3) March 23, 2020

Evers said Monday that he would be signing the order on Tuesday.

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“I know this has been difficult and has disrupted the lives of people across our state. That’s why issuing a #SaferAtHome order isn’t something I thought we’d have to do, and it’s not something I take lightly,” Evers tweeted. “But here’s the bottom line: folks need to start taking this seriously.”

Republican legislative leaders accused Evers of spreading “mass amounts of confusion” and anxiety with the latest order. Evers tweeted that more explicit information about what the order means for people’s day-to-day lives will be shared soon.

On Sunday, Wisconsin’s number of confirmed cases jumped to 382, over 100 more than the previous day.

It comes after Evers already ordered K-12 schools and a host of other businesses closed, including bars, restaurants and hair salons, and limited gatherings to no more than 10 people. But the newer, tighter restriction mirrors what other states have done, including neighboring Illinois.

We have been working hard to ensure the health and safety of the people of our state as we have responded to COVID-19. We’ve taken important steps, but folks, time is of the essence. So today I’m announcing we’ll be issuing a #SaferAtHome order tomorrow. Here’s what this means ⬇️ — Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) March 23, 2020

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COPYRIGHT 2020 BY CHANNEL 3000. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.