MADISON - Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers' administration on Tuesday closed — in some cases effectively, in others emphatically — churches, malls, bars, restaurants and gyms.

At the Democratic governor's direction, Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm issued an order telling malls, bars and restaurants to close and limiting other gatherings of 10 or more people. The limits apply to churches, theaters, movie theaters, arenas, fitness centers and numerous other places.

"We know this will disrupt your lives," Palm told reporters in a conference call. "Now is the time to make a plan to stay home."

Palm issued the order as Evers and leaders around the globe try to beat back a widening pandemic that has killed more than 7,500 worldwide. In Wisconsin there have been 72 confirmed cases, including at least one involving someone who has since recovered.

Also Tuesday, Evers said schools would remain closed until further notice, signaling an extension of an order that previously had been in place until early April. The restriction applies to all public and private schools, including institutions of higher learning.

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Evers said he would seek emergency legislation to allow people to receive unemployment benefits immediately, instead of having to wait a week before getting them.

Evers said he would issue an order Wednesday that would temporarily lift a requirement that the unemployed search for work each week to receive benefits.

Palm said there has been community spread of the illness in Milwaukee, Dane and Kenosha counties, meaning people have been infected within those communities rather than by traveling. The rapid spread of the virus, along with strains on processing tests, necessitated the new restrictions, Palm said.

The new order tightens one issued 24 hours earlier that barred gatherings of 50 or more people.

The earlier decision gave restaurants and bars the ability to remain open if they limited their capacity. Under the new order, they can remain open only for takeout.

Even before Evers initial order took effect, Milwaukee and many of its neighboring communities shut down bars and restaurants, saying keeping them open was a threat to public health.

For gatherings of fewer than 10, people must stay at least six feet away from each other to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Local officials will be responsible for enforcing the ban on restaurants and bars. Those who violate the order could be subject to fines of $250 and 30 days in jail and Ryan Nilsestuen, Evers' chief counsel.

The limits on gatherings includes some exemptions, such as for airports, gas stations, grocery stores, childcare facilities, group homes, hotels, jails, courts, government agencies, hospitals, clinics, offices, manufacturing facilities, polling places and some retail establishments.

The Legislature is also exempt, which would allow it to take up the emergency legislation Evers is putting together to respond to the pandemic. He plans to meet Wednesday with the leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature.

"Democracy has to continue," Evers said of the prospect of bringing 132 lawmakers to the Capitol when he is telling others to stay home. "You take some chances in life but this is one where I believe that if indeed we deem there is necessity to meet, we will meet and do the work of the people of Wisconsin."

Legislators have another option for getting together. State law allows them to meet virtually, but they have never done so.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said Tuesday he and the Evers administration are in the early stages of figuring out how to provide hospitals and clinics with the funding they need to respond to the outbreak, and will likely take action in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Fitzgerald said he supports the governor's approach to limiting the spread of the virus.

Evers' order to close bars came on one of their busiest days: St. Patrick's Day.

Mulligan’s Irish Pub and Grill in Franklin has hosted an annual St. Patrick’s Day extravaganza with between 2,000 and 3,000 attendees for the last decade.

But not this year.

While the restaurant is usually open from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. on March 17, it opened at 8 a.m. with a strict limit of 50 people to comply with the restrictions being placed on bars and restaurants due to the coronavirus.

The pub sat customers at every other bar stool, removed enough dining tables, so that the remaining ones were six feet apart, used disposable menus, and wiped down condiments after each use.

“We tried making it as safe as possible,” said Brian Francis, owner of Mulligan's.

By 4:30 p.m., Francis was clearing out customers to comply with the statewide end to dining in.

Usually, the restaurant goes through about 2,000 pounds of corned beef and does two weeks worth of business on St. Patrick’s Day, Francis said in a previous Journal Sentinel report.

“It’s been devastating,” Francis said.

Evers took a similar path last week on schools, issuing an order on Friday but amending it soon afterward. Evers at first said schools would close at the end of the day Wednesday, only to say on Sunday that school would not resume the next day.

Evers stressed the need for people to change how they live their daily lives.

"Stay home if you can," Evers told reporters in the conference call.

Evers' actions haven't been welcomed by everyone. In a tweet posted Tuesday, conservative Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley quoted Alexander Hamilton in "The Federalist Papers," saying "To be more safe, they...become willing to run the risk of being less free.”

You can find out who your legislators are and how to contact them here: https://maps.legis.wisconsin.gov/

Contact Patrick Marley at patrick.marley@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @patrickdmarley.