Since my last COVID-19 E-Update, we have all been adjusting to the new normal under Governor Tony Evers’ “Safer at Home” emergency order.
I have worked with my staff to compile a list of updates and resources for our community we all continue to adjust, including on how we can reduce our stress and stay connected in these unprecedented times. I will continue sharing updated information and resources as they come to my office.
Many of you have reached out to share your thoughts on how our state should respond to COVID-19 and your concerns for our community members and neighbors. Many others have reached out for help navigating our state government, including the unemployment insurance system. Thank you all for taking the time to reach out -- my team and I are always happy to hear from you, and we will help wherever we can.
There are many aspects of the COVID-19 response that will require legislative action. I am working with my colleagues on legislative solutions for the short and long-term as our state continues to deal with this issue. I remain hopeful that the legislature will meet in the near future on the measures we must take to help support families and businesses that are facing challenges due to this crisis.
Over the next few weeks, we will likely see the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to rise and hospital beds begin to fill. It is more important than ever to stay Safer at Home and limit your interaction with people who are not members of your household if you are not an essential worker. Because COVID-19 can incubate for up to two weeks without symptoms and only has mild symptoms for some people, the cases that are emerging today could have been transmitted two to three weeks ago, before Safer at Home went into effect.
To effectively respond to this crisis, we all must maintain social distancing, so we can slow the spread further and protect the vulnerable members of our community and our essential and frontline healthcare workers.
As we all navigate this pandemic, my office is here to answer questions and help you find necessary resources. While we are practicing social distancing and working from home, my staff and I are still answering the phone, checking email, and working with state and local agencies every weekday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Do you need help finding services or just a call to say hello? Reply to this email or call us toll-free at 888-534-0066.
The Governor's office has launched a website with information and resources throughout the state government. You can visit it HERE.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has a website tracking COVID-19 in Wisconsin, including health-related resources from the CDC. This website is updated daily by 2:00 p.m. You can visit it HERE.
The City and County of Racine have launched COVID-19/Coronavirus websites with local information and resources. You can find Racine County’s website HERE, including daily updates from the Joint Information Center. The City of Racine’s website is available HERE.
This is a non-exhaustive list of resources and updates -- if you don’t find what you’re looking for here, you can find information for non-medical services online at 211 Wisconsin, dial 211 on your phone, or text your ZIP code to 898211.
COVID-19 Cases in Racine County
As of Tuesday, we have seen 28 positive cases of COVID-19 in Racine County as a whole, with 12 positive cases in the City of Racine.
While these numbers may seem low, due to the lack of available tests across the country, we likely have much higher numbers of positive cases in our community. Please continue to stay Safer at Home as much as you possibly can in order to continue flattening the curve and slowing the rate of cases that will need hospitalization and medical care so we do not overwhelm our medical system.
For the most up-to-date information on confirmed cases in our community, visit the Racine County COVID-19 page HERE.
Racine County's Social Distancing Scorecard
You may have seen this interactive “Social Distancing Scorecard” by Unacast online in recent days, measuring how well we are reducing travel and socially distancing in communities across the country. As of April 1, Racine County is graded a “B-” when it comes to reducing our nonessential travel. (Up from a C- yesterday!)
I know our community truly cares about keeping each other safe and healthy through the COVID-19 pandemic. While many in our community are classified as “essential” workers and still must be out and about, please limit your travel as much as you can to continue flattening the curve in the City of Racine.
We know from other countries that social distancing -- staying home whenever possible, avoiding contact with people from outside of our households, and remaining at least six feet from others outside -- is the best way to slow the spread of COVID-19. You can spread COVID-19 without symptoms for as many as fourteen days.
While many younger people might experience a mild version of COVID-19, the biggest threat is that they might pass it on to vulnerable members of our community, including seniors and folks with weakened immune systems. These folks are most likely to experience the worst effects and need prolonged or advanced medical care. When too many people need treatment for severe symptoms, this can overwhelm our hospitals and the ability to treat everyone.
Wisconsin's Spring Election and Presidential Primary is still scheduled to be held on Tuesday, April 7. While there have been questions raised in Wisconsin and states around the country about how the COVID-19 virus could disrupt the voting process, currently we are recommending that Wisconsinites request absentee ballots to vote by mail ahead of time. You have until TOMORROW, April 2, to request an absentee ballot online atmyvote.wi.gov.
We are strongly urging you to request an absentee ballot today.By requesting a mailed absentee ballot, we can strengthen our democracy, avoid election day voting issues or delays, and continue our commitment to social distancing.
Due to delays in the mail system, please return your ballot in the RED BOX outside of Racine’s City Hall, or to your polling place on Election Day. If your ballot is received after polls close on April 7, it will not be counted.
The City of Racine is doing in-person early voting at City Hall through Saturday, April 4th. On Saturday, City Hall will be open for early voting from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. You can drive up and have your temperature checked before walking in. If you have a fever or cannot come in, a member of the City Clerk’s office will bring a ballot to your car.
You can request an absentee ballot HERE by April 2nd if you are already registered to vote.
To early vote or register to vote in person, visit:
City of Racine Clerk’s Office
730 Washington Ave.
Racine, WI 53403
(262) 822-9692
clerks@cityofracine.org
UPDATE: Federal COVID-19 Legislation
Last week, President Trump signed the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law. This bill provides immediate support for families, workers, small business owners, and healthcare systems. Below is an overview of the relief that will be available for Wisconsinites:
Direct payments to citizens
Those who make up to $75,000 ($150,000 for married couples): Will receive $1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for married couples, and an additional $500 for each dependent child under 17.
Those who make more than $75,000 but less than $90,000 ($198,000 for married couples): Will receive a reduced payment that is adjusted based on your gross income.
Those who make more than $99,000: Will not receive a payment.
Your payment will be based on your 2019 federal tax filing, or if you haven't filed yet this year, your 2018 filing.
Payments are expected to arrive within three weeks if you have direct deposit set-up with the IRS. If you do not, your check will be mailed to you.
Calculate if you qualify for a stimulus payment HERE.
View a helpful FAQ from U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin HERE.
Find the latest information on the IRS website HERE.
Expanded unemployment insurance
Eligibility has been expanded to include self-employed and gig workers.
The maximum unemployment benefit has been increased by $600 per week through July 31.
Unemployment insurance will be available for 13 additional weeks (for a total of 39 weeks, or 8.9 months, in Wisconsin).
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is waiting for guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Once they receive this guidance, they will program their systems to accommodate the changes. It may take several weeks to receive all of the information from the federal government.
The latest information can be found on DWD's website HERE.
View a helpful FAQ from U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin HERE.
Child care assistance for essential employees
Additional funding for child care assistance will be provided to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) through Child Care Development Block Grants.
This funding will be available for healthcare employees, emergency responders, and other workers deemed essential.
Find out more information on eligibility and requesting assistance on DCF's website HERE.
Support for small businesses
$350 billion in loan forgiveness grants to small businesses and nonprofits to pay for expenses like payroll, rent, mortgage, and utilities.
$10 billion for the Small Business Administration (SBA) emergency grants to provide immediate relief for small businesses' operating costs.
$7 billion for SBA to cover six months of payments for small businesses with existing SBA loans, and six months of loan forbearance for all small businesses.
View the Small Business Owner's Guide to the CARES Act HERE.
You can read about the other important measures in the CARES Act on the National Conference of State Legislature's website HERE.
April 1st is Census Day!
Today is Census Day! The Census takes place every ten years, and the results impact federal funding for critical programs in Racine and in Wisconsin. The results also impact our representation in Congress and the services our state can receive!
It's quick and easy to respond to the 2020 Census online at my2020census.gov. It took me about five minutes to complete! You don't need to be a citizen -- you just need to be a member of our community. Let's all be counted together!
Childcare For Essential Workers
The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families has new tools to help connect our essential workforce families with safe and local child care options! DCF has an updated "Child Care Finder" webpage, where you can submit a request for care and proactively view up-to-date availability across the state with their child care map.
For more information, visit the DCF COVID-19 Child Care webpage HERE.
Stress and Resiliency During COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and we do our best to be Safer at Home, many of us may feel stressed, anxious, or lonely. Know that you are not alone, and that even if we are physically apart, we are still a community.
Remember to check in with your friends and family via phone, video call, messenger, or email. Always feel free to call or email my office if you have questions or comments, or just need to hear a friendly voice. I'll be doing "phone doors" to check in on Racinians, but you can always call me too! (608-266-0634 or toll free at 888-534-0066).
Taking breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories.
Taking care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep.
Making time to unwind. Try to do activities you enjoy.
Connecting with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you're feeling.
Check out the link HERE for more resources and strategies on how to stay resilient during social isolation.
Racine County also has a Crisis Hotline. If you need to talk, the Hotline is available 24/7 at 262-638-6741.
If you are currently experiencing a life threatening emergency, please call 911.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Buyback Program
Healthcare workers and first responders need our help! Governor Evers has established a brand-new Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) buyback program. If you are a business, education institution, or other large organization and have masks, hospital gowns, gloves, and other PPE on-hand, the State of Wisconsin will accept donations or buy back your supplies to help our frontline healthcare workers and first responders.
If you have Personal Protective Equipment, please consider donating it so we can keep our healthcare workers and first responders safe from COVID-19. You can find out more about this program HERE.
Unemployment & Connecting with
Essential Employers
The Department of Workforce Development announced a new program to help connect unemployed job seekers with essential businesses and service providers during COVID-19. If you’re receiving unemployment insurance due to COVID-19, you aren’t required to look for work, but you can potentially earn additional income and still receive benefits through this program if you work part-time.
If your workplace has shut down due to COVID-19, you may be eligible to apply for unemployment benefits through the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. You can find more information and apply HERE.
DWD has a page for frequently asked COVID-19 unemployment questions, available HERE.
If you are struggling to complete the application process, please reply to this email or reach out to my office for help!
Childcare for Essential Workers
Beginning Monday, March 30th, the Racine Family YMCA will provide limited emergency childcare at both the Sealed Air Family YMCA and the George Bray Neighborhood YMCA for children of essential employees, including workers at grocery stores and food production, pharmacies, health care, utilities, shipping, banking, other governmental services, law enforcement and emergency personnel.
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is coordinating efforts to find child care for families of workers providing vital service to the state’s COVID-19 response. Child care available remains one of the top concerns to keeping health providers and essential employees at work.
For more information regarding child care for essential workers, including for help finding child care, please visit the DCF website HERE.
Constituent Corner
With everything going on, I wanted to recognize the good things happening in our community and the people stepping up to make Racine a better place.
In this first Constituent Corner, I wanted to recognize the amazing work of Tiara Harrell, Teresa McMorris, and Leathrice Tenner, who are making masks for first responders, essential workers, and vulnerable community members to help fight Wisconsin's PPE shortage. Thank you all for stepping up to make our community a safer and healthier place!
Do you know an essential employee who should be recognized in future Constituent Corners? Send me an email with your name, their name, their photo (optional), and a few sentences about what makes them an Essential Employee Hero in our community!
Recaps and Reminders
Red Cross: Blood Donors Needed
The Red Cross needs your help! With the advance of COVID-19, the American Red Cross is seeing a major shortage of blood donations. People who are healthy and feeling well are encouraged to make an appointment to donate blood as soon as possible, so we do not have a shortage as our neighbors go to the hospital for COVID-19 and other medical treatment. Please make an appointment by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or visitinghttp://RedCrossBlood.org.
Scams & Cybersecurity
Please be suspicious of unexpected calls or visitors offering COVID-19 Coronavirus tests, supplies, or cures. Please be cautious online, in person, and on the phone during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Scammers are trying to take advantage of the confusion and fear surrounding the pandemic and may try to take advantage of you, your family members, your neighbors during this emergency.
Never give your personal information out over the phone, on social media, online, or to someone you don’t know. Learn more about avoiding COVID-19/Coronavirus scams and how to report them HERE.
More Tips to Avoid COVID-19 Scammers:
Beware of phishing email, phone calls, and texts that request personal information from you.
Be wary of claims of cures or special treatments. Always verify this information with the Department of Health Services or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Please report all possible scams to the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection at DATCPHotline@wisconsin.gov or (800) 422-7128.
Small Business Resources
Due to the CARES Act (more info above), small businesses and non-profits can get up to a $10,000 advance on an Economic Injury Disaster Loan even if your previous application was declined or still pending.
If your Driver’s License is expiring, whether it’s a normal license or a CDL, DOT will be extending its validity for 60 days during this emergency for driving in the state of Wisconsin. Law enforcement has been directed to recognize licenses that expire during the COVID-19 emergency as valid. There will be a grace period for renewal once the emergency has been lifted.
DOT has also extended the emissions testing timeline for vehicles in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington and Waukesha counties, including the following changes:
Customers who have a routine vehicle registration renewal date after March 12 and require an emission test will have 90 days from their renewal date to complete an emission test and maintain valid registration.
Customers who obtained a new vehicle registration this year (January 26-March 12) will need to complete an emission test by June 10 to maintain valid registration.
Customers who apply for, or obtained, new registration after March 12 (when the Governor’s emergency Executive Order took effect) will have 90 days from their date of registration to complete an emission test and maintain valid registration. This gives customers another 45 days to complete the original requirement.
Did you know that DOT provides many services online, including vehicle titles and registration, SR-22s, duplicate licenses, and driver records? While our state is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, please do as much of your DMV business online as possible HERE. If you need to go in-person, you’ll need to sign up for an appointment HERE.
For other resources available to our community, please see last week’s e-update, available HERE.
Thank you for following along through this important update. I will continue to work on your behalf, and I will continue to share information and updates as I have them. Together, we can get through this crisis.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to my office via email at rep.neubauer@legis.wisconsin.gov or via phone at 888-534-0066. While my legislative office is working remotely, we are here to help between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and we'll do our best to get back to you as soon as we can.
In Solidarity,
Greta Neubauer
State Representative
66th Assembly District
We can all do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Please join me in practicing social distancing as the Safer at Home order takes effect. Let's all stay further away from others in public, and stay home except for essential travel.
Other ways to slow the spread of COVID-19 include:
Washing your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Covering coughs & sneezes with an elbow or a disposable tissue.
Avoid shaking hands and touching your face or eyes.
Regularly cleaning and sanitizing commonly touched surfaces in your home and workplace.
Stay home if you are feeling ill, and call your doctor before going in for a visit if you suspect you are sick.
If you have any comments regarding the subject of this E-Update, please feel free to contact me.
