As you likely suspect, everyone's attention including my own has been directed towards the latest developments surrounding Coronavirus Disease - 19 / COVID-19 pandemic. This week's e-update is a round up of the latest information made available to us by the Office of the Governor, the Department of Health Services, and others.
During this time of uncertainty, my staff and I will be available to assist you during normal business hours by phone and e-mail. For the safety of everyone, we kindly ask that in person visits be limited to legislative business and by appointment only. Our office number is (608) 266-7521 and emails can be sent to rep.subeck@legis.wi.gov.
If you have any questions or need assistance with any matter, please feel free to contact my office.
Sincerely, Lisa Subeck State Representative 78th Assembly District
Public Health Emergency Declared; Wisconsin Schools to Close
Yesterday, Governor Tony Evers declared a public health emergency in response to new cases of COVID-19, directing the Department of Health Services (DHS) to use all available resources to contain and respond to the outbreak. It also authorizes state funds to support local health departments with costs related to isolation and quarantine, as well as the use of the Wisconsin National Guard.
Late this afternoon, at the direction of Governor Tony Evers, the Department of Health Services issued an agency order mandating the closure of all K-12 schools, public and private, as part of the state’s efforts to respond to and contain the spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin. The mandated closure will begin on Wednesday, March 18th, in order to give school districts ample time to make plans for kids, families, educators, and staff. School districts, particularly those in counties with reported cases of COVID-19, may choose to close earlier than Wednesday. The closure will remain in effect until April 6th. Closing our schools is not a decision the governor made lightly, but keeping our kids, educators, families, and communities safe is a top priority as we continue to work to respond to and prevent further spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin.
Best Practices to Protect Yourself & Others from COVID-19
The best way to prevent illness from COVID-19 is to avoid being exposed to the virus.
Strategies for protecting yourself:
Practice social distancing
Avoid attending large gatherings (50 or more people)
Restrict non-essential travel
Refrain from touching other people (i.e. shaking hands)
Clean your hands often
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
Strategies for protecting others:
Stay home if you're sick
Cover coughs and sneezes
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or use the inside of your elbow
Immediately wash your hands or use hand sanitizer
Wear a facemask if you're sick
You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick - facemasks may be in short supply and should be saved for those with the illness and medical professionals
Approximately 30 Soldiers and Airmen from the Wisconsin National Guard mobilized to state active duty yesterday to support Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services in the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 — or coronavirus — outbreak in Wisconsin.
The National Guard members mobilized to serve as drivers to transport state citizens returning to Wisconsin from a cruise ship with confirmed cases of COVID-19.
None of the returning citizens have tested positive for COVID-19, and all are asymptomatic, but the citizens will be returning to their homes to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Those citizens are returning to the state at a date, time, and location yet to be determined, but when they arrive in Wisconsin, Wisconsin National Guard members will be standing by waiting to transport them to their homes via state vehicles.
Gov. Tony Evers cleared the way for National Guard support to DHS and civil authorities in declaring a public health emergency during a news conference Thursday. The emergency declaration gives the adjutant general the authority to mobilize National Guard resources to state active duty as he deems necessary or upon request from state or local emergency managers.
The troops, consisting of approximately 20 Soldiers and 10 Airmen from Wisconsin National Guard units that make up the Guard’s CERFP — or Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Enhanced Response Force Package — will be awaiting the arrival of the citizens returning to Wisconsin from the cruise. After they arrive in Wisconsin, they’ll be greeted by DHS personnel before Guard members transport them back to their homes.
The 30 troops were all sourced from Soldiers and Airmen who volunteered for the mission in a matter of hours. Serving during times of need and emergency is one of the National Guard’s core missions. It simultaneously serves as the primary combat reserve for the Army and Air Force.
Troops that participate in the mission will follow Center for Disease Control and DHS protocols, and out of an abundance of caution, will self-monitor for 14 days following the mission, even though the individuals they are transporting have not tested positive for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic.
DHS representatives are grateful for the Guard’s assistance, noting that the citizens returning from the cruise are tired and anxious to get back home.
I love going to the polls on election day, but or the first time in my life I am voting absentee for the upcoming election. With the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, you may want to consider requesting an absentee ballot now to vote in the upcoming Spring 2020 Election and Presidential Preference Primary too. Visit myvote.wi.gov to request your absentee ballot, check your voter registration status, find your polling location, and more.
Additionally, if you live in the City of Madison you have the option to early vote in person at several convenient locations across the city. Information on locations and times can be found here.
The Capitol will be staying open to the public, but due to the high traffic the building sees everyday there are additional steps being taken by DOA facilities to keep the Capitol clean and sanitized. In addition to those efforts,the Capitol will be suspending all Capitol tours until further notice.
Today, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is providing additional information on Wisconsin’s price gouging statute as it relates to Executive Order #72, signed by Governor Tony Evers on Thursday, March 12.
Background:
As consumers prepare for the possibility of disruption to their daily lives as a result of COVID-19, Wisconsin retailers are working to meet the increased demands of consumers across the state. Often, when demand for specific products is extremely high, or supplies are limited, prices will rise. This can be frustrating, and consumers may feel like they are being taken advantage of.
In Executive Order #72, Governor Evers declared a public health emergency in the State of Wisconsin. He also declared that Wisconsin is experiencing a period of abnormal economic disruption because of COVID-19. This declaration authorizes DATCP to enforce Wisconsin’s price gouging statute until the emergency has ended. This declaration applies to the entire state and applies to any consumer good or service being sold at wholesale or retail.
Statutory Authority:
Under Section 100.305 of the Wisconsin Statutes and Chapter ATCP 106 of DATCP’s Administrative Code, wholesalers and retailers in Wisconsin are generally prohibited from selling consumer goods or services at prices that are more than 15% higher than pre-emergency prices. There are, however, some significant and important exemptions to this general prohibition:
Price gouging does not occur when a price is set by law, or when the price increase is exempted by emergency declaration.
Sellers may charge higher prices during a period of economic disruption as long as those price increases do not exceed the seller’s actual cost plus a reasonable markup.
What Consumers Should Know:
Consumers should be aware that it is not uncommon for prices of consumer products to increase during times of high demand and/or low supply.Most of the time, these increases are legitimate due to an increase in the cost to bring these products to market. However, if consumers have concerns about pricing at a retailer, they can always report those concerns to DATCP.
To report suspected price gouging, please contact DATCP’s Consumer Protection Hotline at DATCPHotline@wisconsin.gov or (800) 422-7128, or file an online complaint. Please provide the following information:
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in both humans and animals. There are currently seven strains of human coronaviruses. Four of these strains are common and found in Wisconsin and around the world. These coronaviruses typically cause a mild to moderate respiratory illness.
What is COVID-19?
In December 2019, a new strain of coronavirus emerged, COVID-19. Illnesses associated with this virus were first reported in Wuhan, China. The primary way COVID-19 is spread to others is when an infected person coughs or sneezes. This is similar to how the flu is spread. The virus is found in droplets from the throat and nose. When someone coughs or sneezes, other people near them can breathe in those droplets. The virus can also spread when someone touches an object with the virus on it. If that person touches their mouth, face, or eyes the virus can make them sick. Since COVID-19 is very new, there is much more to learn about the spread, severity, and other features of this virus.
On this website you can find information and guidance from WHO regarding the current outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that was first reported from Wuhan, China, on 31 December 2019. Please visit this page for daily updates.
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