I wanted to update you on the 2019 novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses common in humans and animals that typically cause a mild to moderate respiratory illness. COVID-19 is primarily spread through coughing and sneezing, similar to how the flu is spread. The virus is also spread when someone touches an object that has the virus on it. If a person touches an object with the virus on it, and then touches their mouth, eyes, or face, the virus can make them sick. New information on COVID-19 comes out almost every day since this is a very new virus.
Stay at home: read and follow Governor Evers' Safer at Home initiative, and only take essential trips such as to your work, the grocery store, pharmacy, or health care center
Practice social distancing: stay 6 feet apart from people when in public, and limit your social circles to seeing as few people as possible (however, please make sure to virtually keep in touch with your entire support system)
Clean often: wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and refrain from touching other people (shaking hands)
Be mindful: if you are sick or think you may have come into contact with someone who is sick, stay home, avoid touching your face, and clean frequently touched surfaces often
Flattening the Curve
You may have heard about "flattening the curve" in the news or online. The goal of protective measures like social distancing and the Safer at Home initiative is to spread out COVID-19 cases over a longer period of time. This will allow health care facilities, like hospitals, time to treat and discharge patients.
Without flattening the curve, the healthcare system will become overwhelmed. Please take the advice of the CDC and Wisconsin Department of Health Services seriously. Please follow guidelines and help us all flatten the curve.
To read more about the effort to flatten the curve, click here.
My Response
Reducing the public health risk of COVID-19 is a priority for my office. I have cancelled all non-essential meetings and gatherings and have been participating via teleconferences and video conferences instead. I have been in constant communication with state public health officials, local government, business owners, and community leaders.
I am committed to providing accurate and up-to-date information to you. I urge you to contact Rep.Considine@legis.wisconsin.gov or call (608)266-7746 with any questions or concerns. Additionally, you may want to follow my Facebook or Instagram, where I share updates on the state's response to COVID-19.
Election Update
A federal court order has extended the deadline to register to vote using myvote.wi.gov. You may now register to vote until Monday, March 30. To register online, click here.
I have heard concerns from many of you about the ability for local governments to conduct in-person voting on April 7. I continue to share these concerns with my colleagues in the Legislature as we prepare for next steps. In the meantime, I encourage all of you to request an absentee ballot by Thursday, April 2. You may request your mail-in ballot here. Make sure you are registered to vote prior to requesting your absentee ballot.
State Tax Deadline Update
Governor Evers and the Department of Revenue has extended the Wisconsin tax payment and return due dates to July 15 to match the federal deadline. To read more on this, click here.
Small Business Administration Loans Update
The Small Business Administration Disaster Loans will provide assistance to Wisconsin's small businesses that have been affected by COVID-19. These loans are for:
Loans will be available and funded 21 days after a completed application is submitted. To see the application, click here. For more information, visit the SBA website here or contact the Region 8 Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Development Directors Melissa Hunt at (608)210-6780 or Jason Scott at (608)210-6790.
Unemployment Update
The Department of Workforce Development is working hard to process unemployment benefits as quickly as possible. If your workplace was shut down due to COVID-19, you are eligible to apply for unemployment benefits.
If you do not know if you qualify, you are encouraged to file a claim. After filling a claim, the Department of Workforce Development will assist you.
Due to the high volume of claims, you are encouraged to apply online. To find more information on unemployment benefits or to file a claim, click here.
Price Gouging Update
The Department of Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is monitoring and responding to price gouging complaints.
Price gouging prohibits retailers from selling consumer goods at a prices that are more than 15% higher than pre-emergency prices. If you suspect price gouging is occuring, report this to DATCP at DATCPHotline@wisconsin.gov or online here.
I encourage you to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns during this time. It is important to me to hear from you on issues at the state level. Thank you to everyone who has already contacted my office.
You should have received a Newsletter in the mail recently. In it, I included a survey that you may complete and return to my office. You may alsofill out the survey here.
Do you have a positive story to share? I will be sharing positive stories on my social media sites in the coming weeks and would like to include you! If you have a story and a picture that you would like shared on my Facebook or Instagram page, email me at Rep.Considine@legis.wi.gov or tag me in your post and watch to see if it gets posted!
