Here is a summary of the changes in Wisconsin Governor Evers’ extended Safer at Home Order. An important point to begin with is that it does not add any or remove categories of essential businesses. This Order in in effect until May 26, 2020 or until a superseding order comes from DHS.
Safe Business Practices
Section 2(b) of the Order outlines several practices that the Department of Health Services either encourages or requires essential business that remain open to implement. Some practices include complying with social distancing requirements, restricting the number of workers present, and adopting more rigid sanitation and cleaning procedures. Retail essential businesses have more restrictive practices mandated by the order, for example: limiting the number of customers in the establishment at any time based on square footage (either above or below 50,000 square feet). Businesses above 50,000 square feet are also required to, for at least 2 hours a day, only open for vulnerable populations.
Closures
Under the order, the remainder of the 2019-20 school year is now cancelled. The Order also added public libraries to the closure list, except they may offer online services, curbside pickup, essential government functions, and food distribution. The DHS amended the Order to exempt golf courses from the “places of public amusement” closures. Golf courses may remain open, but have a rather strict list of guidelines that have to be followed, including prohibiting the use of golf carts and keeping the clubhouses and pro shops closed. People who live outside of the same house can play together, but must, to the extent practicable, observe social distancing.
Minimum Basic Operations
The Order significantly expanded the definition of minimum basic operations. In the previous order, minimum basic operations included only the most basic functions: security, inventory, payroll, and maintaining telework. Now, minimum basic operations also include: mailing and delivery, curbs-side pickup, and landscaping (if it can be done by one person). Arts and crafts stores may also have the number employees necessary to manufacture PPE.
If you find that you have questions as to how this may affect your business or operations, please call our knowledgeable attorneys at Schober Schober & Mitchell, S.C. at (262)785-1820.