Sheboygan County Response to State Supreme Court Ruling on Safer at Home Order
Sheboygan County, WI - In response to the Supreme Court ruling on May 13th regarding the revocation of the Safer at Home Order, Sheboygan County has developed guidance that will be released tomorrow detailing our plan to reopen, called “Sheboygan County Safe Restart Recommendations”. The Sheboygan County Safe Restart plan is based on federal and state guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19 and bring back our economy by using data-driven information designed to safely reopen businesses and organizations throughout the county.
“Our community has done a good job practicing social distancing, implementing best practices and taking precautions to keep people safe and our number of active COVID-19 cases in check,” said County Administrator Adam Payne. “As a result, Sheboygan County will not be issuing an order to direct how businesses and organizations operate,” Payne said.
The prior Wisconsin Safer at Home Order worked to help flatten the curve of infections of COVID19 in Wisconsin. However, as testing ramps up, the County anticipates an increase of positive test results in the days and weeks ahead. “As we strive to return to a new norm, this is a crucial time for Sheboygan County to keep up the effort in containing COVID-19 and slow the further spread of this deadly virus,” said County Board Chairman Vern Koch.
The Sheboygan County Division of Public Health recommendations include:
● If businesses or organizations choose to open, they should implement the WEDC Guidelines
● Practice good hygiene and social distancing
● Disinfect frequently used items and surfaces as much as possible
● Strongly consider using cloth face coverings while in public, and particularly when using mass
transit
● People who feel sick must stay at home
● Phased-in capacity limits within non-essential businesses
● People over the age of 60, and those who are medically vulnerable, should continue to shelter
at home or avoid interacting with others
● Online education and remote work are encouraged
Benchmark or gating criteria will be applied to safely open and move through three phases and will include data such as the trajectory of positive tests, testing availability for all residents with COVID-19 symptoms, ability to treat all patients requiring hospitalization, adequate personal protective equipment available for healthcare personnel and first responders, and capacity to swiftly trace contacts of residents who are COVID-19 positive which is critical to reducing transmission.
“Sheboygan County has made progress in flattening the curve, but it is vitally important that we follow the safety measures and
guidelines to keep our co-workers, families, and neighbors safe,” said Public Health Officer Starrlene Grossman. By State law,
Sheboygan County has the responsibility to do what is reasonable and necessary to protect their communities from
communicable diseases like COVID-19, including limiting public gatherings. The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision does not
affect this authority. Payne said that based on the community’s effective track-record of collaboration, relatively small and stable
number of active cases, and all the plans and preparations that have been implemented to date, Sheboygan County has chosen
to provide strong guidance rather than orders to help keep citizens safe.
“We have a very thoughtful community with many highly successful businesses. All public and private organizations will need to be mindful of social distancing and other best practices in order to protect their employees and customers alike. We should hold one another accountable and expect nothing less,” said County Administrator Payne.
For the latest information about COVID-19 in Sheboygan County, please visit:
Sheboygan County
