Customers may now go inside small retail shops
By Robert Cloud
Gov. Tony Evers announced a new emergency health order that will allow many small retail stores to open their doors to serve customers.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary-designee Andrea Palm signed the order Monday, May 11.
The order allows all standalone or strip-mall retail stores to offer in-person shopping for up to five customers at a time. The stores must have their own entrances to the outside.
Stores with shared entrances or located inside a shopping mall must remain closed to the public.
The order requires stores to maintain required 6-foot social distancing practices.
All businesses must continue to follow all safety precautions and guidelines as outlined in the Safer at Home order.
The Emergency Order signed May 11 also allows drive-in theaters to operate with some restrictions.
“In addition to added flexibilities and steps we have already taken for businesses, this is another disciplined turn of the dial that will allow Wisconsin’s business owners to safely get back to work and Wisconsin consumers to support their favorite local spots,” said Evers.
Wisconsin has loosened its Safer at Home restrictions to allow golf courses to operate, lawn and construction services provided by a single employee, curbside pickup for public libraries, and every business to provide deliveries, mailings and curbside pickup and drop-off services.
“Both customers and workers need to be confident in their safety, so we need everyone to be diligent in following best safety practices so we can continue to move our state forward while keeping our neighbors, families and communities safe and healthy,” Evers said.
Waupaca County update
Waupaca County Public Health reported Monday that the county now has a total of 13 positive cases.
Of those positive test results, four cases remain active, eight have recovered and one person has died.
Currently, there are 82 pending cases and 652 negative cases.