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Evers Calls For Voluntary Safer At Home Compliance After Court Ruling

Gov. Tony Evers blasted Republican lawmakers and the state Supreme Court on Thursday after the court struck down Evers’ Safer at Home order. But a local Republican lawmaker was pleased with the result.

Evers called on people in Wisconsin to voluntarily continue Safer at Home precautions, like staying home, limiting interactions, and keeping physical distance from others.

“Just because Republicans have said it can be a free-for-all, that doesn’t mean we have to throw that good judgment out the window,” Evers said.

“This virus has killed more than 400 of our family members and friends, and thousands more across our state are sick. Because of the court’s decision, many more people could get sick and overwhelm our hospitals, but not if we stay the course and stay home.”

But state Rep. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma), who’s running for state Senate, was pleased by the ruling.

She said Safer at Home came with unintended consequences, like higher rates of domestic abuse and lower tax revenues for local governments.

Felzkowski also was concerned the order limited services for medical issues not related to COVID-19.

“When you shut down these other services, including medical services, people that need regular maintenance or diagnostic procedures, are you putting them at risk? Are we picking and choosing, we don’t want you to get COVID, but it’s okay if you don’t get diagnosed over here?” Felzkowski said.

Felzkowski said Republican leaders had tried to work with Evers, using the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce regional reopening plan as part of their discussions.

She said she would advise counties not to put forward their own Safer at Home orders in place of the statewide order.

Instead, people should be personally responsible.

“There are people that are scared to death of this. That’s okay. There are people that think this is a hoax. That’s okay. There are people that are in the middle. That’s okay. If you feel you need to wear a mask, wear a mask. That’s okay.”

The order had been set to expire May 26.

Ben worked as the Special Topics Correspondent at WXPR from September 2019 until November 2021. He now contributes occasionally to WXPR. During his full-time employment, his main focus was reporting on environment and natural resources issues in northern Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula as part of The Stream, a weekly series.
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