Even with the benefit of hindsight, Gov. Tony Evers wouldn’t have done anything differently with regard to his administration’s COVID-19 response.
That’s what he told WXPR in an interview Wednesday.
As of Wednesday, Wisconsin had nearly 9,000 confirmed COVID-19 infections, and 362 people had died.
In March, Evers closed schools and later issued his Safer at Home order, which was subsequently extended to May 26.
Evers has faced pressure from Republicans, business owners, and others in the state to reopen more quickly, but he told WXPR he wouldn’t have changed anything about the state’s response.
“No, I guess we feel we’ve done the best we can under the circumstances,” Evers said. “As I said before, we’re working hard to test as many people as possible in the state, and making sure that those who are identified [as sick] are taken care of, and people that they’re in contact with are taken care of.”
In the interview, Evers said he only wishes Wisconsin could have gotten more testing and equipment earlier.
The pandemic has also forced Evers to put other policy priorities on hold, like improving schools.
“Just from my background [as an educator and State Superintendent], I think that our opportunities to really strengthen our school districts and make sure all of our schools are operating at a high level for the kids out there, that’s something that, frankly, has been set aside,” he said.
The state Supreme Court is currently considering whether to lift Evers’ order earlier than May 26.
