% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.
% >> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON HERE & NOW:
% WHAT IS SAFE TO ENJOY HEADING
% INTO THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND?
% WE WILL TALK WITH PAT REMINGTON
% WITH THE UW POPULATION HEALTH
% SCIENCES DEPARTMENT.
% PLUS, THE STRUGGLES OF
% RE-OPENING WISCONSIN.
% MISSY HUGHES, SECRETARY DESIGNEE
% OF WISCONSIN'S ECONOMIC
% DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,
% JOINS US.
% AND OUR WEEKLY ONE-ON-ONE WITH
% GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, WHO GIVESUP
% ON COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
% AMID REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION.
% IT'SHERE & NOWFOR MAY 22.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% ♪ ♪
% >> MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IS THE
% UNOFFICIAL LAUNCH OF SUMMER
% AND ONE OF THE BUSIEST
% TOURIST WEEKENDS IN WISCONSIN.
% THIS YEAR, THE LANDSCAPE
% LOOKS A BIT DIFFERENT
% AS THE IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS
% CAN BE FELT ACROSS THE STATE.
% AS YOU CAN SEE BY THIS MAP,
% MORE THAN 10 WISCONSIN COUNTIES
% HAVE SELF-IMPOSED RESTRICTIONS
% IN PLACE BASED ON
% THE "SAFER AT HOME" ORDER.
% THOSE RESTRICTIONS IMPACT
% WHAT BUSINESSES CAN OPEN.
% SEVEN OF WISCONSIN'S
% 11 TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
% ALSO STILL HAVE RESTRICTIONS.
% THE DOORS OF BUSINESSES
% HAVE SWUNG WIDE OPEN IN
% THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE STATE
% AND IT IS YET TO BE SEEN
% THE IMPACT THAT COULD HAVE
% ON THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19.
% THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR TONY EVERS'
% ADMINISTRATION GAVE UP
% THE QUEST FOR ANY NEW STATEWIDE
% EMERGENCY RULES TO MANAGE
% COVID-19 IN WISCONSIN.
% EVERS SAYS REPUBLICANS
% EMBOLDENED BY A STATE SUPREME
% COURT DECISION ERASING HIS STAY
% AT HOME ORDER WOULD NEVER HAVE
% ALLOWED ANY SUCH RESTRICTIONS.
% I TALKED WITH GOVERNOR EVERS
% EARLIER TODAY, AS WE HEAD INTO
% THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
% AND, GOVERNOR, THANKS VERY
% MUCH FOR JOINING US.
% >> THANKS, FREDERICA.
% >> WHY EARLIER THIS WEEK
% IN REALLY WHAT SEEMED
% LIKE A RATHER SUDDEN MOVE
% DID YOU WITHDRAW YOUR
% CORONAVIRUS RULE PLAN?
% >> WELL, THERE'S ONLY 24 HOURS
% IN A DAY AND ALL OF US ARE
% FOCUSED ON IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE
% GETTING SOME OF THIS CARE MONEY
% OUT TO FARMERS
% AND SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE AND
% THE REPUBLICANS MADE IT CLEAR
% AND IT WASN'T LIKE A FIGHT.
% IT WAS A CLEAR THAT THEY DIDN'T
% WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT
% WOULD RESTRICT, DO ANYTHING
% ABOUT RESTRICTING ANYTHING
% AND THEY WANTED--
% THEY DIDN'T WANT
% A STATEWIDE PLAN.
% THEY WANTED A LOCAL PLAN.
% SO, INSTEAD OF FIGHTING UPSTREAM
% AGAINST SOMETHING THAT
% WAS JUST NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN,
% WE'RE GOING TO BE CONTINUING TO
% FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT
% ARE IMPORTANT LIKE TESTING
% AND TRACING AND GETTING THE
% RIGHT EQUIPMENT, GETTING MONEY
% OUT TO FARMERS, AND MAKING SURE
% THAT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES
% GET SOME GET SOME RESOURCES.
% THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.
% AND SO, IT JUST WASN'T WORTH
% THE TIME.
% >> WAS IT A MARKER THAT PARTISAN
% POLITICS HAVE GOTTEN
% THE BETTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH?
% >> WELL, IT GOT--
% IT SET A MARKER IN SAYING THAT
% THERE WILL BE NEVER ANY
% RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT MIGHT BE
% A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
% YOU KNOW, IF WE IF WE DID
% HAVE A SECOND WAVE OR IF WE DID
% HAVE A SURGE, IT'S LIKELY
% AT SOME POINT TIME
% WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SAY,
% "WELL, YOU CAN ONLY HAVE
% 50 PEOPLE IN THIS SPACE
% RATHER THAN 500 PEOPLE
% IN THIS SPACE," BUT THAT JUST
% WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.
% SO, WE WILL DO THE THINGS
% WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE
% THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE.
% >> ARE COMMUNICATIONS STILL
% HAPPENING BETWEEN YOU
% AND THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP?
% >> SURE, WE'VE TALKED A COUPLE
% TIMES THIS WEEK, AND,
% YOU KNOW, TALKED ABOUT THINGS
% LIKE HOW SCHOOLS CAN OPEN UP
% AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE
% TALKING ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY
% OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM.
% HOW WE CAN COMMUNICATE IF
% THERE IS A SURGE GOING FORWARD.
% SO, NO, WE ARE--
% IT'S JUST THE, FIRST OF ALL, THE
% RULE, THE IDEA THAT THERE WAS
% GONNA BE ANY GRAND BARGAIN ON
% THIS-- AND THE SUPREME COURT
% KIND OF SET THE STAGE--
% JUST WASN'T AN ACCURATE ONE.
% >> ON THURSDAY, YOU ALLOCATED
% ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS
% OUT OF THE FEDERAL CARES ACT
% MONEY TOWARD HELPING LONG-TERM
% CARE FACILITIES AND EMERGENCY
% MEDICAL SERVICES, BUT THAT CAME
% THE SAME DAY AS OUR NEXT GUEST
% IN THIS PROGRAM BLASTED YOU
% IN A LETTER FOR WHAT HE SAID
% WAS IGNORING NURSING HOMES.
% IS THAT HOW THIS INTERACTION
% THOUGH IS GOING, NOTWITHSTANDING
% SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS
% YOU SAY YOU'RE HAVING.
% >> WELL, APPARENTLY, WHAT THE
% DISCUSSION WE'RE HAVING WITH
% THE LEADERSHIP DIDN'T MAKE IT
% DOWN TO REPRESENTATIVE STEINEKE.
% CLEARLY, WE ALWAYS HAD PLANNED
% ONCE THE CARE MONEY CAME IN
% THAT WE'RE YOU KNOW THE
% LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES WERE
% THE ONES THAT REALLY DIDN'T
% GET ANY MONEY OR VERY LITTLE
% MONEY FROM THE PREVIOUS FEDERAL
% ALLOCATION SO THIS WAS GOING
% TO HAPPEN AND I KNOW HE MADE
% THE CLAIM THAT WE HADN'T REACHED
% OUT TO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
% WE HAVE CONSTANT CONVERSATIONS
% WITH PEOPLE IN THOSE
% LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
% HECK, WE'RE TRYING TO GET IN AND
% MAKE SURE EVERY ONE OF THOSE
% ARE TESTED SO, YOU KNOW,
% THAT COMMUNICATION DIDN'T HAPPEN
% FROM HIS LEADERSHIP TO HIM
% FOR SOME REASON.
% NOW, BY FAR, THE LARGEST
% ALLOCATION IN MY UNDERSTANDING
% WAS A BILLION DOLLARS THAT
% WISCONSIN ALLOCATED TO TESTING
% AND CONTACT TRACING.
% DESCRIBE WHY THOSE THINGS ARE
% SUCH A MAJOR FOCUS?
% >> ABSOLUTELY, WELL,
% THAT IS HOW,
% IF WE HAVE A SURGE AND OR IF
% THERE IS A SECOND WAVE, THIS IS
% HOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
% CONTAIN THIS AND IT ALWAYS HAS
% BEEN THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
% THE MORE PEOPLE WE TEST, THE
% MORE PEOPLE WE CAN FIND OUT
% IF THEY'RE THEY ARE ILL
% AND GET THEM GIVE THEM ISOLATED
% AND GET THE PEOPLE THAT
% THEY'VE CONTACTED ISOLATED.
% AS WE DO THAT ACROSS THE STATE,
% WE START TO SLOWLY START TO
% MANAGE THIS SYSTEM SO IT'S
% ABSOLUTELY THE MOST IMPORTANT
% THING, IN ADDITION TO GETTING
% THE EQUIPMENT WE NEED.
% AND SO, WE'RE DOING-- WELL,
% I KNOW WE HIT, I THINK, 9,000,
% ALMOST 10,000 TESTS JUST TODAY
% AND WE WANT TO KEEP THAT UP.
% WE WANT TO DO 85,000 A WEEK
% AND AS WE DO THAT, WE'RE ABLE TO
% YOU KNOW MAKE IT LESS LIKELY
% THAT ANY SURGE WILL HAPPEN.
% >> PRESIDENT TRUMP, AS YOU WELL
% KNOW, GETS TESTED EVERY DAY
% AND HE TALKS ABOUT THAT.
% DO YOU, LIKEWISE, GET TESTED
% OR TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS?
% >> I TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS
% BECAUSE I'M ESSENTIALLY SELF-
% QUARANTINED AT THE EXECUTIVE
% RESIDENCE OR THE CAPITOL.
% THERE'S VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT
% INTERACT WITH ME AND THE PEOPLE
% THAT DO HAVE VERY FEW
% INTERACTIONS EITHER SO
% THERE'S NO ONE USE
% WASTING A TEST ON ME
% BECAUSE WE ARE-- MY WIFE AND I
% ARE ESSENTIALLY SELF-ISOLATING
% IN OUR LIVES RIGHT NOW.
% >> JUST VERY BRIEFLY,
% WITH ONLY ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.
% WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MUCH OF
% THE STATE BEING REOPENED HEADING
% INTO THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND?
% >> YEAH, WELL,
% I'LL MAKE IT VERY CLEAR.
% ONE THING WE HAVE TO DO IS SPEND
% TIME REFLECTING UPON THOSE
% PEOPLE THAT NOT ONLY DIED
% IN THIS EPIDEMIC, BUT OBVIOUSLY,
% PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE,
% IN OUR ARMED SERVICES OVER TIME.
% THAT REFLECTION, I THINK, SHOULD
% GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK
% ABOUT STAYING CLOSER TO HOME.
% I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE
% A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN FROM
% OUT OF STATE AND WE--
% I THINK, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL
% DISTANCING, DOING THE THINGS
% THAT WE NEED TO DO, AS FAR AS
% MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING
% THE HYGIENE.
% STAYING CLOSER TO HOME, I THINK,
% IS THE BEST RECOMMENDATION
% I HAVE, BUT MEMORIAL DAY
% IS ABOUT THAT REFLECTION
% AND SO HOPEFULLY PEOPLE
% WILL BE DOING THAT.
% >> ALL RIGHT, GOVERNOR
% TONY EVERS, THANKS AGAIN.
% >> THANKS A LOT, FREDERICA.
% TAKE CARE!
% >> GOVERNOR EVERS CITED
% REPUBLICAN PUSHBACK AS HIS
% REASON FOR ABANDONING STATEWIDE
% GUIDELINES FOR REOPENING
% WISCONSIN.
% FOR REACTION, WE TALKED TO
% ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN MAJORITY
% LEADER JIM STEINEKE.
% HE JOINED US EARLY THIS
% AFTERNOON.
% REPRESENTATIVE STEINEKE,
% THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
% >> ABSOLUTELY,
% THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
% >> DID THE MAJORITY REPUBLICANS
% IN WISCONSIN GET WHAT
% THEY WANTED WHEN GOVERNOR
% EVERS WITHDREW HIS CORONAVIRUS
% RULE PLAN?
% >> NO, I MEAN, I THINK WHAT WE
% WANTED ALL ALONG WAS THE
% ABILITY TO SIT DOWN AND CRAFT A
% PLAN TOGETHER AND UNFORTUNATELY
% AFTER THE SUPREME COURT CASE,
% THE GOVERNOR, IN OUR INITIAL
% CONVERSATION, PRETTY MUCH SAID
% THAT HE WAS PLANNING ON
% REINTRODUCING THE RULE AS HE HAS
% HAD IT BEFORE, WITHOUT REALLY
% GIVING US ANY INDICATION
% HE WAS GOING TO NEGOTIATE
% WITH US AND I THINK THAT'S KIND
% OF WHERE THINGS BROKE DOWN
% AND THAT'S WHERE-- WHY WE ENDED
% UP WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
% >> SO, IS THE STATUS QUO RIGHT
% NOW WITH COUNTIES IMPOSING
% THEIR OWN ORDERS OR NOT
% HOW THE MANAGEMENT OF THE
% PANDEMIC SHOULD PROCEED
% IN YOUR MIND?
% >> I THINK REALLY IT'S OUR BEST
% OPTION RIGHT NOW GIVEN THE FACT
% THAT THE ADMINISTRATION ISN'T
% REALLY WILLING TO WORK ON
% A MORE REGIONAL PLAN.
% SO HAVING THE LOCAL HEALTH
% DEPARTMENTS, WHO HAVE ALL OF THE
% SAME TOOLS THAT THE STATE DOES,
% HAVING THEM DO IT IN AREAS
% WHERE THERE ARE GREATER IMPACTS
% TO THE VIRUS THAN SOME OTHER
% AREAS, I THINK, DOES MAKE SOME
% SENSE AND WE'VE ARE ALSO SAID
% TO THE COUNTIES THAT IF THEY
% NEED ANY ADDITIONAL TOOLS OR IF
% THERE'S GAPS IN WHAT THEY'RE
% ABLE TO DO, THAT THEY NEED TO BE
% ABLE TO DO MORE WE'D BE HAPPY TO
% TALK TO THEM ABOUT THAT.
% >> SO AT THIS POINT, IT DOESN'T
% SEEM AS THOUGH THE LEGISLATURE
% WILL TAKE UP ANY KIND OF RULES?
% >> NO, I MEAN AGAIN WHAT WE'RE--
% WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IS THE COUNTY
% AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
% HAVE THE TOOLS NECESSARY.
% THEY'RE-- THEY DEAL WITH
% INFECTIOUS DISEASES ON A REGULAR
% BASIS, MUCH LESS COVERED AND
% MUCH LESS OF A AN IMPACT THAN
% THE CORONAVIRUS IS, BUT THEY DO
% HAVE THE TOOLS AT THEIR
% DISPOSAL, AND ESPECIALLY IN A
% SITUATION LIKE THIS WHERE THE
% THE HOTSPOTS ARE LOCALIZED IN
% THIS STATE, I THINK IT'S A
% REASONABLE WAY TO ATTACK THIS.
% >> IT SEEMS FAIR TO SAY THAT THE
% COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE
% MAJORITY REPUBLICANS IN THE
% LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR ARE
% STRAINED, WITH YOUR LETTER
% SAYING THAT GOVERNOR EVERS WAS
% IGNORING NURSING HOMES COMING
% THE SAME TIME THAT HE ALLOCATED
% $100 MILLION DOLLARS TO THEM.
% WHAT IS GOING ON?
% >> YEAH, SO THAT WAS--
% THE LETTER WENT OUT BEFORE THEY
% MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
% I'M A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
% NOW, THE FACT IS THAT 100
% MILLION DOLLARS, IT'S A STEP
% IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SO I'M
% APPRECIATIVE AND I KNOW THE
% NURSING HOMES ARE THANKFUL
% TO GOVERNOR EVERS FOR PROVIDING
% THAT THROUGH THE CARES ACT,
% BUT THE FACT IS, IT IS A MUCH
% LARGER PROBLEM IN NURSING HOMES.
% 40% OF THE DEATHS COME FROM
% NURSING HOMES.
% ONLY 5% OF THE FEDERAL MONEY
% WENT TOWARDS THEM.
% THEY'RE GONNA NEED MUCH MORE
% INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE, AND
% I JUST WISH THE ADMINISTRATION
% HAD TALKED TO THEM ABOUT
% THEIR NEEDS BEFORE ANNOUNCING
% THE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
% >> WELL, WILL THE MAJORITY
% LEGISLATURE DRAFT MEASURES TO
% SPEND ANY STATE MONEY FOR NEEDS
% OF THE PEOPLE LIKE THOSE NEEDS.
% EARLIER, YOU HAD SAID THAT YOU
% WANTED TO KIND OF WAIT AND SEE
% WHAT WAS COMING IN
% FROM THE FEDS.
% WELL, WE NOW KNOW THAT.
% >> YEP, SO THE TRUTH IS AND
% MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE DON'T--
% THE STATE DOESN'T
% HAVE ANY MONEY..
% WE HAD AN 800 MILLION DOLLAR
% SURPLUS BEFORE THE VIRUS STRUCK.
% THAT'S ALL BUT BEEN WIPED AWAY.
% GOING FORWARD, WE'RE PROBABLY
% LOOKING AT DEFICITS.
% SO WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO
% SPEND MONEY THAT WE DON'T HAVE
% LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES
% SO WE HAVE TO BE REALLY FISCALLY
% CONSERVATIVE HERE GOING FORWARD
% TO MAKE SURE THAT
% WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS
% BECAUSE COME JANUARY 1ST, IF
% THERE ARE NO CHANGES, WE'RE
% PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE
% CUTS TO THE BUDGET SO WE JUST
% SIMPLY DON'T HAVE STATE MONEY
% TO SPEND RIGHT NOW.
% >> WHAT IS YOUR POSITION AS TO
% WHETHER OR NOT YOU WOULD LIKE
% FEDERAL MONEY TO COME INTO
% STATE GOVERNMENT COFFERS?
% >> YEAH, SO THE FEDERAL
% GOVERNMENT ALREADY GAVE
% WISCONSIN ABOUT TWO BILLION
% DOLLARS THROUGH THE INITIAL
% ROUND OF THE CARES ACT.
% THAT WAS A LARGE SUM OF MONEY
% AND I THINK AN IMPORTANT STEP.
% WHAT THEY DO GOING FORWARD,
% I'M NOT SURE THAT'S SOMETHING
% THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO THEN
% NEGOTIATE BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.
% BUT RIGHT NOW I THINK WE HAVE TO
% UTILIZE THAT TWO BILLION DOLLARS
% IN A WAY THAT ASSUMES THAT
% WE WON'T BE GETTING MORE
% FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
% >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THOUGH
% FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN?
% >> ANY ADDITIONAL FEDERAL
% LEGISLATION THAT GOES
% DIRECTLY TO STATE GOVERNMENT,
% LIKE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.
% AS LONG AS IT IS DEALING
% STRICTLY WITH DOLLARS
% GOING FOR COVID RELIEF,
% SO WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR
% THE MISTAKES OF STATE
% GOVERNMENTS OVER THE COURSE
% OF A NUMBER OF YEARS
% AND BAD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.
% BUT IF WE'RE IF WE'RE TALKING
% ABOUT JUST MONEY TO HELP
% SUPPORT THE RELIEF EFFORTS FOR
% THE COVID-19 CRISIS, I'M ALL IN
% FAVOR OF THAT, BUT I'M NOT IN
% FAVOR OF PROPPING UP GOVERNMENTS
% WHO MADE BAD MISTAKES IN THE
% PAST.
% >> ALL RIGHT MAJORITY LEADER,
% JIM STEINEKE, THANKS VERY MUCH
% FOR BEING HERE.
% >> ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU.
% >> WISCONSIN'S POLITICAL
% INFIGHTING HAS BUSINESSES
% AND CUSTOMERS ALIKE CONFUSED
% ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE THE PANDEMIC
% AS WE HEAD INTO THE HOLIDAY
% WEEKEND.
% TOURISM AREAS ARE PREPARING FOR
% AN INFLUX OF CROWDS AND TOURISTS
% FROM ILLINOIS AND MINNESOTA
% WILL JOIN WISCONSIN RESIDENTS
% HEADING TO CABIN PROPERTIES.
% LAKE GENEVA HAS SEEN AN UPTICK
% IN BUSINESS AS THE SUMMER
% TOURISM SEASON LAUNCHES AND YET
% SOCIAL DISTANCING IS NOT ALWAYS
% OBSERVED THE WISCONSIN ECONOMIC
% DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OFFERS
% ADVICE AND GUIDANCE TO BUSINESS
% OWNERS ON HOW TO REOPEN WITH
% SAFETY IN MIND.
% >> SECRETARY DESIGNEE AND CEO
% OF THE WEDC, MISSY HUGHES,
% JOINED US EARLIER FROM VIROQUA,
% AND THANKS VERY MUCH
% FOR DOING SO.
% >> GOOD MORNING.
% >> SO, EVEN AS WISCONSIN
% STARTS TO REOPEN,
% HOW BAD IS IT OUT THERE
% FOR BUSINESSES AND THEIR WORKERS
% ACROSS WISCONSIN ECONOMICALLY?
% >> YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A REAL
% STRUGGLE FOR MANY BUSINESSES.
% WHETHER THE BUSINESSES
% WERE CONSIDERED
% ESSENTIAL OR NON-ESSENTIAL,
% MANAGING THIS NEW NORMAL
% THAT WE'RE ALL FACING
% OF KEEPING YOUR CUSTOMERS AND
% YOUR EMPLOYEES SAFE
% HAS CREATED CHALLENGES ACROSS
% THE BOARD.
% AND THEN, OF COURSE,
% THE ECONOMIC IMPACT
% OF EITHER HAVING TO
% CLOSE YOUR DOORS
% OR TO HAVE TO REDUCE YOUR
% OPERATIONS HAS BEEN REALLY
% CHALLENGING FOR BUSINESSES.
% >> WELL, IN FACT, THE WEDC,
% CREATED A KIND OF COMPREHENSIVE
% REOPEN GUIDELINES.
% THIS IS KIND OF A COVER SHEET
% OF YOUR BEST PRACTICES
% FOR BUSINESSES.
% WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM
% THEM ABOUT WHETHER
% THEY'RE USING YOUR GUIDES
% AND TAKING THEM SERIOUSLY?
% >> WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD
% A REALLY FANTASTIC RESPONSE
% TO THE GUIDELINES.
% WE STARTED CREATING THOSE
% WITH THE GOVERNOR'S BADGER
% BOUNCE BACK PLAN,
% IN ORDER TO HELP
% BUSINESSES BE READY
% WHEN THE TIME CAME TO OPEN.
% I COULD ONLY IMAGINE HOW HARD IT
% IS AS A SMALL BUSINESS
% TO BE STANDING INSIDE YOUR
% BABY THAT YOU'VE CREATED
% AND THINKING ABOUT 'HOW
% DO I CHANGE MY TABLES?'
% IF I'M A RESTAURANT
% OR I'M A RETAIL SHOP,
% AND I'VE ARRANGED IT
% ALL BEAUTIFULLY,
% AND I NEED TO BE
% THINKING ABOUT,
% 'CAN I DO SOCIAL DISTANCE
% AND HOW WILL THAT ALL WORK?'
% AND SO, THE GUIDELINES WERE
% MEANT TO REALLY HELP BUSINESSES
% BE READY WHEN THAT TIME CAME
% TO OPEN.
% BUSINESSES HAD TO ASK THEMSELVES
% HARD QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO
% OPERATE.
% THE GUIDELINES WERE MEANT TO
% HELP, KIND OF,
% WALK THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
% BECAUSE OF THE SUPREME COURT'S
% RULING WITH SAFER AT HOME.
% WE NEEDED TO, YOU KNOW,
% SPEED THAT PROCESS UP
% AND I'M GLAD THE GUIDELINES
% WERE THERE TO HELP BUSINESSES.
% >> YOU HAVE SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
% ACROSS INDUSTRIES,
% BUT YOU ALSO HAVE KIND OF
% A SET OF GENERAL GUIDELINES.
% WHAT ARE THOSE?
% >> THE GENERAL GUIDELINES ARE
% REALLY KIND OF YOUR FIRST FORAY
% INTO HOW TO ADDRESS
% YOUR BUSINESS.
% SO, THINKING
% ABOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING,
% CLEANING AND DISINFECTING
% ON A REGULAR BASIS.
% WHAT ARE THOSE HIGH-TOUCH AREAS
% THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF?
% SHOULD MY EMPLOYEES
% BE WEARING MASKS?
% WHAT-- YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU
% WORK THROUGH ALL OF THAT?
% AND THEN, QUESTIONS LIKE,
% 'WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OF MY
% EMPLOYEES GET SICK?
% WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT THAT?'
% AND SO, THE GENERAL GUIDELINES
% ARE REALLY MEANT TO HELP YOU
% KIND OF APPROACH
% THAT INITIAL SET OF QUESTIONS
% AND THEN FOR SPECIFIC BUSINESSES
% LIKE HAIRSTYLIST, OR
% RESTAURANTS, CONSTRUCTION,
% WE HAVE OTHER IDEAS AND THOUGHTS
% THAT YOU MIGHT WANNA CONSIDER.
% >> SO, YOU JUST MENTIONED
% THAT EMPLOYEE--
% EMPLOYERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO
% TELL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE SICK
% TO STAY HOME, BUT ARE EMPLOYERS
% REQUIRED TO PROVIDE SICK LEAVE?
% >> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS
% THAT STARTED
% JUST AS WE ENTERED
% INTO THIS PROCESS
% WAS PAID LEAVE FOR EMPLOYEES,
% AND SO A LOT OF EMPLOYERS HAVE
% TAKEN THAT UP
% BECAUSE THEY WANNA MAKE SURE
% THEY HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE.
% SO, THEY WANNA ENCOURAGE
% THEIR EMPLOYEES TO, YOU KNOW,
% SAY, "HEY, I'M NOT FEELING
% WELL," SO THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES
% STAY HOME.
% >> AND EMPLOYERS ARE ALSO
% ENCOURAGED UNDER THE GUIDELINES
% TO PROVIDE A PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
% EQUIPMENT TO THEIR WORKERS.
% BUT ARE THERE ENOUGH STOCKS OF
% THOSE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW
% FOR EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE THAT?
% >> YEAH, ONE OF THE THINGS
% THAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM
% EMPLOYERS IS CHALLENGES IN
% FINDING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT,
% WHETHER IT'S MASKS OR GLOVES
% OR PLEXIGLAS.
% SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
% WE'VE DONE AT WEDC IS STAND UP
% OUR WISCONSIN SUPPLIER NETWORK
% TO BE A LOCATION
% WHERE YOU CAN RESOURCE PPE.
% SO, WE'VE HAD THE WISCONSIN
% SUPPLIER NETWORK
% FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS
% TO CONNECT BUSINESSES TO
% BUSINESSES,
% ALONG THE SUPPLY CHAIN
% AND WE'VE ADDED A FEATURE WHERE
% IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR PPE,
% YOU CAN GO TO THE WISCONSIN
% SUPPLIER NETWORK, WHICH IS
% WISCONSINSUPPLIERNETWORK DOT COM
% AND FIND SOURCES OF PPE.
% OR, IF YOU'RE A PROVIDER OF PPE,
% YOU CAN LIST YOURSELF ON THERE
% TO HELP BUSINESSES FIND YOU.
% >> WHAT IN YOUR MIND IS THE BEST
% WAY FOR RETAILERS
% OR RESTAURANTS OR BARS TO
% ENGENDER CONSUMER CONFIDENCE,
% WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY KEY
% TO GETTING PEOPLE
% BACK INTO BUSINESSES.
% YOU KNOW, I THINK REALLY
% IMPORTANT IS TO BE COMMUNICATING
% WITH YOUR CONSUMERS
% AND YOUR CUSTOMERS
% THAT YOU'VE TAKEN INTO
% CONSIDERATION THEIR SAFETY.
% SO, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH SIGNAGE
% OR MAKING SURE THAT YOUR
% EMPLOYEES ARE TRAINED UP
% AND ARE COMMUNICATING THE STEPS
% THAT THEY'RE TAKING,
% AND JUST BEING REALLY
% ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT
% ABOUT IT IS THE BEST WAY.
% I CAME-- BEFORE I CAME TO WEDC,
% ORGANIC VALLEY IS AN INCREDIBLY
% CONSUMER-FOCUSED BUSINESS,
% AND THAT'S ONE THING
% THAT HASN'T CHANGED
% THROUGH ALL OF COVID:
% "THE CUSTOMERS IS RIGHT."
% AND SO, THINKING ABOUT YOUR
% BUSINESS
% FROM THE CUSTOMER'S PERSPECTIVE.
% AS THEY WALK IN
% THROUGH YOUR DOORS,
% WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO
% EXPERIENCE?
% AND WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO
% KNOW THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT?
% >> SECRETARY DESIGNEE AND CEO
% OF WEDC, MISSY HUGHES,
% THANKS VERY MUCH.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> READY OR NOT, WISCONSIN
% IS REOPENING FOR BUSINESS,
% INCLUDING WATER PARKS,
% RESTAURANTS,
% BARS AND GIFT SHOPS.
% SO HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT
% ACTIVITIES ARE SAFE
% AND HOW DO YOU BEST PROTECT
% YOUR FAMILY?
% PROFESSOR EMERITUS PAT REMINGTON
% IS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF
% WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
% POPULATION HEALTH SCIENCES,
% AND PROFESSOR REMINGTON JOINS US
% THIS WEEK WITH HIS INSIGHTS.
% THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE.
% >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
% >> SO, FIRST,
% WHAT IS YOUR BELIEF
% AS TO WHETHER OR NOT
% THE TIME IS RIGHT
% TO START REOPENING THE ECONOMY?
% >> WELL, I CERTAINLY THINK
% IT'S TIME.
% THE QUESTION IS NOT 'WHEN WE
% DO IT' BUT MORE 'HOW WE DO IT.'
% WE KNOW THERE ARE RISKS OF
% COVID-19 BEING TRANSMITTED FROM
% PERSON TO PERSON AND THAT RISK
% WILL CONTINUE FOR A LONG TIME.
% SO WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS
% UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE
% AND THE EVIDENCE ABOUT HOW
% RISK IS DETERMINED,
% HOW THE VIRUS IS TRANSMITTED
% FROM PERSON TO PERSON.
% AND THEN,
% ONCE WE UNDERSTAND THAT,
% THEN TAKE THOSE STEPS: BABY
% STEPS AT FIRST, AND THEN,
% EVENTUALLY, WORK TOWARDS A
% COMPLETE OPENING OF A BUSINESS.
% >> EVEN AS WE START TO DO THIS
% NOW,
% SHOULD WE THEN EXPECT SPIKES IN
% POSITIVE CASES?
% >> WELL, WE WILL EXPECTCONTINUED
% TRANSMISSION.
% DESPITE THE NUMBER OF CASES
% AND THE NUMBER OF DEATHS,
% THERE'S A LARGE PORTION OF THE
% POPULATION THAT'S SUSCEPTIBLE
% SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE
% TRANSMISSION FROM PERSON TO
% PERSON.
% WHAT WE WANT IS THOSE SPIKES
% TO BE VERY SMALL
% AND TO BE CONTAINED THROUGH
% ISOLATION OF SICK INDIVIDUALS
% AND THEN CONTACT TRACING.
% IF WE DO THAT, THEN WE
% CAN KEEP THOSE SPIKES--
% WHAT I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT IS
% SMALL GRASS FIRES THAT YOU CAN
% PUT OUT,
% AS OPPOSED TO A BIG FOREST FIRE
% THAT OVERWHELMS
% OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM'S ABILITY
% TO CARE FOR PEOPLE.
% >> NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT
% THAT IT'S ALMOST BECOME
% KIND OF A POLITICAL MESSAGE,
% IS IT YOUR BELIEF THAT WE ALL
% SHOULD BE WEARING MASKS?
% >> WELL, I THINK WEARING MASKS
% IS AN IMPORTANT DEMONSTRATION
% OF YOUR CONCERN ABOUT SPREADING
% THE ILLNESS TO OTHERS.
% AND THERE'S GOOD EVIDENCE:
% BOTH EPIDEMIOLOGIC,
% BUT ALSO EXPERIMENTAL
% THAT IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE SICK
% AND NOT KNOW IT
% AND YOU COUGH, OR SNEEZE,
% OR EVEN BREATHE,
% THAT WEARING A MASK WILL KEEP
% THE VIRUS FROM SPREADING
% THAT'S-- TO THAT SIX-FOOT RANGE.
% SO, WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE SICK.
% LOTS OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE
% SYMPTOMS OR YOU DEVELOP--
% YOU ARE CONTAGIOUS
% BEFORE THOSE SYMPTOMS DEVELOP
% SO PUTTING A MASK ON
% IS JUST IN CASE I'M SICK
% AND I DON'T KNOW IT
% OR JUST IN CASE
% I'M ABOUT TO BECOME ILL.
% I'M GONNA REDUCE THE RISK THAT
% I'LL INFECT SOMEONE ELSE
% AND THERE'S GOOD EVIDENCE
% ON THAT.
% SO, IT'S I THINK IT'S A GOOD
% THING TO DO.
% PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE GONNA BE
% IN A SHOPPING CENTER
% OR IN A HAIR SALON, CLOSER
% THAN THAT SIX-FOOT RANGE,
% THAT'S AN EXTRA A BIT OF
% INSURANCE TO MAKE SURE
% YOU DON'T TRANSMIT THE VIRUS
% TO SOMEONE ELSE.
% >> WELL, SPEAKING OF WHICH,
% I WANTED TO KIND OF TICK DOWN
% SOME OF THE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES
% THAT PEOPLE MIGHT BE DOING
% AND ASK YOU WHETHER OR NOT IT'S
% YOUR BELIEF THAT THESE ARE SAFE,
% INCLUDING RESTAURANTS AND BARS.
% WHAT ABOUT THAT?
% >> WELL, AGAIN,
% I THINK INDOOR SPACES
% ARE HIGHER RISK THAN OUTDOORS.
% SO, IF A RESTAURANT OR A BAR CAN
% SEAT PATRONS OUT OF->> OUTDOORS,
% THEN THAT WILL REDUCE THE RISK.
% ALSO, IF WE KNOW THAT THE
% SIX-FEET IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED
% DISTANCE THAT IS SAFER
% THAN BEING CLOSER TO THAT.
% SO, IF IT'S A RESTAURANT OR BAR,
% THAT CAN SEAT PEOPLE AT A
% DISTANCE OF SIX FEET OR MORE,
% THEN THAT MAKES IT A SAFER.
% BUT ANYTIME YOU GO INDOORS,
% YOU ARE AT RISK
% OF COMING INTO CONTACT WITH
% SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE SICK.
% SO, THERE'S A RISK,
% BUT WHAT WE WANNA DO IS KEEP
% THAT RISK AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE.
% >> YOU KNOW,
% A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING,
% "WELL, POOLS SHOULD BE SAFE
% BECAUSE THE CHLORINE
% KILLS THE VIRUS."
% WHAT ABOUT THINGS
% LIKE POOLS AND WATER PARKS?
% >> WELL, AGAIN, I THINK--
% AS LONG AS PEOPLE CAN STAY
% PHYSICALLY DISTANT,
% SIX FEET OR MORE,
% THEN OUTDOOR PLACES ARE BETTER
% THAN INDOOR PLACES.
% WE KNOW THAT
% FROM RESEARCH STUDIES.
% BUT THE RISK IS THAT
% YOU GO TO A PLACE LIKE A POOL
% AND IT GETS CROWDED
% AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
% YOU DON'T HAVE
% THAT PHYSICAL DISTANCING
% BUT WE KNOW OUTDOORS- THE SUN,
% THE WIND, JUST A DRYING EFFECTS-
% WON'T HELP THE VIRUS BE
% TRANSMITTED
% SO THAT REDUCES THE RISK.
% AND I THINK, AS LONG AS YOU CAN
% MAINTAIN THAT SIX-FOOT DISTANCE.
% OBVIOUSLY, WEARING A MASK IS NOT
% PRACTICAL WHEN YOU'RE SWIMMING
% SO THAT EXTRA PROTECTION
% WON'T BE AVAILABLE,
% BUT I THINK AS LONG AS YOU
% MAINTAIN PHYSICAL DISTANCING
% AND ENGAGE IN GOOD HAND HYGIENE,
% SHOULD YOU TOUCH SURFACES
% THAT MIGHT BE CONTAMINATED,
% THAT THOSE PLACES
% WILL GENERALLY BE SAFE
% FOR PEOPLE TO VISIT.
% >> YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE
% THE KIND OF SAFER AT HOME
% OR STAY AT HOME ORDERS
% HAS SET IN KIND OF A FATIGUE
% OVER ALL OF THAT,
% AND YOU'RE INCREASINGLY SEE,
% KIND OF, GROUPS OF CHILDREN AT
% PLAYGROUNDS.
% WHAT ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT,
% LIKE PLAY DATES AND EVEN GOING
% BACK TO SCHOOL?
% >> WELL, I THINK IT GETS BACK
% TO, AGAIN,
% UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE RISKS FOR
% TRANSMISSION ARE.
% FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU'RE ILL, NOT
% FEELING WELL,
% OBVIOUSLY STAY AT HOME
% AND SELF-ISOLATE.
% BUT EVEN IF YOU'RE WELL AND YOU
% GO OUT AND YOU'RE THINKING
% YOU'RE GONNA BE CLOSER
% THAN SIX FEET TO AN INDIVIDUAL,
% THE USE OF A MASK WILL REDUCE
% THE RISK SUBSTANTIALLY.
% SO, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING
% TO DO,
% SHOULD YOU GATHER IN YOUR
% BACKYARD WITH NEIGHBORS.
% AND THEN, FINALLY, JUST
% ENGAGE IN PHYSICAL DISTANCING.
% IT'S NOT HARD TO SET TABLES
% SIX FEET APART.
% IT'S NOT HARD TO HAVE LAWN
% CHAIRS THAT ARE SET FAR APART.
% I'VE SEEN IT
% IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
% I'VE SEEN IT DOWN IN THE
% UNIVERSITY BAY FIELDS
% WHERE PEOPLE ARE GATHERING,
% BUT THE CHAIRS ARE SPREAD FAR
% APART.
% THAT KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW
% ABOUT THE VIRUS,
% BEING OUTDOORS IN THE WIND AND
% THE SUN,
% AND BEING PHYSICALLY DISTANT,
% CERTAINLY THERE IS
% A POTENTIAL RISK,
% BUT THAT RISK IS VERY SMALL.
% >> ALRIGHT, DR. PAT REMINGTON,
% THANKS VERY MUCH.
% >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
% >> THANK YOU FOR WATCHING
% "HERE & NOW."
% NEXT WEEK, A LOOK AT CONTACT
% TRACING AS PART OF GOVERNOR
% EVERS' BILLION DOLLAR PUSH
% TO KEEP COVID-19 UNDER CONTROL.
% WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US.
% STAY WELL, WISCONSIN!
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
% ♪ ♪
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.