>> 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 GIVES UP
ON COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
AMID REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION.
IT'S HERE & NOW FOR 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 EXPECT CONTINUED
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.
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