APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – Outagamie County issued a Safer-at-Home order on Thursday, effectively extending the statewide order, which established public restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19. Winnebago County also issued an order Thursday afternoon.
“I talked to about 12, 13, 14 different mayors, county executives, and administrators – and our goal was to try to get one document, one policy among the counties and cities. We tried to get as many of them together and not just doing a policy, but having similar if not the same – so that when you go from county to county, we have as much continuity as possible,” says Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson, “There’s a lot of confusion, there’s chaos out here because this thing has been changing so quickly. So we want to buy some time, have this policy in place until we get some kind of response and action from the state level at least. Truly, this is not a local issue. This is a state issue at the very least. Of course we know a global pandemic is a worldwide issue. So we need to have a state policy in place.”
The counties join a growing initiative that includes Brown, Dane, Calumet, and Milwaukee Counties, along with cities like Milwaukee, Appleton and Menasha, which have issued similar orders in the wake of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s May 13th decision to void the Governor’s statewide order.
“We’re looking at potentially 1.5-1.8 million people that’ll be covered by some kind of local ordinance. So you’re looking at 25-30% of the state’s population,” Nelson says.
Nelson was critical of the terms and requests set forth in the initial lawsuit.
“They wanted to have a six day grace period or some time to put in their own rule, but of course, that’s not how things work when you petition the Supreme Court. It’s not like they come down with the ruling and on Wednesday, it’s unconstitutional and then you can bring it back on Saturday or Sunday,” Nelson says, “The fact that you’ve had this going on during a pandemic – I never thought on an issue like that, there would be this kind of division. And it has been extremely frustrating.”
Nelson emphasized that the order’s primary purpose is to safeguard the public and Outagamie County continues to see that as its top priority.
“We’re working to pick up where the Badger Bounce Back plan left off,” Nelson says in a press release, “We’re guided by the science, and I value and support the direction provided by our Public Health Officer. The continuation of social distancing and the staged reopening of businesses presents the best strategy for preventing the spread of this dangerous virus.”
Public Health Officer and Deputy Health & Human Services Director for Outagamie County, Mary Dorn, underscored the shared mission of area health departments.
“As health officer, it is my responsibility to follow our mission to prevent disease and injury, promote wellness, and protect the health of the community,” Dorn says, “We are working collaboratively with Brown, Calumet and Winnebago County along with the City of Appleton and Menasha local health departments to continue all parts of the Safer-at-Home order.”
Outagamie’s Public Health Division and Department of Emergency Management are working with the healthcare systems and public health departments from Calumet County, Winnebago County, City of Appleton, and City of Menasha to partner with the Wisconsin National Guard to operate the COVID-19 testing site to meet testing demand in the Fox Valley.
Testing at Fox Valley Technical College has been extended through May 22nd.
