SHAWANO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Dozens of medical providers from Shawano and Menominee counties say now is not the time to reopen.
Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber has been pushing the governor to let businesses get back to work, but those health experts are asking Bieber to reconsider.
Bieber has been a vocal opponent of most “Safer at Home” restrictions.
In a letter posted on Facebook, Bieber says he won’t enforce rules or laws that he says infringe on constitutional rights.
“I understand people wanting to verbalize how they feel and wanting to get back on their feet again, but we have to remember the greater good and the fact that we’re not going to achieve that if people are dying, and if we’re putting the health of our population at risk,” said family physician Dr. Shannon Daun.
A total of 36 medical professionals from Shawano and Menominee counties sent Bieber a letter in their private capacities.
“We just wanted to have a voice in decision making and a public dialogue about this to help educate the public about, you know, our concerns with this virus,” said Dr. Kevin Culhane, also a family physician.
They say it would be dangerous to fully reopen right now.
“If we pretend that that it’s safe now to all gather in groups or in gather in businesses, we potentially could see an explosion of illness in our community,” Daun said.
Culhane says they haven’t seen a whole onslaught of cases, but that could quickly change.
“We certainly do have cases in the community, which is probably just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
The providers say COVID-19 projections did look better on the day Sheriff Bieber posted his letter.
And they say, that’s all thanks to “Safer at Home.”
In the letter, they say “…we as a community have potentially prevented over 1,000 deaths and the associated heartbreak of all of those who would have lost their loved ones. Without a doubt, social distancing saves lives.”
Fox 11 reached to Sheriff Bieber for comment on his letter he posted on social media, as well as the letter sent to him, signed by the 36 physicians. He hasn’t responded to any of our calls or any of our emails.
However, he did post this video to his Sheriff Bieber Facebook page, saying, “If you agree with me that you can buy shoes just as safely on Main Street, as you can at Walmart, write your state legislature, write Governor Evers.”
Governor Tony Evers has said most sheriffs are enforcing the order and most Wisconsinites are following it.
