Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order today urging people to stay home as much as possible while pressing businesses to take steps to protect employees and customers to combat COVID-19.

But the order included no new directives limiting business activity or travel as Wisconsin faces a continued rise in COVID-19 cases.

The guv, who has faced legal challenges to various measures his administration has taken to combat the disease, said in a speech this evening he will announce a package of COVID-19 legislation in the coming days that he hoped would pass quickly to “make sure we have the resources ready for those who need it.”

He also warned federal aid to combat COVID-19 runs out at year’s end and asked for help in appealing to Congress for additional aid.

Evers also sought to strike a hopeful tone, saying the state “can beat this virus” and anyone “would be a fool to count us out, Wisconsin.”

“The surges we see — the new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths — these are not foregone conclusions,” Evers will say, according to prepared remarks. “These are predictable and preventable. That means the fight against this virus is winnable, but only if we fight it together.”

Evers has pleaded with Wisconsinites for weeks to limit their contact with others and take steps to combat the spread of COVID-19. But cases have continued to climb as the state has become one of the nation’s hotspots.

He also has been limited in the restrictions he can place on Wisconsinites. An appeals court prevented enforcement of his administration’s restrictions on public, indoor gatherings. Meanwhile, the second mask mandate he issued expires Nov. 21 and is currently being challenged before the state Supreme Court.

See the order: https://www.wispolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/201110Order.pdf

See the guv’s prepared remarks: https://www.wispolitics.com/2020/gov-evers-calls-for-unity-working-together-signs-executive-order-advising-wisconsinites-to-stay-home/

WisPolitics.com