(Madison)…State Senator Kathy Bernier (R-Lake Hallie) issued the following statement on the potential release of records pertaining to businesses with COVID-19 positive employees:
“I am adamantly against the potential release of this information by Gov. Evers and his Department of Health Services. Businesses should not be publicly shamed based on the presence of COVID-19 among their staff. In addition, there is no guaranteed accurate way to know whether specific employees caught the virus on or off the clock. The release of such information is likely unconstitutional and a violation of patient privacy laws.
“I am pleased that a court has stopped this from happening, at least temporarily. Wisconsin businesses are already working cooperatively with their local public health departments. It is tragic that a governor would use his power, during a pandemic to penalize businesses, many of which are already struggling.”
