For more than a month, Wisconsin and most of America has had to slow the economy, close or alter business operations and furlough or lay off workers – all in the effort to save human life in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
After 30-plus days of physical distancing and stay-at-home orders, the growth of total positive COVID-19 tests is slowing in Wisconsin, but the totals are still growing – a not-yet-fully-flattened curve.
Still, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce President Kurt Bauer is asking for Governor Tony Evers to put a solid date down for when to end the current “safer-at-home” orders and re-open the Wisconsin economy after April 24, the current end of the governor’s executive order.
“We need a date certain. We need a plan,” said Bauer to WTMJ’s Steve Scaffidi.
“Whether it’s the 24th or shortly thereafter, we need to start to plan to get the Wisconsin economy up and running.”
Bauer said he is very present to the needs to keep Wisconsin safe at the same time as re-starting an economy that has seen double-digit unemployment numbers in just a month.
“We need to protect people’s lives – that is paramount – but we also need to protect people’s livelihoods,” he said.
“This is going to have to be a planned, methodical, incremental phase-in of the Wisconsin economy.”
He spoke of the need for business owners to contact employees, customers and suppliers and truly begin the planning phase of re-building the economy.
Bauer also suggested the need to possibly differ the process of turning the keys on the economy based upon location and the current effect of coronavirus in particular areas.
“There are different risk categories for different sectors of the economy and different regions of the state,” said Bauer.
“You have to factor in different parts of the state where infection rates are higher, such as Milwaukee County.”
According to Bauer, widespread testing is a key.
“The test has to be part of this, particularly with the (risk) of a second wave (of coronvirus) coming in the fall.”
