Author: Sam Buisman

Governor Tony Evers is considering, but leaning against, allowing portions of Wisconsin less affected by the coronavirus to open up before others.

In an interview on WTMJ radio, the Governor said that he and top Republican lawmakers have discussed allowing certain counties with low concentrations of COVID-19 to lift their lockdown measures before the statewide Safer At Home order ends. While Evers said that he is open to the possibility, he still believes that operating on a statewide basis is the best plan.

“I know a lot of people are thinking that's the answer, and I don't, but never say never in this situation,” Evers said to host Steve Scaffidi during the interview.

Evers explained that he is concerned that if less afflicted, mostly rural counties were allowed to re-open while the virus still ravaged the rest of the state, because the local economies of these counties are largely structured around tourism, it would likely encourage travel to these counties from elsewhere in the state. As a result, the Governor fears that this would lead to outbreaks in these rural counties, as persons from sicker areas travel to them.

For the time being, Wisconsin's recovery from COVID-19 will continue on a state level. The Safer At Home order is scheduled to end statewide on May 26, although the Republican-controlled legislature has sued to end the order in the State Supreme Court.