Wisconsin DHS Media Briefing for 7/30/2020

Briefing at 1:30 PM on July 30. This media briefing will include further information on the health order issued this afternoon mandating face masks in indoor settings.

Who: 

• Governor Tony Evers
• Secretary-designee Andrea Palm, Wisconsin Department of Health Services 
• Dr. Ryan Westergaard, Chief Medical Officer of the Bureau of Communicable Diseases   
• Ryan Nilsestuen, Chief Legal Counsel, Office of the Governor

During the media briefing today Governor Evers brought up the quick changes in COVID cases throughout the state. "Although we are fighting the same pandemic we find ourselves in a completely different situation than several months ago". 

"Today I declared a new state-wide public health emergency". "We're going to listen to the science and public health experts to guide our decision-making"

"We need you to mask up, folks"

The governor indicated that he is certain there will be a court challenge to this order, but that it is necessary. "We are in a battle against this virus, not against each other", Evers stated. "Let's mask up Wisconsin and work to get things back on track". 

According to Andrea Palm "what that data tells us is that 61 of our 72 counties are at a high activity level ... only 3 counties are showing a decrease in cases". She pointed out that the state is clearly in a state of community spread, which means any contact can put you at risk of infection. "The science tells us that you can spread the virus without any sign of symptoms at all". 

The Governor was clear that the issuing of this order today was not related to the balance in the State Supreme Court changing on Friday with the seating of judge Jill Karofsky, but is related by the changes in cases in the state.