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Evers says most are masking up, despite non-enforcement by many sheriffs

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Milwaukee kids IMAGE: MaskUpMKE.org

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers believes a majority of Wisconsin residents are willingly complying with his statewide mask mandate to slow spread of COVID-19.

As for those who won’t: “We’ve had a leader in Washington D-C who has . . . flipped flopped on this issue, and as a result of that there is some disconcerting differences of a opinion.”

President Donald Trump, while seldom seen wearing one, has called mask usage “patriotic.” The Trump campaign is also now asking his supporters to wear masks when social distancing isn’t possible.

During a Tuesday media briefing, Evers said most people are obeying the mask order, much like they obey traffic laws and indoor smoking bans. “The majority of the people in Wisconsin obey the law, without the threat of everyday enforcement. Most people drive the speed limit, most people don’t drive on the left hand side of the road, most people don’t walk into a restaurant and light up a cigarette.”

While numerous Wisconsin sheriffs have stated that their offices will not be enforcing a statewide mask mandate, Evers’ chief legal counsel said most people are masking up anyway.

“I think while there are some sheriffs or other people who like to make a lot of noise about either enforcing it or not enforcing, the fact is I think most people get it,” Ryan Nilsestuen said. “They understand that wearing face covering is a very small action, that collectively we can have a really big impact on combating this disease.”

 

Tuesday COVID-19 numbers: 4% positive test rate, deaths reach 961

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Covid-19 is now confirmed to have infected more than 56,000 Wisconsinites, and continues to kill people.

The state Department of Health Services reported Tuesday that there are now 56,056 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 728 people since Monday. Those 728 cases out of more than 17,000 tests represent a positive test rate of 4 percent.

DHS also reported 12 additional deaths, bringing the number of Wisconsin lives lost to COVID-19 to 961.

Also, the seven day average of 840 new cases per day is down from 863 a week ago. Fifty-one newly reported hospitalizations bring that current number to 294, 111 of whom are in intensive care.

Marijuana advocate critical of 2020 DNC platform

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Gary Storck

A veteran Wisconsin marijuana advocate is underwhelmed by the Democratic National Committee’s platform, which calls for legalizing its medical use, but does not support full legalization of the drug.

Gary Storck noted that the popular recreational drug is still listed as a Schedule I drug by the federal government.

“They (the DNC platform committee) say that cannabis should be rescheduled. That was something that we talked about the 1970s,” Storck told WRN. “At this point, the only honest way to deal with cannabis is to completely remove it from the schedule.”

Currently, 11 states and the District of Colombia have made recreational cannabis legal.

The DNC platform committee rejected an amendment calling on the party to support marijuana legalization as an official 2020 policy plank, but included language supporting rescheduling and decriminalization.”

“Decriminalization? Yeah, that would be great. But still, that’s another 1970s idea. You know, this is 2020, and people are expecting a lot more,” Strock said, adding that the 2020 platform is “several steps backwards,” from 2016, when the party platform included language calling or a path to legalization.

The DNC platform also calls for expungement of prior convictions, legalizing medical cannabis and allowing states to set their own laws.

Friday COVID-19 numbers: 15 deaths, 5.4 percent positive test rate

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Friday saw additional deaths and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in Wisconsin.

The state Department of Health Services reported 15 new deaths, for a total of 934 lives lost. Forty seven new hospitalizations were also reported.

Friday numbers from DHS included 832 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, or 5.4 percent of 15,379 new test results. The seven-day average dipped to 860 new cases per day, from 916 a week ago.

DHS also reports that 80 percent of the state’s more than 42,000 confirmed cases are classified as recovered.

Fitzgerald says state Senate ready to challenge mask mandate

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State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says his members are ready to override Governor Tony Evers’ statewide mask mandate.

The Juneau Republican issued a statement Friday morning. “The Governor has caved to the pressure of liberal groups on this,” Fitzgerald said. “How can we trust that he won’t cave again and stop schools that choose in-person instruction this fall? There are bigger issues at play here, and my caucus members stand ready to fight back.”

After weeks of inaction, the Republican controlled Legislature could override Evers’ emergency declaration and mask mandate with a vote in both chambers.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Thursday he expects legal challenges to Evers’ action, but thus far has not indicated any interest in legislative action by the Assembly.

The mask order is set to take effect Saturday.

Madison College establishes scholarship in honor of George Floyd

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A scholarship in the name of George Floyd, Floyd, whose death at the hands of Minneapolis police has led to massive national protests and worldwide demonstrations. is being offered at Madison College.

Madison College President Jack Daniels said the George Floyd Memorial Scholarship will be available to students who are 25 years old and older.

Daniels pointed out that African Americans over the age of 25 are more affected by joblessness.

Daniels said the college started the scholarship because Floyd’s death forced people to address issues of racism and racial equity.

Some sheriff’s departments won’t enforce mask mandate

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Citing a variety of reasons, a handful of Wisconsin sheriffs departments will not enforce a statewide mask mandate ordered by Governor Tony Evers.

Sheriff’s offices in Grant, Dodge, Lafayette, Washburn and Shawano counties state that they can’t or won’t enforce the mandate.

In a post to his department’s Facebook page, Washburn County Sheriff Dennis Stuart said “the Constitution can’t be suspended, whether people get sick or not.”

The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office asked that any complaints regarding masks be directed to the state Department of Health Services or Evers’ office, while Dodge County deputies asked residents to not report mask incidents due to limited staffing.

Evers’ mask order takes effect Saturday, for persons age five or older.

Thursday COVID-19 numbers back up above 1000 cases

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For the first time in nearly a week Wisconsin reported over 1,000 cases in a single day Thursday.

There were 1,059 positives among 17,270 tests processed in the prior 24 hours, according to the Department of Health Services. That’s a positive result rate of just over six percent, and comes as Governor Tony Evers issued a public health emergency and statewide mask mandate in an effort to stem the spread of the virus, which continues to kill.

DHS reported eight new deaths, for a total of 919 lives lost since the start of the pandemic here. Fifty-one new hospitalizations bring that number to 295, with 101 patients in intensive care.

DHS Secretary-designee Andrea Palm said that for most of the state, community spread is happening, and it’s up to everyone to stay home and socially distance when they can’t.

“If you are infected it’s very possible you are contagious before experiencing symptoms so if you interact with people in your community you could contribute to the spread.”

No, President Trump cannot delay the election

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President Donald Trump’s suggestion on Twitter, that the November election might need to be delayed, is being batted down by political scientists and members of both political parties.

“There’s simply no ambiguity, that a president simply does not have any authority to do this,” said University of Wisconsin political scientist Ken Mayer, when asked asked about the president’s latest musings on his favorite social media platform.

Only Congress has that authority, and that’s not happening. Wisconsin politicians of both parties, including U-S Senator Tammy Baldwin and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, were quick to condemn Trump.

“There is nobody, or nobody responsible or nobody honest, who will tell you anything other than that this is something flatly, emphatically, end of story, period, no question at all, (the) president can’t do,” Mayer said.

Ken Mayer

Mayer also noted that Trump likes to use Twitter to deflect attention from unpleasant news.

“The fact that we’re talking about this rather than the Commerce Department releasing the worst quarterly economic news ever, gives you some idea of why Trump does this.”

Republicans protest as Evers issues statewide mask mandate

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Governor Tony Evers has issued a statewide mask mandate, in an effort to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin.

The Democratic Governor on Thursday issued a new public health emergency, along with the mandate for people to wear a mask.

The mandate puts him at odds with Republican legislators who have argued masks should be optional.

“You can’t legislate common sense. For that reason, I continue to strongly oppose the one-size- fits all approach of Governor Evers’ response to coronavirus in this state, including the statewide mask mandate,” said state Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) in a statement. “It’s transparent and blatantly political that his order doesn’t take effect until his handpicked Supreme Court justice take office.”

The governor’s face mask requirement takes effect the same day as Jill Karofsky, who was elected the state Supreme Court in April, is to be sworn in. Her arrival will narrow the court’s conservative majority to a 4-3 advantage.

State Senator Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) called for an immediate legislative session to block Evers’ mask mandate, calling it “illegal and unnecessary.”

“I still do not support mandating mask wearing statewide,” said state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau), who said that he’s “gauging the interest” of his caucus to vote down the mandate. “The Legislature should be reconvening to look at this.”

Effective Saturday, people age five and up are required to wear a face covering when inside or an enclosed space, other than a private residence, and around those who aren’t members of their household.

“While I know emotions are high when it comes to wearing face coverings in public, my job as governor is to put people first and to do what’s best for the people of our state, so that’s what I am going to do,” Evers said in a statement.

Evers also recommends masks outdoors when social distancing is not possible.