May 13, 2020 8:55p; Updated at 9:30p with Racine declaration; Updated 12:45a with Kenosha County order
(WGTD)---Health officers for the City of Racine and Kenosha County issued orders Wednesday night that extend Gov. Evers' Safer at Home restrictions that were struck down just hours earlier by the state supreme court. The new declarations expire May 26th just as Evers' order would've.
During her weekly telephone briefing to the community Wednesday evening, and before formally issuing the order, Kenosha County Health Department Director Jen Freiheit urged residents to continue to abide by the measures. "I urge all Kenosha County residents to remain calm and not be reactive," Freiheit said.
But at least one sports bar in Kenosha opened for business anyway. Coins--on 52nd St.--had a mostly full parking lot at least some of the time, judging from a couple of drive-by spot checks. A person who answered the phone at the bar just after midnight confirmed that the place was open, although last call had already occurred. Other bars along 52nd and 60th streets remained closed.
The extension is partially based on the fact that the number of new cases in Kenosha County continues to climb, even though the state as a whole appears to be making steady progress. In Kenosha County, 34 new positives were reported Wednesday.
Racine County isn't any better, prompting the City of Racine's health department to issue their own declarations Wednesday night. 46 new cases were reported Wednesday in Racine County, which is hosting a Wisconsin National Guard testing station in Burlington this week.
The city's health department also covers Wind Point and Elmwood Park.
The court ruling lifting the state-imposed restrictions took effect immediately late Wednesday afternoon, leaving it up to local health departments to fill the void or do nothing. Legislative Republicans--the ones that had gone to court to challenge Evers' order-- had sought a week-long stay if the court was to rule in their favor. While they won the suit, a stay wasn't granted.
In her briefing Wednesday evening, Freiheit noted that while the state as a whole has met five of the six criteria for moving into the first phase of Evers' "Bounce Back" plan, Kenosha County has met only two of the six. "We are behind the curve," Freiheiit said. "And any opening will greatly effect Kenosha County more so than other parts of the state. We have a high infection growth rate and a high positive test rate," she said.
Business, health officials and government leaders in both Racine and Kenosha counties have assembled local versions of "Bounce Back." But the Racine plan lacks a timetable. The Kenosha plan is to be unveiled Friday, and is expected to include opening metrics similar to the state plan.
New community testing sites in both Kenosha and Racine that'll allow anyone to get a test are expected to open on Monday.
The one in Racine will be held at Festival Hall, and be run by the National Guard. Mayor Mason, noting that African-Americans and Hispanics make up 80% of the city's cases, is especially urging members of minority communities to consider getting tested. "As the city continues to see a spike in cases, and our communities of color are disproportionately impacted, the need for broader community testing is clear," Mason said in a news release.
Although details are still being worked out, the new testing site in Kenosha is expected to open in the parking lot of Pick 'n' Save off of 75th St.
In addition, an existing testing station at Gateway Technical College that's run by the Kenosha Community Health Center is broadening its eligibility requirements to include essential government workers and first responders. Testing initially was by referral only, although such a referral could come from a health department staffer in addition to a doctor.
Kenosha County is averaging only 85 tests a day. Two weeks ago, Freiheit said at least 257 tests a day were necessary in order to get a better handle on outbreaks.
Also Wednesday, Kenosha County officials reported a new death due to the disease, bringing the county's total to 17, which is identical to Racine County's total.
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