In a news release late Monday, Milwaukee County and municipal health officials ordered bars and restaurants to close to dine-in service and limit offerings to carry-out or delivery only starting Tuesday, March 17, to slow the spread of coronavirus.
The announcement came hours after Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers ordered an indefinite ban on gatherings of more than 50 people.
Dozens of restaurants in the Milwaukee area had already made announcements in the last several days to limit the number of patrons they’ll allow into their physical space or expand their carry-out and pickup options.
The order states that food and beverage sales are restricted to carry-out and delivery only. No onsite consumption is permitted. Exemptions are to be made for health care facilities and catering for weddings or funerals. The order applies to 11 municipalities within Milwaukee County including Milwaukee, Bayside, Brown Deer, Fox Point, Glendale, River Hills, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Cudahy, South Milwaukee and St. Francis.
South Milwaukee Mayor Erik Brooks made the following statement about the Health Department order: “While we recognize this order is a hardship for small businesses and others, we are doing this out of an abundance of caution and continue to make public health our top priority. Guidance from federal, state and local health professionals and the experience from other communities, stats and countries is clear: We need to take these kinds of measures to slow the spread of the illness and protect our community. That has to be our focus.”
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Following the announcement by Gov. Evers, Wisconsin's Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm said that the step down to a 50-person limit is a “middle ground,” “a good first step,” and that her department would continue to evaluate necessary measures.
To read the full order from Milwaukee County, visit shepherdexpress.com.
