Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and Massachusetts are the latest states to announce orders for people to stay home through the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced a “Safer at Home” plan on Twitter, on Monday, to stop people that are “out and about unnecessarily.” Evers said the order, to keep people home, is set to go into effect Tuesday.
We have been working hard to ensure the health and safety of the people of our state as we have responded to COVID-19. We’ve taken important steps, but folks, time is of the essence. So today I’m announcing we’ll be issuing a #SaferAtHome order tomorrow. Here’s what this means ⬇️
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) March 23, 2020
In his Twitter thread, Evers indicated that essential business may still remain open and people may still go outside, but that people should limit travel to things like getting groceries and medicine.
Workers providing essential care or services in our communities will be allowed to continue to travel to and from work. That includes folks like healthcare professionals, grocers, family caregivers, among other people whose work is critical for folks across our state.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) March 23, 2020
Evers said, “There will be additional details soon about what this order means for you, but I wanted to give everyone the opportunity to prepare and plan ahead so you can help do your part to keep our friends, neighbors, and communities safe.”
It was not clear from Evers’ tweets how long the “Safer at Home” order would stay in effect.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb also announced a series of executive orders within his state including a “Stay at Home” order. The order calls for people to stay at home and for all “non-essential” business to cease activities.
EO 20-08. Stay at Home. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/0pgHkdKymv
— Eric Holcomb (@GovHolcomb) March 23, 2020
Holcomb also signed orders defining essential government operations, rules barring dine-in restaurant services and another order permitting bars with in-person consumption licensing to allow carry-out purchases. Holcomb’s order will last for two weeks, until April 6, 2020.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also issued a “stay at home” order Monday, as did Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker. Michigan’s order will last three weeks, while Massachussetts’ order will last two weeks.
The state’s issuing these orders join a growing list of states imposing “stay at home” orders. According to USA Today, Louisiana, Delaware, Ohio, California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, and Oregon have all issued various orders for people to stay at home, while Kentucky and Pennsylvania have issued orders affecting “nonessential businesses.”
California was the first state to declare a “stay at home” order, affecting all 40 million people in the state. California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently put the state’s National Guard units on standby. Newsom indicated he the National Guard could be called upon to enforce martial law, though he said: “We are not feeling at this moment that is a necessity.”
