A day after Washington’s top-elected official said all coronavirus restrictions would be eliminated, the province’s interim health official announced that a resident had tested positive for the more contagious variant first detected in the UK.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services notified the country on March 12 about the diagnosis. The individual was tested in February, the Washington Ozaukee County Department of Public Health said in a news release.
While vaccines are popping up in Wisconsin, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says masks and social distance are two of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including variants.
At the same time, Washington County is entering a “new phase … free of government restrictions and recommendations,” district manager Josh Schoemann said Thursday.
This means no mandates applied by the province, no COVID-19 capacity constraints for restaurants and businesses and no mandatory social distance requirements.
“No restrictions,” he stressed in an interview with a reporter.
He said it is up to each business and each individual to use ‘common sense’ about what should hit COVID-19.
“This new phase is best characterized as a movement towards a full return to life as we have known it for a long time, free from government restrictions and recommendations and renewed in our commitment to fully accept personal responsibility and individual freedom with love for our neighbor, “Schoemann said in a news release.
In an interview, he said he does not intend to wear a mask at provincial meetings or events. If others want him to wear a mask, he said he would absolutely do it.
It is up to people and businesses to decide for themselves, he said.
Schoemann, who was elected in April 2020, has been outspoken against COVID restrictions in the past year. In October, when matters were taken up across the state, also in his country, he said the country would not apply the mask mandate and people who reported the mask violation were wasting “the time of the health department”. In April, he reopened golf courses when others in the state were closed under the government’s safer order.
According to the COVID dashboard, Washington County is in the highest category for case class with 108.1 cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks.
The complete lifting of restrictions is softer than Milwaukee’s new COVID-19 health ordinance that goes into effect today, easing COVID-19 restrictions.
Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson – who was director of the Washington Ozaukee Department of Public Health until the end of February – announced Thursday that Milwaukee’s new order will teach lesson restrictions at museums, sporting events, bars and restaurants.
Schoemann said in the news release that he had instructed the health department to help with the reopening of churches, businesses, civic organizations, schools and other institutions to restore normalcy.
“Although the needs of public health, with the launch of a new virus, have gained extra weight and attention; we must now, as the vaccine and mitigation strategies force the virus to go back, recalibrate to fully restore the balance. with economic, mental, spiritual and social health needs exacerbated by COVID-19, ”he said in the release.
He said the health department will continue to support the community by providing tests and access to the vaccine.
Some businesses will adhere to COVID-19 health measures
Although Schoemann is willing to lift restrictions, some businesses will stray on the side of warning.
Karl Barth, one of the managers of Germantown’s Swing Time, which includes golf, a batting cage, go-karts and a driving range, said the company will continue to follow COVID-19 guidelines on the company’s website. These include social distance and limiting how many people can be in different parts of the facility.
According to Barth, it is easier for people to get social distance because the facility is outside.
According to Pant Patel of Germantown, Perfect Arch Spa and Eyebrow Threading, a mask requirement is essential because of the nature of her business.
“We have to wear masks because I’m so close to the client’s face,” she said. “I wear a mask and I ask them to wear a mask.”
Germantown Village Administrator Steve Kreklow said town departments and staff members should continue to follow Evers’ mask mandate.
But he said the town is reviewing its programs and activities and discussing the reopening strategies.
“There is a wide range of feelings,” he said. “We want everyone to find a place (in town) where they feel comfortable.”
Others do not have coronavirus restrictions
Germantown’s Stix Golf owner Ryan Hughes said that while he understood when the shutdown began in March last year in response to COVID-19, he supported Schoemann’s effort to lift restrictions.
“I’m for personal freedom,” Hughes said. “I believe this is the right step to give business options (to wear masks or to limit capacity). If people are worried about the virus, they can stay home if they want to. Or if they do not, they can they wear a mask if they want to. Or don’t wear one. “
Stix Golf has indoor golf simulators and a pit area, as well as a restaurant and bar.
He added that if they want a social distance, it can. But he does not tell people what to do.
“I encourage people to be safe, to have clean hands and to respect people who wear masks,” he said. He said there is a lot of room for people at a social distance if it is their choice.
He said he had picked up the signs on the doors stating that masks were needed.
As a thank you, he and his employees will wear masks. “I think this is the right thing to do,” he said.
Mark Brooks, owner of Germantown’s Das Barrel Room – Tavern & Grill, also agrees with Schoemann’s approach to lifting restrictions.
“We let the people decide (what precautions they want to take),” he said. “I’m glad things will get back to normal.”
Schoemann told a reporter that eliminating restrictions is a step towards making life normal again.
There will be the provincial fair, beer gardens and festivals, which will look normal, unlike last summer, he said.
“Some people say they see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Schoemann said. “And right now we’re in the light.”
About 13,840 Washington County residents tested positive for COVID-19 on March 19 and 137 people died from the virus. There are 353 active cases.
Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @kozlowicz_cathy.