Common Council

COVID-19 info: Safer at Home order and city updates

Gov. Tony Evers today directed Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary-designee Andrea Palm to issue a Safer at Home order that prohibits all nonessential travel, with some exceptions as clarified and defined in the order. The order is available here. 

The order is effective at 8 am on Wed., March 25, 2020 and will remain in effect until 8 am Fri., April 24, 2020, or until a superseding order is issued. 

Individuals do not need special permission to leave their homes, but they must comply with this order as to when it is permissible to leave home. Similarly, if a business is an Essential Business or Operation as defined in this order, it does not need documentation or certification to continue its work that is done in compliance with this order.

Under this order, Wisconsin residents are able to: 

• Perform tasks essential to maintain health and safety, such as obtaining medicine or seeing a doctor;

• Get necessary services or supplies for themselves or their family or household members, such as getting food and supplies, pet food and supplies necessary for staying at home;

• Care for a family member in another household; and

• Care for older adults, minors, dependents, people with disabilities or other vulnerable persons.

Businesses allowed to operate under the Safer at Home order include, but are not limited to: 

• Health care operations, including home health workers;

• Critical infrastructure;

• Businesses that provide food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise vulnerable individuals;

• Fresh and non-perishable food retailers, including convenience stores, grocery stores, farmers' markets, and food banks;

• Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food and goods directly to residences;

• Pharmacies, health care supply stores and health care facilities;

• Child care facilities, with some limitations; 

• Gas stations and auto repair facilities;

• Banks;

• Laundry businesses, dry cleaners and services necessary for maintaining the safety, sanitation and essential operation of a residence, including garbage collection;

• Hardware stores, plumbers, and electricians;

• Educational institutions, for the purposes of facilitating distance learning;

• Roles required for any business to maintain minimum basic operations, which includes security, and payroll; and  

• Law and safety, and essential government functions will continue under the recommended action.

The order contains detailed information regarding the exemptions provided to certain businesses. If a business is unsure about whether or not they are exempted from this order, please contact the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation here. 

The public should follow simple steps to prevent illness and avoid exposure to this virus including:

• Avoid social gatherings with people of all ages (including playdates and sleepovers, parties, large family dinners, visitors in your home, non-essential workers in your house);

• Frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and water;

• Covering coughs and sneezes;

• Avoiding touching your face; and

• Staying home. 

This is a rapidly evolving situation and we encourage you and the public to frequently monitor the DHS website for updates, and to follow @DHSWI on Facebook and Twitter, or dhs.wi on Instagram. Additional information can be found on the CDC website.

Latest City COVID-19 updates

The City of Madison Coronavirus site has the latest information on the city's responses and services. I recommend visiting that website to stay up to date. Recent news:

Madison Metro: Enter and exit through the rear doors

Beginning Tuesday, March 24, riders are required to ENTER and exit through rear doors. Fares will not be collected.

Streets Division drop-off sites closed

All Streets Division drop-off sites will be closed until further notice beginning at 3 pm, Tuesday, March 24, until further notice to help residents comply with Governor Evers's "Safer at Home" order.

Trash and recycling

Curbside collection services of trash and recycling are not affected by the drop-off sites closure.

All collection rules and guidelines remain in effect for curbside services. This means that certain items that can only be recycled at the drop-off sites, like televisions or computers, should be held onto by residents until the sites are open again.

Check the Recyclopedia or the Streets Division to learn these rules to be sure what you are setting to the curb is in compliance with the rules.

Early voting

Absentee voting is encouraged for the April 7 election. You can request an absentee ballot until April 2 at myvote.wi.gov, and register to vote online through March 30. Early voting is available until April 3. As of March 23, the City Clerk's office has moved to curbside early voting only. People can vote without leaving their vehicle.

Madison Public Libraries

To protect the safety of employees and the general public, public libraries are closed. Library book drops will be closed, and customers are urged to keep library materials until libraries reopen. Due dates of checked out materials will be extended, and holds will be retained at libraries until libraries reopen. The library's databases, online magazines and newspapers and downloadable audiobooks and eBooks collections are also accessible 24/7 with a library card.

2020 Census

The 2020 Census is here. As we practice social distancing, please take the opportunity to complete the census. It is critical that all Madison residents are counted. Census data determines how more than $675 billion in federal funds are distributed to communities across the country for healthcare, affordable housing, childcare, education, transportation, and more. You can fill it out online at my2020census.gov, by phone, or by mail.