Resolution Creating The Sauk County COVID-19 Task Force

Background: In December, 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus known as COVID-19 was detected, and COVID-19 has continued to spread throughout the world, including to the United States and the State of Wisconsin (“COVID-19 Pandemic”).  On January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services declared a Public Health Emergency, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, on March 12, 2020 the Governor of the State of Wisconsin declared a Health Emergency in the State, and on March 17, 2020, Sauk County (the “County”) declared a state of emergency under authority granted by Wis. Stats. Chap. 323.  On March 24, 2020, Secretary-designee Andrea Palm of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services issued Emergency Order #12, Safer at Home Order (“Safer at Home Order”) requiring that everyone in Wisconsin stay at their home or place of residence except in limited circumstances until April 24, 2020; and on April 16, 2020, Secretary-designee Palm extended the Safer at Home Order, with certain modifications, to May 26, 2020, pursuant to Emergency Order #28.  On April 28, 2020, then issued Emergency Order #31 introducing the “Badger Bounce Back Plan”.  On May 13, 2020, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the Governor’s emergency order as unconstitutional.  Sauk County is committed to tracking COVID-19 and is creating a task force that will make determinations regarding the impacts of this virus on Sauk County based on Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation “Reopen Guidelines” while monitoring and reporting on the phases of the Badger Bounce Back Plan as to assist residents and businesses in making informed decisions about their daily lives and operations.