Reopening only works by keeping our community safe

COVID-19 is a deadly virus for which there is currently no vaccine, and across the nation cities are struggling with how best to reopen their economies while protecting the health and welfare of their residents, and Milwaukee is no different.

Over the past several weeks we each have known people infected, impacted or who have died from COVID-19. The infection rate and spread remain high, and last weekend the City of Milwaukee had a spike of positive cases of the coronavirus, and we have increased by some 530 positive cases in the past day or two. Though progress is being made there is obviously more work that needs to be done battling this virus, and testing is a crucial part of keeping more in the community from being impacted.

Through tomorrow (Saturday, May 23), the National Guard will continue to provide free COVID-19 testing at the Midtown Center location at 5825 W. Hope Ave. (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Testing will be paused at that location after tomorrow.

Free testing will continue next week Monday through Saturday on the south side at 2701 S. Chase Ave. (UMOS). The hours at that site will remain 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

NOTHING is more important than your health and the health of your loved ones during the pandemic, and we urge everyone to continue taking precautions (wearing a face mask, washing hands, social distancing and staying home if possible) and following the Milwaukee Health Department’s new Moving Milwaukee Forward Safely (MMFS) order.

Under MMFS:

• All businesses are allowed to be open to some degree.
• Safe business practices now state that locations can have up to 25% or the total established occupancy limit or 1 person for every 30 square feet.
• Gyms are now allowed to be open with a capacity limit of 10 – location specific not per room.
• Faith based congregating is still limited to 10 people per location.

Please go to city.milwaukee.gov/MMFS for additional information on the MMFS order.

The pandemic (and the Safer-at-Home order) has caused significant losses and difficulties for local businesses, and we urge businesses to explore possible resources and programs for assistance. The City of Milwaukee has launched the Milwaukee Business Restart program website where you can find out how the Milwaukee Restart program uses federal relief funds to assist established Milwaukee businesses as they recover from COVID-19-related setbacks. The website can be accessed by searching city.milwaukee.gov/restart.

Working collaboratively with the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation, city government will provide grants to businesses so that they can restock perishable inventory, purchase personal protective equipment, and accommodate social distancing guidance. The program is targeted at small businesses significantly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis as the city works to support the restart of neighborhood businesses in all parts of Milwaukee.

The city anticipates disbursing grants in the coming weeks and will accept applications from eligible businesses between May 28 and June 12. Businesses are encouraged to visit the website for more details and to prepare materials that will be needed to complete their application.

Remember to keep staying and being safe and that we are all in this together.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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