MILWAUKEE-- More than 14,000 businesses across the state with less than 20 employees qualify to open under the relaxed Safer at Home order announced Monday.
Gov. Tony Evers made the announcement and also said he would allow the handful of drive-in movie theaters across the state to reopen.
- Coronavirus in Wisconsin: Live Updates From Across the State
- The Rebound Milwaukee: Resources For Getting Back To Normal
- We're Open: These Restaurants Are Still Offering Carryout And Delivery
The businesses have to adhere to certain rules set forth in the new order. For example they are only allowed to have five customers inside at a time and make other customers wait outside. Masks are recommended and social distancing practices should still take place. The shops must be free standing or have their own entrance and exit to outside. No mall stores with common area entrances will be allowed.
Joe Ferch, the co-owner of the Center Street Wellness Center was excited to re-open his store that has been closed since the governor implemented the “Safer at Home” order weeks ago. The business had started to sell online, but business is still down 80 to 90%.
“When we saw the notice on the news my business partner texted me right away and said, 'hey man, we’ve got to get back open and we got to get things rolling again,' so we were excited.”
Ferch says the stonewall re-open tomorrow for retail sales, allowing him to hire back some of his employees who had been laid off because of the pandemic. He will also implement stricter cleaning procedures.
“We talked about all of our employees wearing masks having sanitizer and just doing more than just general cleaning but cleaning deeply everyday.”
He believes he will keep the number of people in the store to two or three at a time. Gov. Evers was asked Monday is small hair salons would be allowed to open. Evers said this is only for small retail establishments and not service type businesses.