IMMEDIATE ADOPTION
Number
200967
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. HAMILTON
Title
Resolution directing the City Attorney, on behalf of the City, to file an amicus brief supporting Public Health Madison and Dane County’s COVID-19 health order.
Analysis
This resolution directs the City Attorney, on behalf of the City, to file an amicus brief supporting Public Health Madison and Dane County’s COVID-19 health order in a lawsuit brought by various private schools in Dane County as well as parents with children attending private schools in Dane County. This resolution also supports the authority of local health officers in the State of Wisconsin to issue local health orders under s. 252.03, Wis. Stats., that put certain restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.
Body
Whereas, In December of 2019, a novel strain of the coronavirus was detected, now named COVID-19, and it has rapidly spread throughout the world, including every state in the United States; and
Whereas, COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory illness that spreads through direct, indirect, or close contact with infected people, many of whom are asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic through mouth and nose secretions of saliva, respiratory secretions, or secretion droplets; and
Whereas, Despite evidence demonstrating that the City of Milwaukee’s efforts have been successful in slowing the spread of COVID-19, the City of Milwaukee has been hit particularly hard by COVID-19, with at least 29,086 individuals having tested positive and at least 310 individuals having already died from COVID-19 as of October 30, 2020, over the course of nearly eight months; and
Whereas, To date, there is no known vaccine or effective treatment for COVID-19; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee and its Health Department have taken measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, including passing legislation mandating the use of face coverings and issuing local health orders implementing reasonable mitigation me...
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