March 18, 2020 - League of Wisconsin Municipalities - COVID-19 Update #4
COVID-19 Coronavirus Update
League COVID-19 Virtual Roundtable Conference Call
This call is for City/Village Officials, including mgrs./adm.
& Staff Only

Next call is not until Thursday, March 19 , 2020 - 4:00-5:00 p.m.
No call today because of the Wis. Elections Commission (WEC) call also happening at 4:00. League staff will be monitoring the WEC call and will report out.

We are limited to 150 lines through Wisline at this time.

Call: 1-855-947-8255
Passcode: 5574 824#

Please connect by landline if possible, DO NOT PUT US ON HOLD and, if you can and are not speaking, mute your phone to minimize background noise.

If you aren't able to connect or have a question after participating, please contact Jerry Deschane at email.

We will schedule additional calls as needed. Notice will be provided on the League's website and in these Special Edition newsletters, which will also be sent as needed.
Important Recommendation!  
Track any spending related to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

On the state/local call with the White House today, they recommended that you track any expenses for possible reimbursement. We don't know which categories of spending this may include so we recommend that you track all expenses including personnel and additional supplies. 

This is an All America Effort that is "Locally Executed, State Managed & Federally Supported."
Frequently Asked Questions

Note that Legal Staff is working on guidance on the Governor's Order related to gatherings over 10 and bars and restaurants. We will include that guidance in tomorrow's COVID 19 Email.


Municipal Emergency Powers During COVID-19
Answer: See the League's website here . Includes the fact that we are working with the Governor's office to clarify the emergency powers provision.


Complying with the open meetings law during the COVID-19 health emergency.  
Answer: See the League's website here . Includes Wis. Dept. of Justice guidance we received March 16, 2020.

Spending to address COVID-19 and the Expenditure Restraint Program .
Answer: See the League's website here. Includes guidance we received from the Wis. Dept. of Revenue on March 13, 2020.

COVID-19 Information for Election Officials   (Including a  sample news release  encouraging absentee voting)
CDC Interim Guidance for
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Guidance as of 3/15/2020


Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals.

Recommendations for  schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses  are available.
Hot Resource!
For Downtowns and Businesses
(Repeating this from yesterday's newsletter.)

WEDC’s Errin Welty and the WEDC Downtown Development Team have compiled THIS RESOURCE for consideration for our small businesses to pivot and thrive during these times. 

Please distribute to any and all of your local businesses; retail, service, professional, etc, regardless of their Main Street or Connect Community status with the WEDC.

It is also posted to the League's COVID-19 page under "Communication Tools."
If you don't find what you need or if you have resources to contribute,
please email Jerry Deschane.
Federal Advocacy

You can sign and send a National League of Cities communication to our Congressional Delegation here . The communication supports a letter of request to Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer and Leader McCarthy on March 17, 2020 to consider proposals to quickly and efficiently allocate funding to local governments, which are well-situated to deliver support to areas and communities in greatest need.
Share these to your own Facebook page!
President Donald. J. Trump announced new guidelines to address COVID-19. Shared from the White House on March 16, 2020.

Share to your Facebook page, or the library's page or your personal page from the League Facebook page - here .

Print and post by accessing the documents on the League's COVID-19 page here. Look under "Communication Tools."

As a reminder, the CDC’s official Coronavirus website – www.coronavirus.gov – is the best source for up-to-date information and guidance.
Click here to share this FAQ from the League's Facebook page to your own:

You've heard the term "Flattening the Curve" in relation to the Coronavirus - but what does that mean? The basic idea is to SLOW the spread of the virus so that our healthcare and response system is not overwhelmed.

See this chart provided by the  U.S. Surgeon General  on Twitter.
Click here to share this FAQ from the League's Facebook page to your own:

How can you tell if you have coronavirus or a cold or the flu?

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
COVID-19 is a virus that has not previously infected humans and information about its rate of spread and its effects is still largely unknown, which makes it incredibly important to be highly cautious in dealing with the current situation. 

LATEST UPDATES
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services will continue to provide the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19. You are encouraged to monitor the site for updated guidance as the situation continues to evolve.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Coronavirus web resource page is a good place to look for more information.


Want to share relevant and credible information to your Social Media?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Facebook & on Twitter (Scroll down to see more recent posts.)

The Wisconsin Dept of Health Services (DHS) on Facebook & on Twitter.
Stay well!

You can suggest your own Meme using Curt's photo by commenting on it on the League's Facebook page.

As we say on the League's COVID-19 webpage "We know that you feel the responsibility is on your shoulders to inform and protect your community. You are an important part of that community, so please also take care of yourselves and your families!"

CDC Guidance on Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Homes and Residential Communities. This guidance for people who are known to have the virus, but since it is our understanding that people can have it and be asymptomatic, it seems like good guidance for all.