New Milwaukee COVID order to require bars, restaurants to get approved safety plan for indoor dining

When the City of Milwaukee issues its next COVID-19 order this week, it will include a requirement that bars and restaurants that want to continue in-person dining inside submit a safety plan, the city's top health officer said Tuesday.

"Right now we're looking at giving people some time to do that," Milwaukee Health Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik said during a virtual press briefing. 

She did not provide a deadline to submit plans to the city.  

"Once that date hits, you're not going to be able to serve indoors unless you have that approved plan," Kowalik said.

The move was in response to concerns about the risk of COVID-19 spreading as people are dining or drinking inside, she said. 

Wisconsin health officials reported 762 new cases Tuesday and 13 more deaths from COVID-19. That brings the total cases to more than 50,000 in the state and deaths to 906.

Wisconsin is also among 21 "red zone" states with more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people in the last week, the New York Times reported. A new federal report obtained by the news outlet urged those states to put more restrictions in place. 

Milwaukee County has seen 18,485 cases and 381 deaths. The county also continues to see elevated hospitalization numbers related to COVID-19 and officials are monitoring what appears to be a gradual increase in deaths, said Ben Weston, director of medical services at the county's Office of Emergency Management.

Weston also said the pandemic will be compounded by the flu in the fall.

The city's Order 4.1, which will also include updated language related to a new face mask requirement in the city and guidance for schools, will be released this week. 

Under the city's current order — Order #4 to reflect the city being in Phase 4 of reopening — bars and restaurants can open with 50% capacity and safe business practices. 

Capacity limits are waived for owners who have a Restaurant and Bar COVID-19 Safety Plan that the city's Health Department has approved.

Schools are also submitting plans to reopen.

Kowalik said Marquette University has submitted a plan that is in the process of being finalized.

The city has approved plans by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, The Institute of Beauty and Wellness, and the Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study.

Other schools that have submitted plans are Alverno College, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and Empire Beauty School, according to the Health Department.

Private and charter school leaders and the nonprofit City Forward Collective are working with the Health Department to develop and finalize the plan requirements checklist for K-12 private schools.

Annysa Johnson of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this story. 

Contact Alison Dirr at 414-224-2383 or adirr@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter @AlisonDirr.