COVID Travel Restrictions

Green Lake County Encourages Tourist to Postpone Travel Plans

For Immediate release

Date: 3/30/2020

Contact: Kathy Munsey, Public Health Officer, Gary Podoll, Emergency Management, Mark Podoll, Sheriff, Cathy Schmit, County Administrator, Harley Reabe, County Board Chairman

Green Lake County Encourages Tourists to Postpone Travel Plans

[Green Lake County] – Local officials are encouraging tourist not to visit Green Lake County for the next 30 days as the County attempts to meet the demands of the spread of COVID-19. Over the past several weeks the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has raised health concerns around the world, and Green Lake County is no exception. Green Lake County declared a public health emergency on March 17^th, 2020.

Green Lake County Public Health and its partners in Emergency Management and local elected officials all stand behind this recommendation with the ultimate goal of providing the safest public health environment possible in Green Lake County.

The County is asking lodging entities to consider reducing the risk to our neighbors by not accepting new reservations and cancelling those that exist to encourage people to temporarily not travel to the area. If you have a second home in Green Lake County, we encourage you to stay in your primary residence until the pandemic is over. The sooner we address this issue in Green Lake County, the sooner we can get back to welcoming guest to our community.

Green Lake County has well trained and capable medical personnel, but staffing is limited and stretched thin during the emergency. The County makes this statement in hopes of limiting the demands placed on local hospitals, emergency personnel, nurses and doctors. The limited hospitals in our area should be of great concern to anyone over age 60, those with underlying health conditions or those who are immunocompromised. That is why we are urging you to stay home for at least the next 30 days.

A statewide order banning public gatherings of 10 or more people went into effect on March 17, 2020, resulting in the closure of all restaurants and bars in Green Lake County and throughout Wisconsin. Restaurants are allowed to offer take-out or delivery. Many other businesses have had to close or reduce their normal operating schedules or procedures, and in an increasing number of cases voluntarily making the decision to temporarily close. A majority of events scheduled in the coming weeks have been postponed or cancelled to comply with orders from the state health officials that restrict mass gatherings to less than 10 people. If you absolutely must visit our county from another state, we ask that you self-quarantine for 14 days for the safety of all. We know this is a difficult decision, but we feel it is necessary to keep our county and you healthy. Please follow the Green Lake County website for updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic @ www.greenlakecountywi.gov.