Eau Claire County today issued a slightly-changed COVID-19 protection order. The new order is slightly different in that it restricts outdoor gatherings of people to a maximum of 20 rather than the previous 10. The  new order is attached below, and we will be putting the new media briefing announcing the order as part of this article later.

The Dunn County office buildings will all remain closed to the public through the end of June. That period may be extended or shortened depending on progress on containing the pandemic. 

“Many employees who have been working from home are now beginning to return to Countyoffices,” said County Manager Paul Miller. “With more people in the buildings and COVID-19still a threat to public health, we need to protect residents and employees of Dunn County.”

Today's media briefing includes

• Governor Tony Evers
• Secretary-designee Andrea Palm, Wisconsin Department of Health Services 
• Dr. Ryan Westergaard, Chief Medical Officer of the Bureau of Communicable Diseases   
• Ryan Nilsestuen, Chief Legal Counsel, Office of the Governor 
• Dr. Aronica Williams, Milwaukee Health Services, Inc.

In a teleconference yesterday the Wisconsin Elections Commission developed new plans for the remaining 2020 elections, including plans to distribute CARES money to municipalities in the state and to mail absentee ballot information to registered voters.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of cabins, cottages and lodges across the northern third of Wisconsin come back to life as their owners commence their annual summertime excursions to their home away from home. A majority are owned by people who live in the region, but one out of five of these owners live in the southern part of Wisconsin, and one in six hail from outside the state.

The Department of Natural Resources has announced modifications to state park policies in an attempt to open up a little more while preserving the safety of parks employees and visitors.

Beginning Saturday, May 23, all Wisconsin state park system properties will return to regular operating hours of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. Properties will no longer be closed Wednesdays. 

In Executive Order 77 Governor Evers has ordered all flags at state buildings be flown at half-staff for Memorial Day, starting at sunrise Monday morning.