Milwaukee County suburbs will move to next reopening phase

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Suburban communities throughout Milwaukee County will move into their next coronavirus reopening phase starting at 6 a.m. Friday, June 12. Health leaders explained guidelines limiting the number of people gathering in bars and restaurants, stores, and homes will ease. The changes are a result of key indicators showing the county has made progress on its key health indicators.

Bars and restaurants have been asked to keep their dining rooms open to half capacity, that will increase to 75 percent. Retail stores and salons and spas can move from 25 percent to 50 percent capacity. Health leaders said the guidelines for home and other public gatherings has increased from 10 people to 50.

Greenfield Health Officer Darren Rausch said new data supported moving the suburbs into their next phase, but he cautioned it’ll be a while before a full reopening will be recommended.

“This is a phase we’re probably going to be in for a long time, it’s probably going to carry us for the next several weeks or couple months as we continue to look at that data and try to suppress covid-19,” said Rausch.

Health officials expressed concerns over a continued decline in testing in Milwaukee County. They said surveys have shown people think the coronavirus threat has passed, they stressed the threat has not passed.