Public health officials say people might be fined for holiday gatherings
Residents told to avoid all gatherings or risk fines
Officials in Dane County have been handing out significant fines to people accused of violating recent COVID-19 orders.
Dane County is currently averaging over 300 cases per day, and a total of 142 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in the county, including 35 in the intensive care unit. Since the pandemic began in the spring of 2020, Dane County, which has a population of just over half a million people, has had more than 17,000 positive test results and a total of 49 deaths attributed to the disease caused by the coronavirus.
And now, Public Health of Madison and Dane County (PHMDC) has warned that it could fine friends and family who gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and other holidays.
“Any gathering that exceeds the current public health order could receive a citation,” said Sarah Mattes, communications supervisor for PHMDC. “We really urge people to follow public health orders and beyond that, plan for a virtual holiday with family and friends. The virus does not take holidays off.”
In a statement issued by PHMDC last week, officials said the agency “continues to hear that people who have tested positive have been socializing with friends and family members, in both small and large groups.”
“People seem to make exceptions around friends and family, but this disease is tricky—you could feel fine and spread it to others. Unfortunately, the person you spread it to might not be so lucky. With the unprecedented level of disease in our community, it is more important now than ever to limit contact with others,” said Janel Heinrich, Director of Public Health Madison & Dane County. “Gatherings both large and small pose a risk.”
According to one risk assessment tool, gatherings as small as 10 people currently have an estimated 29 percent chance of having someone with COVID-19. For a gathering of 20, it’s 50 percent, they claimed.
In addition to limiting contact with people outside your household, current public health orders limit gatherings to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. All individuals must wear face coverings and maintain physical distancing.
At least 13 campus area residences were in violation of public health orders over Halloween weekend, officials said. Public Health Madison & Dane County is working with UW–Madison, the City of Madison Attorney’s Office, and the Madison Police Department to deliver summons and complaints that could involve large fines and university disciplinary action as a result of gatherings.
“Our community is in the midst of a very alarming surge of sickness and hospitalizations,” said county executive Joe Parisi on November 5. “Today, there are 144 individuals hospitalized here, marking a new, deeply troubling record.”
“COVID’s greatest test has come at a moment when we are all tired and frustrated, but it’s imperative we rally,” Parisi continued. “Now more than ever we have to come together and make choices that reduce not only the risk to us and our families but also to the nurses and doctors who are working around the clock to care for those who are sick. Our health care workers are going to wear down if this is their everyday experience for the next several months.”
“While challenging, we all need to make short term sacrifices,” Parisi said. “Employers - if you have employees who can work from home, please let them do so. Group gatherings need to stop in any setting for a few weeks. Let’s ask ourselves one more time - what’s the piece we can each do to ease the burden of this scourge on our neighbors and community?”
“COVID-19 continues to be an issue in our community, and hosting parties is contributing to the spread of the virus. We will be moving forward with prosecution actions for as many gatherings as we can in order to drive home how important it is to follow public health orders,” said Marci Paulsen from the City of Madison’s Attorney’s Office.
The City of Madison may issue a fine of up to $1,000 for every violation of the health order. This means that anyone violating the maximum gathering limit of 10 people indoors will see significant penalties. This weekend, the minimum number of violations observed was three, which means the hosts may be fined $3,000. One gathering over the weekend had 91 people present in an apartment.
Additionally, UW-Madison students who hosted parties may receive an emergency suspension or other disciplinary action from the UW–Madison Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. Students who were uncooperative with compliance checks may see greater consequences.
“We are also grateful for the support of UW–Madison and MPD as we move forward on consequences for order violations. We are looking forward to continuing to work together in order to follow up on non-compliance next weekend and throughout the coming months. We all hope to see less egregious violations in the future,” said Paulsen.
“While large parties have the potential to be super-spreader events, gatherings that are smaller are also responsible for extending the duration of this pandemic. Virtually connecting with friends and family members you don’t live with is the safest and best option,” said Heinrich.
On Nov. 6 the Wisconsin District III Court of Appeals ruled that an executive order limiting public indoor gatherings to 25 percent capacity was “invalid and unenforceable.” But it is unclear if the ruling will have any immediate impact on local orders that limit gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.