A Waukesha County judge issued a temporary restraining order against Gov. Tony Evers and other state leaders from releasing the names of businesses whose employees have tested positive for COVID-19.
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The state's largest business group sued Gov. Evers and other state officials to prevent the release of the names of businesses that have had at least two employees test positive for COVID-19.
Several media outlets have filed requests for the information, and Evers said today the state intended to comply with their requests.
"We have a legal obligation to the public to release that information," Evers said.
However, Evers initially said last month the state didn't intend to publish the information online on the Department of Health Services website, but during a media briefing Thursday he said the state is obligated to release the names.
Evers said he only intends to release business names to media outlets that filed freedom of information requests and won't be posting them online.
The lawsuit by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce challenges the legality of the state's planned release of what it claims will be patient-identifiable data from the confidential patient health care records of thousands of Wisconsin citizens across the state, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims the release will violate Wisconsin laws requiring any person, including government actors, to keep confidential the information contained in medical records and will wantonly damage the reputations of businesses and workers.
To read more go to WKOW: https://wkow.com/2020/10/01/business-group-sues-to-prevent-naming-businesses-with-positive-covid-19-cases/