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Wednesday’s confirmed COVID-19 cases top 1500 with 24 deaths in Wisconsin

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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported on Wednesday that total positive tests for COVID-19 coronavirus totaled 1,550 on Wednesday. Also as of Wednesday, there had been a total of 33 deaths in Wisconsin, along with 18,819 negative tests.

For the first time on Wednesday, DHS began including the number of patients hospitalized as a result of COVID-19.  That number was 398, or 26%.

The Milwaukee County COVID-19 Dashboard showed 833 positive cases Wednesday afternoon, and 16 deaths. The Dane County Covid-19 Dashboard showed 232 confirmed cases and 3 deaths.

Need for poll workers remains acute in Wisconsin

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Governor Tony Evers has agreed to allow Wisconsin National Guard personnel to be available to work at polling places in the state’s spring elections, as fears about coronavirus keep many regular poll workers at home.

With an acute shortage of workers for the April 7 election in Wisconsin, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos on Wednesday urged those who can work the polls to volunteer.

“I intend to work at a polling place on Election Day,” Vos said. “My wife has also volunteered at a different location, because we do appreciate that many of the poll workers either are concerned about their own safety or have some kind of an issue that might prevent them from being at the polls.”

More than 100 Wisconsin municipalities don’t have enough poll workers for next week’s election. Local clerks were surveyed by the Wisconsin Elections Commission The survey found 111 municipalities are short more than 670 poll workers – meaning they are too short-handed to offer in-person voting. Another 126 municipalities say won’t be able to staff all of their polling sites because they are missing more than 27 hundred poll workers.

The Elections Commission announced Wednesday that well over 1 million absentee ballots have been requested, and some 350,000 votes have already been cast. “Hopefully that will reduce the number of people who show up on the 7th of April, to cast their ballot in person,” said Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald.

Vos and Fitzgerald commented during a conference call with reporters on Wednesday. People who are interested in working at the polls April 7 can should contact their local clerks.

Evers asks White House for Emergency Declaration

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Governor Tony Evers on Tuesday requested that President Donald Trump declare a federal emergency disaster for Wisconsin.

Evers sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency making the request, as a result the COVID-19 pandemic. It covers all 72 counties and 11 federally recognized tribes. Evers said the outbreak has caused multiple deaths, exhausted many of state resources, resulted in record unemployment claims, and taken a toll on the community infrastructure that is in place to protect the public.

Evers said the coronavirus has required a tremendous response from the state and all of its communities that far exceeds the resources currently available.

A copy of the governor’s letter is available here.

Evers asks state to ‘stay the course’ on ‘Safer at Home’ order

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Governor Tony Evers on Monday said the order he issued last week for Wisconsin is working to slow the spread of coronavirus. “The science and the data shows us that ‘Safer at Home’ is effective,” Evers said, urging residents to “stay the course.”

AUDIO: Governor Tony Evers & DHS briefing 68:00 

Department of Health Services Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ryan Westergaard echoed the governor’s remarks. “My personal view is that we have already saved lives by doing ‘Safer at Home,’ because the number of cases that we have, have not doubled in the past two days. We’re seeing a slower curve.”

Evers acknowledged the state is entgering the worst of the pandemic, as the total number of confirmed cases reached 1,221 on Monday. DHS reported 14 deaths, but reports from local public health officials brought the number to 24.

Analysis shows Wisconsin could make it through coronavirus pandemic without shortage of hospital beds

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A new analysis predicts that Wisconsin could make it through the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic without facing a shortage in hospital beds.

But it’s a projection that can change as new data becomes available. It also relies on the social distancing ordered by Governor Tony Evers being maintained and adhered to.

The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics & Evaluation projection for every state showed as of Sunday that Wisconsin’s peak resource use will come in 53 days, on May 22. By Monday, the data had already changed, indicating the state would peak in 26 days, on April 26.

That projection indicates social distancing measures could work as intended, flattening the curve of new COVID-19 infections, if Wisconsin residents continue to stay in place and stay at home.

The University of Washington projection has the U.S. reaching peak resource use in just 15 days, on April 15, with a shortage of more than 61,000 hospital beds. New York state is expected to be harder hit, peaking in nine days.

Wisconsin coronavirus cases exceed 1100 on Sunday

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The number of cases of coronavirus in Wisconsin grew by more than 100 on Sunday.  Confirmed cases reached 1,153, 112 cases more than Saturday, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Milwaukee County reported 606 cases and DHS reported 547 in other counties. The number of cases is three times more than a week ago. More than 16,500 people tested negative for the virus, according to DHS.

Milwaukee County reported a new death on Sunday, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths due to coronavirus in the state of Wisconsin to 18. as of 7:45 pm Sunday.

AARP Wisconsin warns of phony coronavirus charities and treatments

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AARP is warning seniors – and everyone else – to be vigilant for efforts to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tragedy and fear many people are experiencing spell opportunity for others.

Sam Wilson is state director for AARP Wisconsin. “We’re seeing an uptick in social media inquiries, as well as phone calls and emails, presenting themselves as having a cure or a treatment for coronavirus,” Wilson said. “There’s also a lot coming out now around imaginary relief agencies that are popping up . . requesting people to donate to their cause around coronavirus.”

Wilson said we all need to be extremely careful with any solicitations of any type, and to never provide personal financial information to any entity without first verifying that it’s legitimate.

“We’re really telling people to very mindful, take that one or two extra steps. If it’s an email solicitation ask them for a phone number to call. It it’s a phone call . . ask them for a number to call back to verify it is a local agency, before giving out any personal financial information.”

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