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Percentage of positive COVID-19 cases increases Friday

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Wisconsin continues to have a high level of COVID-19 activity, according to the Department of Health Services.

DHS on Friday reported 989 new positive tests, 49 additional hospitalizations, and 12 deaths over the previous 24 hours.

Seven percent of more than 15,000 tests were positive, up from 4.7 percent Thursday and 5.2 percent on Wednesday. The seven-day average rose to 883 new cases per day, just about where we were a week ago.

The Department of Health Services has also charged the way it reports COVID-19 test results. Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk admitted this week that there was a backlog of negative tests that were not being reported.

Pending daily test results will now be included in the numbers posted on the state COVID-19 website.

State and local public health officials continue to urge everyone to practice safe social distancing, to wear a mask when that’s not possible, along with proper hand washing, all of which will help slow the spread of coronavirus.

Sen. Baldwin seeks answers after report that new Postmaster General is intentionally slowing mail delivery

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Senator Tammy Baldwin is calling for an investigation of newly appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy after reports that he’s ordering postal carriers to intentionally slow down mail service. 

“Look I’ve heard from Wisconsin Postal Service workers and many constituents who are concerned about these new policies and I share their concerns.”

The comments come after a story in the Washington Post that that packages from Amazon and regular citizens are being left behind at post offices.  

“It’s wrong for President Trump’s new Postmaster General to direct letter carriers to leave mail behind and delay delivery.”

Baldwin says she’s seen pictures of left-behind packages in the Oak Creek mail facility in southeast Wisconsin. 

Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission removes Alfonso Morales from police chief position

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Alfonso Morales has been removed from his role as Milwaukee’s police chief.

The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission has demoted Morales to a captain rank, and promoted Assistant Chief Michael Brunson to acting chief.

Morales had come under fire ever since he was hired in February of 2018. Members of the Commission called on him to fire one of the officers involved in the violent arrest of Milwaukee Bucks player Sterling Brown.

When the Black Lives Matter protests started this spring, Morales was called in front of the commission for the use of tear gas and pepper spray on demonstrators. He was called to make sweeping changes to the department.

Morales says the commission didn’t give him enough time to comply with the requests.

Thursday’s COVID-19 numbers for Wisconsin

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Here are Thursday’s COVID-19 numbers from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

DHS reports that 4.7 percent of 17,706 new test results were positive, a total of 839 new confirmed cases. The seven-day average continues to drop and is at 810 new cases per day, down from 887 a week ago.

Eight more Wisconsin residents have died from COVID-19, bringing the total to 978. Fifty-five additional hospitalizations were reported.

There are 251 patients with COVID-19 being treated in Wisconsin hospitals, including 104 in intensive care.

Evers Evers releases $32 million in CARES Act funds to UW System for COVID-19 response

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Governor Tony Evers has allocated millions of dollars, for the University of Wisconsin System to deal with the coronavirus on its campuses this fall.

The money – $32 million to support coronavirus testing throughout the UW System and UW- Madison – comes from Wisconsin’s share of federal CARES Act funds.

About 424 million will help campuses test students living in residence halls, symptomatic students and students who have come into contact with symptomatic students.

The money will also help pay for personal protective equipment, with roughly $8.3 million to be used for equipment and testing on the Madison campus.

Noah’s Ark in the Dells closes for season

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It’s the middle of summer, but a popular Wisconsin Dells attraction is shutting down for the season.

Operators of Noah’s Ark Water Park said they’re closing for the year, after two employees tested positive for the coronavirus this week.

Anyone with single-day passes can use them next year. Anyone with season passes will get a free ‘buddy ticket’ for next year.

Assembly Republicans directly lobby school districts into reopening

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Republican leadership in the state Assembly are directly lobbying school districts into reopening.

That letter sent out to school superintendents was obtained by UpNorthNews.

Signed by 47 Assembly Republicans, including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Majority leader Jim Steinike, the letter tells superintendents that they have an obligation to educate students, and that virtual schooling may not meet that obligation in some cases.

It also suggests that if districts don’t reopen to students the GOP will call for the Department of Public Instruction to examine greater open enrollment, which would divert school taxes away from individual districts.

Speaker Vos did not respond to a request for comment, and Representative Stieneke’s office said he was not available.

Federal judge unsure if COVID-19 requires changes to absentee voting in Wisconsin

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A federal judge in Madison is unsure about relaxing some of Wisconsin’s absentee voting regulations.

Several groups filed suit last April requesting that the absentee voting requirements be eased due to the emerging coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the arguments, but they were renewed for the November presidential election.

Federal Judge William Conley held a hearing Wednesday on whether to issue a preliminary injunction easing the regulations.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports that Conley said that people know more about COVID-19 now, and he’s not sure he should make such significant changes.

Wisconsin National Guard to assist at polling places

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Governor Tony Evers has announced Wednesday that personnel from the Wisconsin National Guard will assist in next week’s primary elections.


In a statement by his office, Evers office said a yet-to-be determined number of Guard members will mobilize to state active duty, to support the Wisconsin Elections Commission and clerks across the state.

The Guard is working with the Elections Commission to determine how many members would be available to work the polls. The Elections Commission reported Tuesday that there was a shortage of some 900 poll workers, in more than 150 municipalities.

Wednesday’s COVID-19 positive test rate back up slightly

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Wednesday’s COVID-19 numbers for Wisconsin included an increase, in the percentage of positive cases.

The state Department of Health Services reported a positive test result rate of just four percent on Tuesday. For Wednesday, DHS reported 5.2 percent of 17,023 new tests were positive, for a total of 884 new confirmed cases.

The seven-day average was at 842 new cases per day, from 886 a week ago. There were 9 additional deaths, for a total death toll of 970.

Forty-three additional hospitalizations bring that total to 256, with 96 patients in intensive care.