Live: What To Know March 17 About COVID-19 In Wisconsin

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin stands at 72, according to state health officials.

Meanwhile, Gov. Tony Evers has directed the state Department of Health Services to ban gatherings of more than 10 people.

Efforts to limit the spread of the new coronavirus have created disruptions across the state, with closures of public and private institutions and many services grinding to a halt.

Stay informed on the latest news

As the effects of the virus continue to evolve, Wisconsin Public Radio will be keeping track of up-to-date happenings here, and in our broadcast and online coverage. If you have questions or concerns about COVID-19 — either about the virus, prevention or preparation — ask us and we’ll do our best to answer.

For explanations for common questions and additional information about COVID resources, read WisContext’s story listing 10 things to know about the pandemic and public health in the state.

For a compilation of all WPR’s coverage, visit WPR’s Coronavirus In Wisconsin section.

Here are the latest updates on the new coronavirus in Wisconsin:

4:38 PM: Courts Remain Operational, Supreme Court Cancels Oral Arguments

Late Tuesday, the director of state courts announced the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Circuit Courts were restricting calendars to accommodate high priority cases.

Administrative offices for the Wisconsin Court System will continue essential duties with limited staff, but offices will close temporarily from March 18 through at least April 3.

“Our highest priorities at this time are to make sure courts are operational in order to maintain the rule of law and to protect the health of the public and court staff. The quickest and most effective way to do that is to reprioritize court cases and to reduce person-to-person contact,” said Randy Koschnick, director of state courts in a release.

The Supreme Court also canceled oral arguments scheduled for March 18 and a hearing on a rule petition slated for April 2. Filing deadlines in appeals cases that were set to expire between March 19 through April 3 have been extended by 21 days.

4:30 PM: Milwaukee 2020 Host Committee Continuing To Plan For 2020 Democratic National Convention

In a statement released Tuesday, the Milwaukee 2020 Host Committee said “ensuring the safety of the Milwaukee community and convention attendees is, and always will be” their top priority.

Still plans continue to host the convention in Milwaukee from July 13-16.

“As we continue to monitor this developing situation, our teams will remain in constant communication with the local, state, and federal officials responsible for protecting public health and security, and we will follow their guidance as we move forward,” the statement reads.

The Host Committee said it will continue to provide updates as the situation changes.

3 PM: WEDC Officials To Seek Federal Disaster Loans For Businesses

Officials with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. and Wisconsin Emergency Management announced Tuesday they’re working with the state office of the Small Business Administration to obtain federal disaster loans for Wisconsin businesses.

WEDC secretary and CEO Missy Hughes, said in a news release that they’re “committed to ensuring that businesses get the assistance they need so they can weather this difficult period.”

Officials said that applying for the federal Economic Impact Disaster Loans might help during the crisis.

“Our application for federal disaster loans is just the first step to address the needs of Wisconsin businesses and their employees during the emergency,” Evers said in the statement.

2:20 PM: Madison VA To Block Visitors

William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital announced Tuesday it was altering its policy to bar visitors from VA medical center and its five community-based VA clinics in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

Officials said in a statement that visitors will be blocked from entering the medical center unless it is “necessary for providing medical care, supporting patient care activities, or visiting under exigent circumstances, such as grave illness or imminent death of a family member under care in the facility.”

2:08 PM: UW-La Crosse Information Technology Services Adds Computer Labs For Students

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Information Technology Services (ITS) announced Tuesday they will provide students additional computer access amid the outbreak.

Officials said in a news release that ITS has set up two computer labs on campus. They said the labs, located in Wing Rooms 15 and 17, were arranged to promote social distancing and there will be a frequent cleaning schedule.

They said the rooms will be open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1:56 PM: DHS Announces 72 Confirmed Cases Of Coronavirus In State

The state Department of Health Services announced Tuesday that there are now 72 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin.

This follows 47 cases that DHS officials announced on Monday. Of the new cases, 11 were found in Milwaukee County, nine were in Dane County and four were in Kenosha County.

DHS officials said that in terms of the Milwaukee, Dane and Kenosha cases, “community spread has been identified,” meaning the new coronavirus is spreading from person to person.

1:47 PM: Governor’s Order Prohibits Gatherings Of 10 Or More

Evers asked the state Department of Health Services on Tuesday to order a prohibition against mass gatherings of 10 or more people in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.

According to a news release, the order makes exceptions for transportation, educational institutions, child care, hotels, military, law enforcement, food pantries, hospitals, long-term care facilities, grocery stores, convenience stores, utility facilities, job centers and courts. The order says restaurants and bars can only offer take-out or delivery options.

The full order and list of all exemptions can be found here.

“Our top priority at this time is to keep Wisconsinites safe and healthy by reducing the spread of COVID-19, especially for those who are considered high-risk. With limited tests available nationwide and continued community spread, we have to take every precaution to protect ourselves, our families, and our neighbors,” Evers said in the news release. “I know what this means for our small business owners and the struggles they and their workers will face in the coming weeks, but we are committed to working with our federal partners, state officials, and stakeholders to ensure we are doing everything we can to assist during these uncertain times.”

1:45 PM: UW-Madison Announces ‘Alternate Delivery’ Of Coursework Through Spring Semester

University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank announced the school would move to “alternate delivery” from March 23 through the remainder of the spring semester and seek to further reduce those working on campus to only those providing “essential services.”

Blank said students would receive information about instruction as plans are completed.

The chancellor also suggested that anyone traveling away from Madison during spring break should consider whether they need to return to Madison or if they can “continue the semester from their permanent residence.”

Students living in residence halls who can’t return home or are unable to “access alternate course delivery” from another location can remain in residence halls.

In addition, she said that all units of the university were asked to move all possible employees to work remotely this past Monday, but that beginning Wednesday, the campus will take steps so that the only employees working on campus are those that deliver “essential services.”

1:22 PM: Festival Foods Alters Hours Due To COVID-19

Beginning March 18, Festival Foods announced it would close its stores previously open 24 hours from midnight to 5 a.m. During that time, store workers will restock supplies and clean.

“It is essential for us to continue to do business in a safe, clean environment with products that our communities need,” Mark Skogen, Festival Foods president and CEO said in a statement. “Closing overnight will allow our associates to stock shelves so that product is available for the next morning and make our clean stores even cleaner.”

Festival Foods is also encouraging elderly shoppers and those with compromised immune systems to visit their stores between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., shortly after each store has been disinfected.

Any additional changes will be shared on their website.

1:12 PM: Superior Water, Light And Power Suspends Home Visits, Disconnections

Superior Water, Light and Power Co. announced it’s suspending meter readings within homes or other sites to protect customers and employees from the spread of the new coronavirus.

The company, which provides electric, water and natural gas service, is also directing customers to pay by phone, online, through the mail or at drop box locations at Walmart and Super One stores.

The measures follow the suspension of disconnections for customers and an extension of the winter disconnection moratorium during the public health emergency.

NOON: Nearly 1 In 5 Households Have Lost Work Because Of Pandemic

According to a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, nearly one in five households are experiencing either a layoff or reduction in work hours due to the new coronavirus.

The service industry, including restaurants, bars, hotels and airlines have been among the hardest-hit, NPR reports, but the effects are expected to spread across the entire economy.

For those who haven’t lost work, many are changing their work habits, the poll showed. One-third of U.S. households have had at least one person change their work routine.

11:53 AM: Community Spread Of COVID-19 Happening In Dane County

In a Tuesday press release, Public Health Madison & Dane County announced new cases of COVID-19 indicate community spread of the virus. “Community spread” means there’s no known source of the disease.

So far, 17 people in Dane County have been diagnosed with COVID-19, none of which are currently hospitalized, according to the release.

“We have reached the level where community spread of COVID-19 is happening,” Janel Heinrich, director of Public Health Madison & Dane County, said in the release. “Given this level of spread, we are directing community members to practice social distancing and stay home as much as possible.”

Heinrich added they expect the number of those with COVID-19 in Dane County to continue rising.

As a result, Public Health Madison & Dane County is directing community members to:

Stay home whenever you can, especially when you are sick. If sick, isolate yourself from other members of your household, including pets.
Limit contact with others. This includes canceling events, gatherings, play dates and nonessential appointments. If you must go out, stay at least 6 feet from people when possible.
Order necessities online for delivery.
Use virtual visits with your doctor. If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, call your doctor’s office before going in.
Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, avoiding shaking hands or being in someone’s personal space, get your flu shot, avoid touching your face, and cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue.

11:45 AM: State Patrol Ready To Help With Transport Of COVID-19 Tests

State Department of Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson has ordered the Wisconsin State Patrol to assist with the growing need to deliver COVID-19 test kits to designated labs, according to a Tuesday press release.

“State Patrol officers across the state stand ready to assist in any way necessary with the evolving public health emergency,” Thompson said in a statement. “In addition to their daily tasks of ensuring safety on Wisconsin’s highways, our troopers facilitate the transport of COVID-19 samples and test kits when requested by the (State Emergency Operations Center).”

According to the release, hospitals and the state Hygiene Lab’s courier services are the first point of contact to transport test kits to their destinations. But the State Patrol is preparing for the possibility these couriers could become overwhelmed.

10:30 AM: Wisconsin State Senate Postpones Legislative Session Days

The state Senate has postponed legislative session days scheduled for next week, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, announced Tuesday morning.

In a prepared statement, Fitzgerald said the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution for Senators, their family members, and staff members who may be vulnerable to coronavirus.” He said he has been in contact with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and agreed the Legislature will call an extraordinary session later this spring so the Senate can finish its business.

The meeting next week was expected to be the Senate’s last day of voting in 2020. Senators were expected to take up a number of bills, including several aimed at supporting the dairy industry in Wisconsin. Those measures were approved by the Assembly last month.

“This coronavirus is a public health issue that should be taken seriously,” Fitzgerald said. “Wisconsinites must avoid panic and instead listen to the recommendations of health professionals at the federal, state and local levels.”

9:07 AM: Ginseng Grower Reduces Employee Hours, Maintains Pay

A Wausau-based ginseng grower and vendor of ginseng products will reduce its employees’ hours while maintaining full-time pay. In a letter to customers posted by Hsu’s Ginseng Enterprises president Will Hsu, the company said it would provide masks to employees and suspend all international business-related travel.

In addition to those measures, Hsu wrote, “effective immediately our employees will only be working 2-3 days per week, with approximately half of the staff we normally operate with to allow for social distancing in both office and production settings.”

The company will guarantee full-time pay for employees regardless of hours works.

“We hope that all of you have confidence in us and the products that we deliver to your door,” Hsu wrote.

9 AM: Hospitals Postponing Elective Surgeries

Some hospitals in Wisconsin are postponing elective surgeries as they deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Froedtert Health, Aurora Health Care and Children’s Wisconsin have heeded the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Surgeon General and American College of Surgeons to limit elective surgeries.

Ascension Wisconsin, the state’s second-largest health system, is reducing the number of elective procedures but not canceling them system-wide, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Aurora said it was immediately taking steps to reschedule elective surgeries through Tuesday, March 31, while preparing to postpone the surgeries beyond that date if needed.

SSM Health, UW Health, UnityPoint Health-Meriter, Mayo Clinic, and Essentia Health in Duluth also announced Tuesday they would postpone non-life threatening, non-urgent surgeries and procedures.

11 PM Monday: 11 Milwaukee County Municipalities Close Bars, Restaurants

Milwaukee and 10 other Wisconsin municipalities have ordered bars and restaurants closed starting Tuesday.

The other communities are South Milwaukee, St. Francis, Bayside, Brown Deer, Cudahy, Fox Point, Glendale, River Hills, Shorewood and Whitefish Bay.

The bars and restaurants will be closed until further notice. Restaurants with take-out and delivery options can offer those services.

The order was issued ahead of St. Patrick’s Day and on the same night Minnesota’s governor ordered all restaurants, bars and other establishments to close to the public.

Monday Afternoon: DHS Confirms 47 Positive Tests For COVID-19 In Wisconsin

On Monday at 1:42 p.m. the state Department of Health Services announced the state had received results for 504 negative tests for COVID-19 and 47 positive tests with one confirmed case recovered.

Monday: Penzeys Spices Closes All Stores

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Penzeys Spices, a Wauwatosa-based spice retailer with locations around the country, has closed all of its stores due to the outbreak.

“The time has come for all of us to stop interacting with the world at large, so starting right now we are closing all our stores until it is once again safe for them to be open,” CEO Bill Penzey wrote in an email to customers, sent out on Monday.

Online sales will continue, the email states.

Monday: Evers Directs DHS To Ban Gatherings Larger Than 50 People

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers directed the state Department of Health Services to ban gatherings of 50 or more people statewide in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

In a press release, Evers said “critical infrastructure and services” including grocery stores, food pantries, childcare centers, pharmacies, and hospitals would be exempt from the ban.

“This isn’t a decision I made lightly and we understand this will have an impact on Wisconsin workers, families, businesses and communities, but keeping folks safe and healthy has to be our highest priority,” Evers said.

This Week: Check Out Resources For More Information

Here’s a series of NPR articles that contain information that might be helpful: