The state Department of Health Services announced 457 positive cases of COVID-19 statewide Tuesday, as well as 8,237 negative tests. However, the number continues to grow as counties announce positive cases.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the state remained at five deaths from the new coronavirus in Wisconsin, according to the DHS.
Tuesday morning, Gov. Tony Evers directed state health officials to issue a stay-at-home order for Wisconsin prohibiting non-essential travel, with some exceptions, amid the continued spread of COVID-19 in the state.
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Meanwhile, health care workers prepare for a dramatic increase of infected patients to overwhelm the state’s health care system when hospitals are short protective gear and supplies.
As the response to the virus evolves, 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:
8:30 PM: Husky Energy Suspends Superior Refinery Rebuild
Husky Energy said it’s suspending its rebuild of the Superior refinery due to the “current safety and public health risks” in light of the new coronavirus. The Canadian company recently told WPR officials were planning for the rebuild to cost $750 million, nearly double previously reported.
“Husky has begun a systematic and orderly suspension of major construction activities related to the Superior Rebuild Project,” said Kim Guttormson, Husky spokesperson, in a statement. “We have been closely monitoring the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation, and closely following the advice and direction of health authorities. At this time, the best course of action is to suspend the work.”
Husky said it’s making the decision with a focus on the health and safety of workers, contractors, their families and community members.
An April 2018 explosion at the refinery caused three dozen people to seek medical care and the temporary evacuation of some city residents. Guttormson said people remain on-site to safely maintain operations, and terminals will continue to supply gasoline and diesel. It’s evaluating plans to resume work at a later date. Husky employs around 200 people during normal operations.
2:31 PM: SSM Health Offers Curbside Pickup, Delivery Of Medication
Starting Wednesday, customers at SSM Health pharmacies will no longer be able to go to the pharmacy counter to pick up their medications, according to a release. Instead, they can get their medication curbside or have it delivered, depending on need.
The health system will also adjust some pharmacy hours and close these locations: the Reena Avenue location in Fort Atkinson, Hunters Trail in Portage and Fond du Lac’s Camelot Drive location.
SSM Health also encouraged patients to talk to their insurers about getting a 90-day supply of their prescriptions, if they can.
1:40 PM: DHS Reports 457 Positive Cases In Wisconsin
The state Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm said Monday there are 457 positive cases of COVID-19 statewide and 8,237 negative tests. However, the number continues to grow as counties announce positive cases.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the state remained at 5 deaths from the new coronavirus in Wisconsin, according to the DHS.
These numbers were announced shortly after the Evers administration issued a ‘Safer-at-home’ order.
DHS has identified community spread of the virus in Brown, Columbia, Dane, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Rock, Walworth and Waukesha counties, meaning some people who have been infected with the virus aren’t sure how or where they became infected.
1:30 PM: Evers Thanks Wisconsin Dental Association For Donating Personal Protective Equipment
The Wisconsin Dental Association offered the state tens of thousands of masks, gloves and gowns, Gov. Tony Evers said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Healthcare workers need those items to protect themselves from infectious disease, and they have been in short supply, state health secretary Andrea Palm acknowledged in the same press conference. Healthcare workers have expressed concern for their own safety and that of their families as supplies dwindle.
12:53 PM: Grocery Delivery Company Wants To Hire More Workers In Milwaukee Area
Shipt, a same-day grocery, household essentials and medication delivery service, is recruiting more shoppers in and around Milwaukee to handle increased demand due to the pandemic, according to a press release. These shoppers will pick up items for customers and leave them at customers’ doors, in an effort to maintain social distancing.
As the state encourages people not to leave their homes, grocery delivery is booming at some stores, as reported by the Leader-Telegram.
12:16 PM: Milwaukee Closes All Playgrounds
The City of Milwaukee’s Department of Public Works has closed all playgrounds in an attempt to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. Public parks will remain open, but play equipment will be off limits.
All playgrounds statewide are closed as part of Gov. Tony Evers’s stay-at-home order.
11 AM: State Parks Offer Free Entry
People are still allowed to go to state parks under Gov. Tony Evers’ stay-at-home order, and the state Department of Natural Resources announced on Twitter that park entry is now free.
Buildings like ranger stations and visitor centers, as well as campsites, will be closed, but restrooms will remain open as long as workers have the protective equipment and cleaning supplies they need, the department tweeted.
Fishing is allowed, and all current regulations for hunting, trapping and fishing apply.
The agency encouraged people to keep a safe distance from each other and to not travel too far to get to a state park.
“The intent of the Safer-at-Home order is to keep people close to their homes and within their communities. Head out and enjoy your time outdoors, but please stay close to home,” the department wrote.
10:30 AM: Stay-At-Home Order Goes Into Effect Wednesday At 8 AM
Gov. Tony Evers has directed state health officials to order all Wisconsinites to stay at home, starting Wednesday at 8 a.m. and lasting until April 24, unless there is another order.
The order prohibits all public and private gatherings of people who don’t live in the same household, as well as any non-essential travel.
Stores that sell food and medicine, as well as other businesses like gas stations, banks and laundry businesses, can stay open.
Workers exempt from the order to stay home include health care workers, as well as food production and distribution workers. Permitted activities include obtaining medication, taking care of others and going outdoors to exercise, as long as they maintain six feet of distance between themselves and others. People can still go to public and state parks — but playgrounds are closed.
Essential governmental functions, like firefighting and EMS services, will also continue.
The order is enforceable by local police, and breaking it could result in a $250 fine, up to 30 days imprisonment, or both.
People experiencing homelessness are exempt from the order, but are urged to seek shelter.
For the entire list of closures, exemptions and rules, read the full order here.
10:28 AM: SSM Health Facilities Screen Everyone Who Enters
Anyone who enters an SSM Health hospital or clinic will have their temperature taken and be asked a short series of health questions. The order includes all patients, visitors and employees.
Visits have been suspended, with some exceptions for visitors over 18. They will be allowed in, with restrictions, for:
- End-of-life visits
- Births
- Pediatric/NICU visits
10:23 AM: Absentee Ballot Requests For April 7 Elections Top 550K
The Wisconsin Elections Commission announced voters are requesting absentee ballots at a record pace, with 554,116 requests as of Tuesday morning.
That’s up more than 70,000 from the day before.
Monday of last week, there were just 134,556 requests.
The Elections Commission is also trying to make sure elections clerks have enough official absentee ballot envelopes. They have ordered 1.2 million envelopes to be sent to clerks around the state, according to the Commission’s announcement. American Family, a local business in Madison, is printing 70,000 envelopes, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway tweeted on Monday.
The Elections Commission is also working on reopening online voter registration after a federal judge extended the registration deadline to March 30.
9 AM: Tens Of Thousands Of Unemployment Claims Filed Monday
More than 21,000 unemployment claims were filed on Monday, bringing the total to 101,464 claims that have been filed since Sunday, March 15.
Monday marked the greatest number of claims filed in a single day — since social distancing measures were put in place — with 21,250 claims submitted, according to data from the Department of Workforce Development. There were 1,412 claims filed on the same day last year.
The numbers reflect the staggering impact of social distancing and restrictions on mass gatherings of 10 people or more. Those figures are likely to grow as Gov. Tony Evers’s stay-at-home order takes effect at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
8:24 AM: Milwaukee Mayor Asks Legislative Leaders, Governor To Make April 7 Elections Mail-In Only
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett sent a letter to Gov. Tony Evers and legislative leaders Sen. Scott Fitzgerald and Rep. Robin Vos, asking them to conduct all voting by mail for the presidential primary and state elections scheduled for April 7.
“I would not ask one of my loved ones to sit in a room for hours greeting dozens of people during this pandemic. I can’t expect citizens of my city to do that either,” Barrett wrote in the letter.
Barrett said because of the pandemic, the city of Milwaukee doesn’t have enough workers to keep all of its early voting locations open, and that the shortage will only get worse as “stay at home” orders go into effect.
“As we see more personnel, including longtime dependable workers, choose to stay away from polling sites where many people normally congregate, we need to focus our energy on retaining and attracting people to handle absentee ballots,” he wrote.
Barrett acknowledged the many challenges to this kind of remote voting. It would be slower, and people might not have a cell phone or internet access, making uploading their IDs difficult. He suggested waiving the photo ID requirements for registered voters to make the process easier.
Monday: Summerfest Moves Summer Concert To September
Summerfest announced it is moving the 11-day summer music festival along Milwaukee’s lakefront from the beginning of summer to September.
The music festival was supposed to be June 24-July 5, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, festival organizers have decided to move it to Sept. 3-5, 10-12 and 17-19.
“In the interest of safety and cooperation with artists, Summerfest 2020 will move … The new dates provide the best possible option to deliver the Summerfest experience our fans and sponsors have grown to love,” a statement on Summerfest’s official Twitter account reads.
Tickets purchased for Summerfest’s original dates can be used during the rescheduled dates, the statement reads. Information about rescheduled performances will be shared “soon,” according to the statement.
Monday: Community Spread Identified In Rock County
In a press release Monday night, Rock County Public Health officials said the county has its third positive case of COVID-19. The person had no known contact with a confirmed case of the new coronavirus and no known travel to a place with community spread. That means it was likely contracted within Rock County, according to the release.
Monday: DHS Reports 416 Positive Cases In Wisconsin
The state Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm said Monday there are 416 positive cases of COVID-19 statewide and 7,050 negative tests. However, the number continues to grow as counties announce positive cases.
As of Monday afternoon, five people had died from the new coronavirus in Wisconsin, according to the DHS website.
DHS has identified community spread of the virus in Brown, Columbia, Dane, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Walworth and Waukesha counties, meaning some people who have been infected with the virus aren’t sure how or where they became infected.
Health officials stressed social distancing — staying 6 feet away from others, avoiding crowds and staying home if sick.
Evers announced Monday he will issue a “stay-at-home” order Tuesday in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.
Evers announced the move on his official Twitter account.
“I know this has been difficult and has disrupted the lives of people across our state,” Evers wrote. “That’s why issuing a #SaferAtHome order isn’t something I thought we’d have to do, and it’s not something I take lightly. But here’s the bottom line: folks need to start taking this seriously.”
According to the tweet, the order will limit travel outside the home to “essential needs” like going to the doctor, grocery store, or pharmacy.
Health care professionals, grocers, family caregivers and other essential workers will still be allowed to travel to and from work. The governor said additional details will be provided Tuesday.
Resources For Food, Housing Help And More In Wisconsin
Are you in need of food? Do you need someone to pick up groceries? Are you looking for ways to help during the COVID-19 pandemic? WPR is keeping an updated list of resources across Wisconsin. If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, you can search for services online at 211 Wisconsin, dial 211 on your phone, or text your ZIP code to 898211.
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