Live: What To Know April 10 About COVID-19 In Wisconsin

The number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin continues to grow.

The state Department of Health Services announced Friday there are 3,068 positive cases of COVID-19 statewide and 128 deaths.

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:

1:50 PM: DHS Reports 3,068 Positive COVID-19 Cases Across Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 183 Friday, according to the latest numbers from the state Department of Health Services (DHS). There are now 3,068 confirmed cases of the disease in the state.

DHS numbers show 128 people have died from COVID-19.

Friday, Polk County reported its first case of COVID-19.

There are currently 904 hospitalizations from COVID-19, according to DHS. And as of Friday, 33,225 people in Wisconsin have tested negative for the virus.

DHS Secretary Andrea Palm said Friday during a teleconference there were 20 active labs in the state running COVID-19 tests.

Speaking in the same teleconference, Gov. Tony Evers reiterated the need to stick together.

“COVID-19 is changing where and how we do things, almost everything, and we have all had to adapt quickly. I want to say thank you so much again to all of our critical workers who are on the front lines,” Evers said. “In this time of safer at home it is extremely important that we continue to respect all of our residents and workers of this state … kindness and understanding is how we will get through this.”

1:15 PM: Assembly Plans Virtual Session For Tuesday

The state Assembly plans to meet next week for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak began in Wisconsin, according to the Associated Press.

Assembly leaders notified members Friday they plan to call a virtual extraordinary session Tuesday morning. It’s unclear what they may take up.

Republican leaders have been working on a pandemic aid bill with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

The governor said earlier this week he would veto the GOP’s latest proposal because it gives the Legislature’s Republican-controlled budget committee carte blanche authority to cut state spending

Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, tweeted those provisions have been cut.

12:55 PM: Milwaukee Bucks Emergency Relief Fund For Part-Time Employees

The Milwaukee Bucks have established an emergency relief fund for Fiserv Forum’s part-time employees in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The fund is administered by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, with support of the Milwaukee Bucks Foundation.

It will also provide financial relief for part-time employees of Fiserv Forum’s food and beverage provider, the arena’s housekeeping employer, the Deer District’s parking partners, and Menominee Nation Arena.

The Bucks have already provided $500,000 in financial assistance to the part-time employees, with an additional $500,000 forthcoming through the emergency relief fund. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton each contributed $100,000, which was followed by all Bucks players committing to donate to the relief effort.

Bucks ownership is matching all player donations.

12:10 PM: Mayo Clinic To Furlough Some Employees, Reduce Salaries

Mayo Clinic Health System announced Friday temporary furloughs, and some staff and salary reductions will take place. Employees will receive full pay and benefits through April 28, with the changes taking place after that.

Of nearly 70,000 people working at Mayo Clinic across the nation, fewer than one-third will have pay cuts, said a statement from a health system representative.

The Mayo Clinic CEO and CAO will both take a salary reduction of 20 percent., and neither will receive a 2020 salary adjustment. The direct reports of the CEO and CAO will take a 15 percent pay cut. Consultants and senior administrators will take a 10 percent pay cut, and salaried allied health staff will take a 7 percent pay cut. Hourly staff will not take pay cuts.

“Mayo Clinic is facing unprecedented challenges as a result of these circumstances, including a financial impact that requires significant adjustments to our operations,” said a statement, citing a loss of revenue from recent postponements of elective patient care.

“At the same time we are making critical investments to develop and expand testing, conduct research to stop the pandemic and re-align our facilities and care teams to treat COVID-19 patients,” said the statement.

Mayo Clinic Health Systems has several locations throughout western Wisconsin.

12:45 PM: More Than 215,000 Wisconsin Households to Receive Additional FoodShare Benefits in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced in a statement Friday that more than 215,000 FoodShare households will be receiving additional benefits.

Under the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Wisconsin is able to provide FoodShare recipients with the maximum monthly benefit amount, based on the number of people in their household, for two months.

“The effects of the pandemic have been hard on all Wisconsinites, but especially hard on the most vulnerable people in our state,” said DHS Secretary-designee Andrea Palm.

Households already receiving the maximum amount will not receive additional benefits. The additional March benefits will be available on QUEST cards on April 12, and the additional April benefits will be available on QUEST cards on April 26, according to DHS.

12:15 PM: Milwaukee German Fest Canceled

German Fest Milwaukee, Inc. announced Friday that it’s canceling its three-day festival originally scheduled for July 24-26.

This is the first time German Fest has been canceled in its history. Founded in 1981, more than 80,000 people typically attend German Fest each year.

“It’s an unfortunate situation, and totally unforeseen, but we will take the steps necessary to support public health,” said festival president Eric Radue in a statement.

People who received free tickets or who purchased group tickets will still be able to use those tickets in 2021.

11:55 AM: Gov. Evers Announces COVID-19 Volunteer Program

The state is seeking volunteers to support Wisconsin’s health care system during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Tony Evers announced Friday that active and retired health care professionals and those who wish to help in non-clinical support positions are encouraged to sign up to volunteer through the Wisconsin Emergency Assistance Volunteer Registry web portal.

“Our top priority is to make sure there are enough resources to care for the growing number of people who require hospitalization or other healthcare interventions because of this pandemic,” Evers said in a statement.

Both active and retired health care professionals can volunteer for critical clinical roles by entering their information into the web portal. Individuals who are not licensed professionals are also encouraged to sign up to volunteer for non-clinical support positions.

Volunteers will be assigned to locations across Wisconsin to support ongoing efforts related to COVID-19. Volunteers who are willing to travel should note that when they sign up. All volunteers will be required to complete a background check.

11:30 AM: Wisconsin Hospitals Running Low On Protective Equipment

More than half of Wisconsin’s 133 hospitals reported Friday that they have less than a one-week supply of goggles and gowns worn when treating coronavirus patients, according to the Associated Press.

More than a third of hospitals are also reporting they have less than a week’s worth of face shields, N95 masks and paper medical masks, according to the Wisconsin Hospitals Association (WHA) data.

Wisconsin, like many other states, faces a shortage of personal protective equipment vital to health care workers who are treating COVID-19 patients. Gov. Tony Evers and members of his administration have said supplies they are receiving from the national stockpile will not come close to meeting the need. They are searching for other sources besides the federal government to get health care workers what they need.

Businesses across the state have also shifted some production to create PPE needed on the frontlines.

WHA is also reporting there are 368 COVID-19 patients on ventilators in the state. Wisconsin has 1,233 ventilators as of Friday, according to WHA.

10:30 AM: City Of Madison Asking For Cloth Face Mask Donations

In a statement, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway asked individuals who know how to sew to consider making and donating cloth face masks to the city.

Donations of cloth face coverings will be accepted at Fire station #2 (421 Grand Canyon Drive) and #8 (3945 Lien Rd). They will be laundered before they are distributed to workers.

“The City would like to provide face coverings to workers in Streets, Parks, Water Utility and other public facing departments,” the statement said. “Surgical masks and others known as N-95 respirators are in short supply and are being reserved for health care workers and other first responders.”

Current health guidelines recommend cloth face coverings for anyone when they are outside the home.

10:30 AM: Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Delays Opening Of All Recreation Sites

The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest will be delaying the opening of all recreation sites and not allowing camping or campfires until further notice, according to a statement.

The forest is also limiting groups to 10 people or fewer, and has shut down all restrooms and removed garbage receptacles at recreation sites.

The forest, including forest roads, remains open to the public for hiking, biking and scenic driving. Visitors are encouraged to follow the CDC guidelines for social distancing and take their trash with them when they leave.

“Let’s all do our part to ensure we are keeping ourselves, our families and our communities safe by being prepared and recreating responsibly,” said forest supervisor Paul Strong in a statement.

10 AM: Alice in Dairyland Finals Moved To June 19-20

The 2020 Alice in Dairyland finals have been postponed, and will now take place on June 19-20. The events, including a question and answer session and finale, will be live streamed on the internet to allow for proper social distancing.

The six top candidates, announced by DATCP in March are Rachel Gerbitz of Milton, Erica Helmer of Plymouth, Stephanie Hoff of Thorp, Kaitlin Konder of Glenwood City, Julia Nunes of Chippewa Falls and Grace Schroeder of Cashton.

Alice in Dairyland is a full-time marketing and communications professional employed by DATCP to serve as Wisconsin’s agricultural ambassador.

10 AM: ACLU Of Wisconsin Files Lawsuit Asking For Release Of Vulnerable Inmates

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin filed a lawsuit Friday in the Wisconsin Supreme Court seeking the release of elderly and vulnerable people from state prisons in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It asks the court to order Gov. Tony Evers and state corrections officials to reduce the prison population down to a level where social distancing is possible, giving priority to the elderly and those with conditions that increase their risk of COVID-19 complications and death.

The lawsuit is filed on behalf of two incarcerated individuals with pre-existing conditions, state criminal defense lawyers and advocacy group Disability Rights Wisconsin. Plaintiff Craig Sussek has been diagnosed with kidney disease, and plaintiff Ramond Ninneman has been diagnosed with cardiac disease.

“Public health experts have been clear that reducing prison populations is vital to combating the spread of this disease,” said ACLU staff attorney Tim Muth in a press release.

The goal of the lawsuit, said the press release, is to “avoid a dangerous outbreak that would further strain the state’s health care capacity and put public health at risk.”

6:30 AM: Senators Want Missing Ballots Investigated

U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson, in rare bipartisan unity, are calling on the U.S. Postal Service to investigate what happened to missing absentee ballots in Wisconsin.

According to the Associated Press, the senators cite numerous accounts from the state that the Postal Service failed to fulfill its critical mission of getting all those ballots in the hands of voters in a letter to the Inspector General.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission reported Thursday that nearly 1.3 million absentee ballots had been requested by voters and about 235,000 ballots had not yet been returned as of Thursday.

What’s not known is how many of the outstanding ballots were completed by voters and mailed back by the Tuesday deadline. Baldwin is a Democrat from Madison. Johnson is a Republican from Oshkosh.

THURSDAY: Brown County Reports First COVID-19 Death

The Brown County Health Department has reported the first death of a resident who tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Green Bay Press Gazette.

The 58-year-old man was diasgnosed before April 1 and was in the hospital for at least a week. The man’s death was announced late Thursday afternoon. He had chronic health conditions, according to the Green Bay Press Gazette.

Fifty people have tested positive for the new coronavirus in Brown County as of Thursday afternoon, according to the state Department of Health Services.

THURSDAY: DHS Ramps Up Contact Tracing To Track Spread Of New Coronavirus During April Election

Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm said the agency has added 120 people to their staff over the last few weeks to help track residents who may have been exposed to the new coronavirus.

In a press release Thursday, Palm said her department is working to support local health departments with contact tracing, especially after the Tuesday election.

“We will continue this important work to ensure that every case is followed up on, contacted, and anyone who may have been exposed notified. We hope the extraordinary efforts taken by local clerks, public health, voters, and poll workers helped minimize any transmission but we stand prepared to respond if that isn’t the case,” Palm said.

DHS expects to see any cases from exposure during the election to begin appearing next week. But the agency warned the full impact of the election won’t be known for several weeks, given the time it takes for individuals to develop symptoms, seek medical care and be interviewed by their public health department.

The agency said in the release that staff will be tracking whether the election had any impact on the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

THURSDAY: Grant County Reports First COVID-19 Death

The Grant County Health Department has reported the first death of a resident who tested positive for COVID-19.

Health officials said in a release Thursday that the individual was over 80 years old.

The state Department of Health Services reported Grant County had four confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday. DHS figures show the county has reported 204 negative test results.

THURSDAY: State Officials Estimate 27 Percent Unemployment Rate Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The Wisconsin State Journal reports the state’s unemployment rate is at nearly 27 percent, as businesses lay-off workers or shut down under the state’s stay-at-home order.

The report said officials at the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development estimate around 725,000 Wisconsin residents are out of work due to the pandemic, coming from 48,000 businesses.

The potentially historic high comes a year after the state recorded its lowest unemployment rate ever at 2.8 percent in April 2019.

THURSDAY: DHS Reports 2,885 Positive COVID-19 Cases Across Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 129 Thursday, according to the latest numbers from the state Department of Health Services. There are now 2,885 confirmed cases of the disease in the state.

DHS numbers show 111 people have died from COVID-19 complications. That doesn’t include three additional deaths in Milwaukee County and one in Grant County reported by local officials, bringing the statewide total to 115 deaths as of Thursday afternoon.

There are currently 843 hospitalizations from COVID-19, according to DHS.

As of Thursday, 31,424 people in Wisconsin have tested negative for the virus.

THURSDAY: Evers Says Religious Gatherings Can Continue If They Obey COVID-19 Restrictions

Gov. Tony Evers outlined how religious organizations can hold services that comply with the state’s safer-at-home order.

The announcement comes after conservative law firm Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty sent a letter to the governor, asking for clarity on whether churches could hold drive-in services for Good Friday and Easter. The letter said local government officials were banning the services ahead of the holiday weekend.

Evers said in a press release that churches and religious entities are considered essential under the order. Any gathering must include fewer than 10 people at a time if it occurs in a room or confined space.

The announcement specified several acceptable service options, including in a parking lot where congregants stay in their cars or streaming online.

Evers reiterated the safer-at-home order is enforceable by local law enforcement but said his office has not asked law enforcement to supervise or take action against religious gatherings.

THURSDAY: Evers Directs DNR To Close 40 State Parks, Forests, Recreational Areas

Gov. Tony Evers has directed the state Department of Natural Resources to close numerous state parks across the state in an effort to keep residents healthy and safe.

According to a release from the governor’s office, the decision comes after “unprecedented crowds, litter, vandalism” and is “out of an abundance of caution to protect public health and safety and help flatten the curve.”

The press release lists dozens of state parks, forests and recreational areas that will be closed by the end of the day Thursday and remain closed until further notice.

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.