Live: What To Know April 12 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 Sunday there are 3,341 positive cases of COVID-19 statewide and 144 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:

6:32 PM: Milwaukee Mayor Tweets Photo Of Alternative Care Facility On Wisconsin State Fair Grounds

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett shared a photo and series of tweets Sunday as U.S. Army Corps of Engineers worked to build an alternative care facility at the Exposition Center at the Wisconsin State Fair Grounds.

Barrett said the facility is being constructed as a “precaution to ensure that COVID-19 patients throughout southeastern Wisconsin will receive necessary care should a future surge in cases overwhelm our hospital system.”

“I want to say thank you to this dedicated team of individuals. You have put in many, many long hours so that we could have this facility up and running as soon as possible. You have my deep appreciation,” Barrett said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and @GilbaneBuilding have been hard at work constructing an alternate care facility at the Exposition Center at Wisconsin State Fair Grounds. pic.twitter.com/2QpLEVtCyF

— Mayor Tom Barrett (@MayorOfMKE) April 12, 2020

5:03 PM: Evers Says Application Submitted To Develop Alternative Care Facility At Alliant Energy Center In Madison

Gov. Tony Evers said Sunday that an application has been submitted to begin developing an alternative care facility at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison in the event of a surge in COVID-19 cases.

The governor announced that an application was submitted to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to prepare for such a facility. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers has paired with state officials to assist with the creation of such facilities as government officials work to handle the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

The first such facility is being built on the grounds of the Wisconsin State Fair in Milwaukee.

1:53 PM: DHS Reports 3,341 Cases Of COVID-19, 144 Deaths Linked To Ailment

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin climbed by 128 — there have been 3,341 total — and deaths have reached 144 as of Sunday afternoon, according to the state Department of Health Services (DHS).

DHS numbers show seven more people have died in connection with the new coronavirus since Saturday afternoon.

The number of hospitalizations because of the ailment is 974, or 29 percent of cases.

The number of negative test results are 35,916. That’s a 1,236-person increase from Saturday to Sunday.

12:15 PM: State Lawmaker Co-sponsors Bill To Create ‘Vote By Mail’ System For 2020 Elections

State Rep. Shelia Stubbs, D-Madison, issued a news release Saturday night that she was co-sponsoring legislation to “create a Vote by Mail system” for the remaining elections to be held this year.

According to the news release, the legislation would allow people to vote while adhering to Gov. Tony Evers’ “safer at home” order.

Stubbs said in the news release that mail voting “has become increasingly popular throughout the country, and five states currently maximize ballot access by mailing ballots to every voter.”

“Wisconsin’s ‘Pandemic Primary’ on April 7th, unnecessarily put public health and people’s lives at risk while leaving tens of thousands of voters disenfranchised,” she said in the news release.

According to the news release, the legislation would allow people to vote while adhering to Gov. Tony Evers’ “safer at home” order.

“On April 7th, I saw our young people, our elders, our fathers — our mothers standing in long lines block after block waiting to cast their vote. They risked their lives to stand in the rain and in the hail to exercise their constitutional right to vote. As it stands right now, the voting system we have is not designed to provide access to free and fair elections during a global pandemic. The system has not changed, and that is unacceptable,” she said in the news release.

9:35 AM: Petition For Additional Sick Leave, Hazard Pay At Meriter Hospital Reaches Over 860 Signatures

A petition sponsored by the union SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin is calling for Meriter Hospital in Madison to provide extra support to its workers as they combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of Sunday morning, 862 people had signed the petition on the website Coworker.org. Its demands include additional paid sick leave and hazard pay to ensure safe staffing levels.

“We are insufficiently staffed even during normal times,” the petition states. “Right now, no expense should be spared to ensure safe staffing levels. This means hazard pay to compensate us for risking our lives and our families’ lives, and additional incentives for picking up extra shifts.”

The petition also asks for increased transparency and understanding from management.

“We are committed to providing safe patient care to all, but we need the training, tools, and assistance required to do so,” the petition states.

SATURDAY: Milwaukee Election Officials Call Special Meeting On Late Absentee Ballots

The city of Milwaukee Board of Election Commissioners will meet through video conferencing Sunday to discuss state guidelines for late-arriving absentee ballots for the April 7 election.

A U.S. Supreme Court decision issued earlier this week allows ballots to be accepted by clerks until 4 p.m. Monday as long as they were postmarked by April 7. The six-day buffer was implemented to accommodate ballots mailed on Election Day and delays in the postal service amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

But election officials across the state have reported receiving ballots without postmarks or with irregular marks.

On Friday, the Wisconsin Elections Commission issued guidance to local clerks. The commission said ballots must bear a postmark of April 7 or earlier in order to be counted, unless the ballot has a “April 2020” postmark and a Postal Service official provides a statement that postmark was only used on Election Day.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the city of Milwaukee received 354 ballots without postmarks.

Milwaukee City Clerk Jim Owczarski told the Journal Sentinel he expects the city’s Board of Election Commissioners to accept ballots without a postmark if they were received on Wednesday or Thursday.

The board will meet at 2 p.m. Sunday through the video conferencing app Zoom.

SATURDAY: DHS Reports 3,213 Positive COVID-19 Cases Across Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 145 between Friday and Saturday, according to the latest numbers from the state Department of Health Services (DHS). There are now 3,213 confirmed cases of the disease in the state as of Saturday afternoon.

DHS numbers show 137 people have died statewide from COVID-19 as of Saturday afternoon. That does not include one additional death in Marathon County, bringing the statewide total to 138 deaths.

There are currently 950 hospitalizations from COVID-19, according to DHS. And as of Saturday, 34,680 people in Wisconsin have tested negative for the virus. That’s a 1,455 person increase from Friday to Saturday.

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

SATURDAY: Marathon County Reports First COVID-19 Death

The Marathon County Health Department confirmed the county’s first death associated with the new coronavirus.

In a press release Saturday, officials said the individual was elderly. That death brings the statewide total to 130 deaths related to COVID-19.

The state Department of Health Services reported 12 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Marathon County as of Friday.

SATURDAY: Wisconsin National Guard Works To Distribute Protective Equipment

Members of the Wisconsin National Guard continue to assist the state Department of Health Services with distributing personal protective equipment (PPE).

Around 25 soldiers have been working since last month to sort and repackage PPE for distribution across the state, according to a press release.

The Wisconsin National Guard said around 400 soldiers and airmen are serving on state active duty to support the state’s response to COVID-19. That includes helping staff two state-run self-isolation facilities and another facility operated by Milwaukee County, where members are providing both medical and administrative support.

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.