Live: What To Know April 11 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 Saturday there are 3,213 positive cases of COVID-19 statewide and 137 deaths. That doesn’t include one additional death in Marathon County, bringing the statewide total to 138 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:

3:45 PM: 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.

1:45 PM: 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.

1:08 PM: 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.

12:25 PM: UW-Platteville Cancels All In-Person Summer Classes, Events

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has suspended all face-to-face classes this summer.

The university said in an announcement on their website that “alternative delivery methods” will be used for classes. That includes courses at the university’s Baraboo Sauk County campus and Richland campus in Richland Center.

In-person classes scheduled to start May 26 have been pushed back to the university’s June summer session. Online classes will run as scheduled.

UW-Platteville has also canceled or postponed all campus events until at least Aug. 1. The university announcement said the decision was “made based on a concern for the health and welfare of those who would be coming to our campuses given the current status of COVID-19.”

12:09 PM: 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.

FRIDAY: 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 statewide from COVID-19 as of Friday afternoon.

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.

FRIDAY: 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.

FRIDAY: More Than 215K Wisconsin Households To Receive Additional FoodShare Benefits In Response to COVID-19

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.

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.