Live: What To Know April 9 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 Thursday there are 2,885 positive cases of COVID-19 statewide and 111 deaths. 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 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:

5:17 PM: Evers Removes Barriers For Veterans To Receive Emergency Assistance

Gov. Tony Evers suspended several provisions of the Assistance to Needy Veterans Grant program Thursday, providing more low-income veterans access to emergency financial aid.

“This grant program was designed to help veterans during a time of need,” Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Mary Kolar said in a press release. “COVID-19 has hit many people hard economically. With the changes announced today, we anticipate more low-income veterans will be able to access emergency financial aid.”

According to the press release, current requirements could prevent, hinder, or delay payments to veterans experiencing a loss of income due to COVID-19.

WDVA requested the following temporary provisions:

• Suspension of the requirement that applications include specific verification forms containing the signatures of a county or tribal veterans service officer or other authorized agent.
• Suspension of a rule limiting an applicant’s eligibility if the applicant’s income exceeds 180 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
• Suspension of the deadline by which an applicant must submit an application and receive medical care by a health care provider following the loss of income.
• Suspension of the requirement that an applicant must provide proof that loss of income occurred due to an economic emergency.

4 PM: 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 April 7 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.

3:33 PM: 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 on 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.

3:12 PM: Evers Issues Executive Order To Create Flexibility In State Licensing, Inspections During Pandemic

Gov. Tony Evers announced a new executive order to allow the state Department of Safety and Professional Services to provide more flexibility in meeting licensing requirements amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The order issued on Thursday streamlines the construction process for critical healthcare facilities and allows fire departments to postpone inspections in order to focus on immediate health and safety needs.

The measure also suspends face-to-face requirements for care by physical therapists and extends exam deadlines for certified public accountant candidates, with most testing centers closed due to the pandemic.

“I cannot think of a single aspect of life that COVID-19 has not touched. The longer this goes on, the more people are struggling,” Evers said in a press release. “We need to take steps to alleviate stress where we can, so individuals can focus on more immediate needs and not worry about administrative deadlines and time constraints. We need the flexibility in state government to adapt to the situation at hand and prioritize efforts that will help us better protect health and safety.”

The new guidelines will remain in effect until the end of the state’s “stay-at-home” order

2:31 PM: Sheboygan Printing Company Produces Face Shields During PPE Shortage

Franzen Graphics said it has converted a portion of their commercial printing facility in Sheboygan to produce plastic face shields for health care workers.

The company said in a press release that it’s prototype is less expensive to produce compared to other face shields and can be made quickly.

The company said it has shipped over 150,000 shields to some of the nation’s largest hospitals, including in New York.

2:15 PM: 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.

1:45 PM: 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.

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.

1:09 PM: 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 that 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.

12:35 PM: Xcel Energy Donates Surgical Masks To Health Care Workers, First Responders

Xcel Energy will donate nearly 47,000 surgical masks to COVID-19 response efforts in Wisconsin and Michigan.

In a press release on Thursday, the utility company said it plans to distribute the supplies to health care workers, county health departments, tribal clinics and first responders.

Earlier this week, the company announced plans to give more than $20 million in “short and long term corporate giving,” including to COVID-19 relief efforts.

According to the release, Xcel Energy previously donated 10,000 protective masks each to the Eau Claire and La Crosse County Health Departments.

12:30 PM: Evers Announces Plans To Build Alternative Care Facility At Wisconsin State Fair Park

Gov. Tony Evers said his administration is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build an alternative care facility at the Wisconsin State Fair Park’s Exposition Center.

The facility will support existing, local medical facilities in response to the spread of COVID-19.

“This alternative care facility will be a critical addition to the southeastern region of our state and will be essential to continuing to ensure our healthcare systems are not overwhelmed,” Evers said in a press release.

According to the release, the Corps has signed a contract with Gilbane Building Co., in Milwaukee and a number of subcontractors to build the facility.

12:10 PM: Democratic State Lawmakers Call For Conducting 2020 Elections By Mail

Four Wisconsin Democrats have introduced a bill that would move all elections in 2020 to voting by mail.

In a press release on Thursday, the lawmakers said the change would “preserve voter rights while keeping voters and poll workers safe.”

Last week, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers called a special session of the state Legislature, asking lawmakers to consider conducting the April 7 primary by absentee ballot in light of the pandemic.

Republican legislative leaders criticized that plan, adjourning the special session on Saturday, April 4 without taking action on the proposal.

10:13 AM: Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Delays Concerts On The Square In Madison

The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra will delay its free summer concert series in anticipation of continued social distancing requirements.

In a press release on Thursday, the organization said the Concert on the Square series will begin on Tuesday, July 28. The group will still hold six performances, moving the concerts to Tuesdays at 6 p.m. to avoid interrupting other local performances.

“The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra is alive and well — and there is nothing more we want than to perform for our community during these uncertain times,” Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra CEO Joe Loehnis said in the release. “At the same time, we want to be responsible and mindful of community safety. In that light, we believe the best thing to do is to push the start of Concerts on the Square into late July.”

The organization said the Concerts on the Square series draws 200,000 patrons annually to downtown Madison.

8:30 AM: 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.

7:05 AM: 3 More Wisconsin Inmates Get COVID-19, Officials Unsure How

Wisconsin corrections officials say they don’t know how three more inmates in the state’s prison system contracted the coronavirus.

The state Department of Corrections believes the first prisoner with a confirmed case of COVID-19 April 2 was exposed while on a trip outside the Columbia Correctional Institution.

On Sunday, the DOC confirmed three additional cases in the system. DOC spokesperson Anna Neal says the three inmates had not left the prisons recently.

One of the three cases is at Columbia where three employees have also tested positive. The State Journal reports the other two inmates with COVID-19 are at Oshkosh Correctional Institution.

WEDNESDAY: DHS Reports 2,756 Positive COVID-19 Cases Across Wisconsin

The state’s number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 178 Wednesday, according to the latest numbers from the state Department of Health Services. There are now 2,756 confirmed cases of the disease in Wisconsin.

DHS numbers show 99 people have died from COVID-19 complications. Milwaukee County officials reported 13 additional deaths Thursday, bringing the statewide total to 112.

The hospitalization rate among patients who’ve tested positive for the virus remains at 29 percent.

More than 30,100 people in Wisconsin have tested negative for COVID-19.

Officials said Tuesday the state no longer has a backlog of coronavirus tests, but some Wisconsinites have said they’ve struggled to get tested.

WEDNESDAY: UW Health Says Rapid COVID-19 Testing Helps Conserve PPE

Through in-house processing, UW Health said it now receives some coronavirus test results in hours instead of days.

In its daily COVID-19 update, UW Health said rapid testing helps conserve personal protective equipment (PPE). Health care providers don’t need to wear as much PPE if it’s been confirmed a patient does not have the coronavirus.

Wisconsin has received hundreds of thousands of gloves and masks from the Strategic National Stockpile, state Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm said Tuesday. But Palm said it won’t adequately meet the needs of the state’s health care workers.

UW Health does not offer widespread rapid coronavirus tests. It’s limited to patients with symptoms and employees who may have come in contact with the virus.

WEDNESDAY: US Sen. Tammy Baldwin Calls For CDC To Release COVID-19 Demographic Information

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and 16 of her colleagues have signed a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requesting they publicly release demographic information relating to the new coronavirus.

The senators said data on access to tests, hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths should be broken down by sex, race and other available demographic information, including whether a patient is a health care worker.

Currently, the CDC is only releasing age group information.

A recent analysis out of New England shows African American patients may be less likely to be referred by their physician for COVID-19 testing than their white counterparts.

Milwaukee has the largest number of COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin by far. The black community on the city’s northwest side has been hit particularly hard.

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.