Live: What To Know March 13 About COVID-19 In Wisconsin

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 — the disease caused by the new coronavirus — is growing in the state, and many Wisconsinites are taking steps to prepare for what’s to come.

Gov. Tony Evers declared a public health emergency in Wisconsin on Thursday. Earlier this week, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic.

As of Friday afternoon, the number of COVID-19 cases in the state rose to 19, according to the state Department of Health Services.

As the effects of the virus continue to evolve, 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-19 resources, read WisContext’s story listing 10 things to know about the pandemic and public health in the state.

Here are the latest updates on the new coronavirus in Wisconsin:

4:55 PM: Supreme Court Oral Argument Attendance Limited

Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Roggensack issued an order limiting attendance at its March 18 and March 30 oral arguments.

Only Supreme Court justices, attorneys arguing the cases, Capitol Police, the Supreme Court Marshal, and a camera operator for WisconsinEye will be allowed to attend.

“This step is intended to ensure that we are addressing this serious public health threat, while continuing to provide services to the people of Wisconsin,” Roggensack said in the announcement.

People can view the arguments on the WisEye public affairs network as part of efforts to limit contact between individuals.

4:55 PM: Milwaukee Marathon Canceled

The Milwaukee Marathon, set to be held on April 11, has been canceled, race organizers announced Friday.

“Due to the concern surrounding the coronavirus, and The Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ mandate prohibiting public gatherings, we’ve been forced to cancel the upcoming Milwaukee Marathon on April 11, 2020,” an announcement on the race website read.

According to the announcement, rescheduling the event is not an option at this time. Thousands were expected to participate in the race.

4:30 PM: Evers Directs DHS To Mandate Statewide Closure of All K-12 Schools

Friday afternoon, Evers directed Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm to issue an agency order mandating the statewide closure of all K-12 schools, public and private, as part of the state’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The mandated closure will begin on Wednesday, March 18. The anticipated reopening date is April 6.

In a statement Evers said, “Closing our schools is not a decision I made lightly, but keeping our kids, our educators, our families, and our communities safe is a top priority as we continue our work to respond to and prevent further spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin.”

Evers noted the importance of schools in providing kids access food and care, and reiterated that the state will “continue working to do everything we can to ensure kids and families have the resources and support they need while schools are closed.”

3:54 PM: Wisconsin National Guard Transporting Wisconsin Residents Home For Self-Quarantine

Approximately 30 Wisconsin National Guard members were mobilized Friday to transport Wisconsinites returning to the state from a cruise ship with confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to a press release.

No one returning from the cruise has tested positive for COVID-19, but they will be returning to their homes to self-quarantine for two weeks.

National Guard Cpl. Jose Perezvilla was happy to help.

“It gives me a sense of fulfillment of what I enlisted for, which was to help the people of the state of Wisconsin,” Perezvilla said in the release. “Now we actually get to put some of that into action and help out the people of the state.”

Participating troops will self-monitor for 14 days following the mission, even though the people they’re transporting haven’t tested positive for the disease.

3:39 PM: UW–Madison Employee Diagnosed With COVID-19

An employee who works in the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine has building has been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to a release from the university.

The employee had traveled to a country where the coronavirus is widespread and is isolated at home. Public Health Madison and Dane County is working on identifying close contacts, and non-essential employees who work in the vet school’s building are being directed to return home and self-monitor for symptoms.

3:30 PM: US Sen. Tammy Baldwin Helps Introduce Bill to Expand Free Coronavirus Testing

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, joined colleagues in introducing legislation to expand free COVID-19 testing.

The effort is being led by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) Gary Peters (D-Michigan), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York), and Patty Murray (D-Washington), ranking member of the Senate HELP Committee.

“In order to effectively combat the coronavirus, we need to provide free testing for everyone who needs a test, including the uninsured,” said Baldwin in a statement. “I’m supporting this legislation because everyone must have access to free testing for COVID-19.”

3 PM: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Shares Information On Price Gouging Statute

As demand increases for certain products, consumers can expect to see prices increase, according to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Consumers who encounter concerning prices, however, should report them to the agency, it said Friday.

Consumers can email price gouging complaints to DATCPHotline@wisconsin.gov or call 800-422-7128. They should include the date, the seller’s name and location, and information on the product.

DATCP can enforce Wisconsin’s price gouging statute when a state of emergency is in place. Evers’ declared a public health emergency Thursday due to the growing threat of the new coronavirus.

2:50 PM: Milwaukee Art Museum Suspends Events And Kids’ Activities

The Milwaukee Art Museum will suspend all planned events and close its art studio for children until Tuesday, April 14. It will also suspend the use of activity packs that children can use in its galleries.

An email from the museum said the Art In Bloom event, which features floral arrangements in galleries, will go on as planned at this point from April 30 to May 3.

The museum’s galleries remain open and the email said increased sanitation efforts are taking place in all public spaces. Hand sanitation stations are available at every entrance and other common areas. The museum asked anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms to stay home.

2 PM: UW Varsity Band Concert Canceled

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus and Mead Witter School of Music have decided to cancel the 2020 UW Varsity Band Spring Concert. The concert was scheduled to take place April 16, 17 and 18 at the Kohl Center.

UW-Madison students in the band will not have face-to-face classes through at least April 10. According to a statement, that means the band “won’t be able to meet and rehearse for at least the next four weeks.”

People who have already purchased tickets to the concert will be issued a full refund in the coming days. Those who have purchased parking permits will also be refunded.

2 PM: Wisconsin Film Festival Canceled

In an email Friday afternoon, Kelley Conway, artistic director of the Wisconsin Film Festival announced the event would be canceled “as a result of the threat posed by COVID-19.”

In the email Conway said she was “deeply saddened” about the decision and reiterated that they “remain utterly committed to our mission of celebrating the best in global cinema and can’t wait to collaborate with you on next year’s Wisconsin Film Festival, April 8–15, 2021.”

1:50 PM: Wisconsin Schools Begin To Close

Public and private schools across the state are closing due to COVID-19 following Evers’ declaration of a public health emergency.

Schools are making the decision to close or cancel classes on a case-by-case basis.

The Whitefish Bay School District announced Friday afternoon that it, along with a dozen others, will close for the next four weeks with the possibility of extending that timeframe.

“In consideration of the unprecedented situation in Wisconsin and the nation, both the North Shore and Washington Ozaukee Public Health Departments support ‘medium length’ school closures for schools to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our communities,” wrote Whitefish Bay District Administrator John Thomsen.

1:45 PM: Weekend Farmers Markets Cancel Across State Following DHS Recommendations

The Dane County Farmers Market announced it was canceling Saturday’s Late Winter Market in an email to patrons Thursday.

It’s the first time the group has canceled the market in its 48-year history, according to the email.

Market Manager Sarah Elliott said Friday afternoon the decision was based on guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to cancel or postpone gatherings of 250 or more people. But she said the decision wasn’t easy given the impact it will have on farmers and other market vendors.

“For many of them, the market represents a huge portion of their income, but for some of them, it actually represents the entirety of their income this time of year. So making the decision to cancel the market, even for just one Saturday, has huge negative financial implications on our members,” Elliott said.

She said the market is not expecting the pandemic to impact the opening of the outdoor market in April.

The Kenosha Harbor Market and Oconomowoc Winter Farmers’ Market also canceled markets this Saturday based on DHS recommendations.

The Wausau Winter Market announced it would hold its Saturday market outside due to COVID-19 concerns.

12:41 PM: U-Haul Offers Students Free Storage

As colleges and universities switch to online classes and ask students to leave campus, U-Haul is offering students in the U.S. and Canada a month of free self-storage.

U-Haul usually only extends this offer to people who have experienced a natural disaster, and it’s the first time the offer has extended company-wide, according to a press release.

Other moving companies are also extending deals to affected students. Dorm Room Movers is offering some free pickup dates to help with early move-out at UW-Madison, which has suspended in-person classes until at least Apr. 10.

12:08 PM: State Department Of Corrections Suspending Visits

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections has suspended most visits, including volunteer visits, at all DOC institutions, according to a press release. The department said it would be looking into expanding methods of communication while visits are suspended.

“We take our responsibility to protect staff and persons in our care very seriously, and out of an abundance of caution are taking actions to minimize the risk of bringing (the new coronavirus) into facilities,” the release said.

The DOC will be reviewing the decision on a daily basis and for the time being will still allow professional visits and the department will make accommodations for phone calls, video and teleconference visits or other non-contact visits when possible.

NOON: Charter Communication Offering Free Broadband, Wi-Fi

Charter Communication announced Friday morning it will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students. The offer is for those who don’t already pay for the service.

The move comes as the coronavirus spreads across the country, and as universities and schools across the U.S. and state are extending spring break or moving classes online.

The offer begins Monday, according to the Sheboygan Press. People interested can call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.

10:45 AM: UW Health Revisiting Who To Test For COVID-19

UW Health will still consider travel history when deciding who to test for the new coronavirus, but the main determination will be symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath.

Those who are more vulnerable because they are older than age 60 or have medical conditions like organ transplants, heart disease, cancer, lung disease and/or diabetes will be given priority. Those who think they should be tested should call first.

According to a news release, patients are being asked to call the UW Health COVID-19 hotline at 608-720-5300. They’re also asking patients to call ahead or send a My Chart message before going into clinics.

10:15 AM: Big Ten Suspends All Team Activities Until April 6

The Big Ten Conference announced Friday morning it has suspended all team activities through at least the first week in April. The conference will review the policy on April 6. The cancelation affects spring football practices for the Wisconsin Badgers, which started Tuesday.

The conference announced yesterday it has canceled all conference and non-conference athletic competitions through the end of the academic year. It’s also placed a moratorium on all recruiting activities.

10:15 AM: PSC Tells Wisconsin Utilities To Suspend Disconnections

State utility regulators want to keep water on for people during the new coronavirus pandemic — regardless of whether they can pay their bills. The move is to ensure people have the ability to wash their hands. They also want to make sure people have electricity.

A moratorium on utility cutoffs occurs every winter. Now a similar prohibition on disconnecting electric, natural gas and water will be in effect until the state public health emergency has been lifted according to a statement from Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission released Friday.

9:45 AM: Epic Systems Cancels Annual Conference

In an email that went to employees Friday morning, Epic Systems announced they would be canceling their annual conference. The event was set to be a two-week event running from April 27 to May 8.

Epic’s annual conference brings staff from across the country to the company’s headquarters in Verona, outside of Madison.

According to Channel 3000, Epic expected roughly 9,000 people to attend the meeting.

9 AM: Lawrence University Announces Extended Spring Break, Online Classes

Officials at Lawrence University in Appleton held a press conference Friday morning to announce their plans to extend the school’s spring break and move to distance learning after classes resume. Students received a letter about the changes to their schedule Thursday afternoon from the university’s president, Mark Burstein.

Lawrence’s spring break will now extend from March 19 to April 5. All university-sponsored trips have been canceled and students who can’t travel home are able to stay on campus. Students can also apply to stay on campus to finish the spring term. The university is hosting a live webinar Friday afternoon for students and their families to ask questions.

Lawrence is now among a growing list of private colleges in Wisconsin to move classes online in an effort to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. Schools within the University of Wisconsin System have also altered their spring semester plans in response to the virus.

8 AM: Elmbrook School District Near Milwaukee Goes Virtual

Elmbrook schools are suspending classroom education and will take learning online because of the coronavirus. The district is the first in the Milwaukee area to suspend in-person classes. It will move to virtual classes beginning Monday until Friday, March 20 when a week-long spring break takes place. The Elmbrook School District is west of Milwaukee.

For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

7 AM: Oneida Nation Announces State Of Emergency

Tehassi Hill, chairman of Oneida Nation, signed a letter Thursday declaring a public health emergency that will be in effect for 30 days. There are no confirmed cases within the community, but the declaration could give Oneida Nation access to additional funding and resources to help prevent the spread of the virus, according to a Friday morning news release.

The Anna John Resident Centered Care Community, a nursing home on the reservation, has been closed to visitors, the release said. The Oneida Elder Congregate Meal Site has also been closed. Meals will be available for elders through pick up or delivery.

LATE THURSDAY: WIAA Cancels Remaining State Tournament Events

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) announced Thursday night they would be canceling all remaining games in the State Girls Basketball Tournament and the boys basketball sectional finals and the State Tournament.

In a statement, the WIAA said they regretted the lost opportunity for the players.

“I want the student-athletes and their coaches to know that your school leaders, the WIAA Executive Staff, our committees and the Board of Control have done everything imaginable to try to provide and preserve these opportunities for you,” executive director Dave Anderson said. “However, we want and need to be responsible in helping the global and state efforts to stem the tide and spread of this virus.”

LATE THURSDAY: Packers Close Lambeau Field, Titletown District

The Green Bay Packers announced late Thursday they will be closing Lambeau Field and the Titletown District to the public in response to the new coronavirus.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the following are closed: the Packers Pro Shop, the Packers Hall of Fame museum, 1919 Kitchen & Tap, the Titletown District playground and 46 Below bistro. Private events at the Lambeau Field Atrium or in Titletown District have also been canceled.

Other Titletown District businesses — The Turn, Bellin Health and Hinterland — will remain open.

The changes are in effect for two weeks starting Friday. The NFL said Wednesday plans for the 2020 NFL draft, April 23-25 in Las Vegas, remain in place, but are under review.

Editor’s note: This story will be updated.