At Least 40 COVID-19 Cases Tied to Election in Milwaukee
Number up five-fold from Monday, final report still pending.

A voter waiting in line at Washington High School with a sign that says “this is ridiculous.” Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
The number of people with confirmed COVID-19 cases that were at the polls in the spring election is up to 40 in the city of Milwaukee.
The number of these cases has more than quadrupled since the initial numbers were announced earlier this week. On April 7th, 18,803 Milwaukee residents voted in-person in the election and over 400 more worked at the polls.
Just a few days ago the Milwaukee Health Department announced they had confirmed seven cases tied to election day activities. At that time, Health Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik said “we only have 30 percent of the investigation data from new cases which indicated participation in election activity.”
Unfortunately, this report will not be an all-encompassing review of the numbers. “We’re practitioners,” Kowalik said of her department. “The academics and the researchers, that’s what they’re there for, they can do a more larger level analysis, which takes more time.”
“But we’re in the moment now, so we need to have some data now,” Kowalik said, “To help use this data to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”
But the true extent of COVID-19 infection from the election will remain a challenge even in the future. As Urban Milwaukee previously reported, some individuals will have such mild symptoms that they never seek medical care and access to testing remains difficult.
The individuals with confirmed cases did not necessarily contract it by voting. “We have correlation, they voted and they were at the polls, but we do not have causation,” said Department of Health Services deputy secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk in a press briefing earlier this week. The state has not provided an update on its known caseload, but as of Monday reported at least 12 additional cases beyond the city. The Wisconsin National Guard had five members that worked the polls that were later showing symptoms of the disease. Only one was tested and had a negative result.
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More about the 2020 Spring Primary
- Why Don Natzke Couldn’t Vote - Enjoyiana Nururdin - Aug 9th, 2020
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report highlights public health measures taken by the Milwaukee Health and Fire Departments, Department of Administration, Election Commission, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services - City of Milwaukee Health Department - Aug 4th, 2020
- CDC Says Election Did Not Cause COVID-19 Spike - Erik Gunn - Aug 4th, 2020
- Pandemic Reduced Black Vote, Study Finds - Dee J. Hall - Jun 25th, 2020
- Did April Election Hike COVID-19 Cases? - Alana Watson - May 20th, 2020
- Elections Commission Notes ‘Lessons Learned’ - Henry Redman - May 19th, 2020
- Wisconsin Elections News: WEC Releases Analysis of Absentee Voting in April 7 Spring Election - Wisconsin Elections Commission - May 18th, 2020
- Election’s Impact on County’s COVID-19 Cases Unclear - Jeramey Jannene - May 6th, 2020
- Why State’s Voting By Mail Was Chaotic - Daniel C. Vock - May 4th, 2020
- At Least 40 COVID-19 Cases Tied to Election in Milwaukee - Graham Kilmer - Apr 24th, 2020
Read more about 2020 Spring Primary here
More about the Coronavirus Pandemic
- MKE County: County Executive Crowley Has COVID-19 - Graham Kilmer - Jun 30th, 2022
- Statement From the Office of Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley - County Executive David Crowley - Jun 29th, 2022
- State Begins Vaccines For Youngest People - Erik Gunn - Jun 22nd, 2022
- DHS Recommends COVID-19 Vaccines for Everyone Age 6 Months and Older - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Jun 21st, 2022
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake’s Statement on CDC’s COVID-19 Pediatric Vaccine Recommendations and Expansion to Children Under Age 5 - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Jun 18th, 2022
- MKE County: New COVID-19 Cases Down Slightly This Past Week - Graham Kilmer - Jun 17th, 2022
- City of Milwaukee Weekly COVID-19 Update - City of Milwaukee Health Department - Jun 17th, 2022
- MKE County: County Sees “Plateau” In New COVID-19 Cases - Graham Kilmer - Jun 10th, 2022
- City of Milwaukee Weekly COVID-19 Update - City of Milwaukee Health Department - Jun 10th, 2022
- High Court Okays Release of COVID-19 Workplace Data - Erik Gunn - Jun 8th, 2022
Read more about Coronavirus Pandemic here
I’m sorry, but this is NOT a story when you say things like:
“…. extent of COVID-19 infection from the election will remain a challenge even in the future …. some individuals will have such mild symptoms that they never seek medical care and access to testing remains difficult.”
“The individuals with confirmed cases did not necessarily contract it by voting. We have correlation …. but we do not have causation,” said Department of Health Services deputy secretary…”
“The state has not provided an update on its known caseload, but as of Monday reported at least 12 additional cases beyond the city.” Translation, please!
This is particularly egregious: “The Wisconsin National Guard had five members that worked the polls that were later showing symptoms of the disease. Only one was tested and had a negative result.” Like what symptoms? Runny nose? How shocking.
I wasa there as a voter. It seemed super-safe to me. Then I went grocery shopping, with my mask still on… not nearly as many preventative measures there.
What is your agenda, Graham Kilmer? Silly question, I guess.