Department of Health Services

Vaccine Distribution Shows Racial Inequity

Data shows stark disparities. State spending $6.1 million to improve racial and ethnic vaccine equity.

Lowest One Day COVID-19 Case Total Since August 31st

Cases, deaths, hospitalizations all on steady downward trajectory

How The Republican Party Lost Control

Wisconsin was a hotbed for the far-right rebellion.

5,477 New COVID-19 Cases in Past Week

Weekly total is now barely more than daily average in November.

COVID-19 Infects Half of State Inmates

Five times the overall state rate; 10,786 prison inmates, 2,153 staff infected.

752 New COVID-19 Cases

30-day rolling death average falls below 30 for first time since early November.

Get COVID-19 Vaccine at Walgreens

New federal program will add to state's vaccine supply, should expand access.

Gov. Evers, First Lady Evers Receive First Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine

938 New COVID-19 Cases

Rolling seven-day total continues on downward trend.

State Says Health Department Needs Improvement Plan

MHD is in trouble, but the blame goes back four commissioners.

Wisconsin Receives 988 State Planning Grant

Funding to be used to prepare Wisconsin for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s 988 calling code, effective July 2022

Medical College of Wisconsin Applauds Mental Health Investments

1,239 New COVID-19 Cases

First time over 1,000 cases in five days.

DHS launches new COVID-19 vaccine dashboard

Includes demographic data, vaccine distribution by county

State Sees Historically Few Flu Cases

Only 38 influenza cases as of January 30th. COVID-19 mitigation likely reduced the spread.

Coalition of Health Care, Advocates, Criminal Justice Partners Issue Recommendations to Reform State’s Crisis Mental Health Response

February 11, 2021

How to Get Food Share Benefits

Biden’s executive order expands benefits. 5 things you need to know.

3% of State Residents Fully Vaccinated

More than 793,000 doses administered, and pace will increase as supplies to Wisconsin increasing.

Daily New COVID-19 Case Average Under 1,000

Indicators keep moving in positive directions for public health, but are still at elevated levels compared to much of 2020.

Clerks Urge Vaccines for Election Workers

35 election clerks in state say election workers 'essential,' push Evers to give them priority for vaccines.

Suburban Mayors Push State on Vaccine Numbers

Complaints of too few doses supplied and not enough information.

Over 25,000 Hospitalized With COVID-19 Since Pandemic Began

But new hospitalizations are slowing, part of an overall deceleration of disease spread.

State Sees Second Case of Coronavirus Variant

A case in Waukesha of variant first discovered in UK and believed to spread more rapidly.

DHS and Laboratory Partners Identify Second Case of Variant Strain B.1.1.7 of SARS-CoV-2 in Wisconsin

Lowest New Case Total Since August 31st

COVID-19 cases on a downward trend, but Monday is also regularly lowest reported total of week.

Gov. Evers, DHS Announce First Community-Based Vaccination Clinic In Rock County To Open February 16

671 New COVID-19 Cases, Lowest Since Christmas Holiday

Case count falling faster than testing totals

Why Some Counties Have Fewer Cases

Dane and St. Croix counties are well below other counties in per-capita COVID-19 numbers.

Gov. Evers Proposes Legalizing Marijuana, Investing Portion of Revenue in Equity Initiatives and Rural Schools

Governor’s proposal regulates and taxes marijuana much like alcohol, generates more than $165 million annually beginning in Fiscal Year 2023

New COVID-19 Cases at Lowest Point Since September 13th

But new case, hospitalization and death totals are still higher than at any point earlier than September.

Giving Schools a Shot in the Arm

Vaccinating teachers would enable schools to reopen. But it’s not that simple.

6,020 Wisconsin Residents Have Died From COVID-19

State crosses 6,000-death threshold in past 24 hours.

Evers Vetoes GOP COVID-19 Bill

Senate abandons bipartisan legislation and includes provisions Evers promised to veto.

State Receives $10 million in Opioid Crisis Settlement

Consulting firm McKinsey & Company paying out $573 million to 47 states and D.C.

18 Out of 100 People in Menominee County Have Tested Positive for COVID-19

Rate is nearly double the state average.

Republicans End Mask Mandate, Evers Puts It Back In Place

Governor issues new health order after Republicans end his prior one.

AG Kaul, Gov Evers Announce $573 Million Multistate Agreement with McKinsey & Company for “Turbocharging” the Opioid Epidemic with Purdue Pharma

February 4, 2021

Only 5 of 72 Counties Show Growing COVID-19 Case Burdens

Vilas County currently has a worst-in-Wisconsin rate.

Race and Income and ‘Back to School’

Republicans decry virtual schooling for Black students. But Black families more likely to support it.

City’s New Vaccine Scheduling Tool Fills Up Quickly

Health department says to check back Friday to schedule vaccination.

Far More Women Getting Vaccines

Nearly 10% of women and just 5.2% of men in Wisconsin have gotten at least a first dose.

Gov. Evers Grants Thirty-Seven More Pardons

Nearly 2% of State Population Vaccinated

Some 570,000 doses administered. Low supplies still constricting vaccinations.

1,095 New COVID-19 Cases

DHS reports 40 deaths.

Evers Names 30 Equity Council Members

Governor’s Advisory Council on Equity and Inclusion appointees include leaders from nonprofits, tribes, churches, community groups.

State Ends January With 61,313 New COVID-19 Cases, 1,037 Deaths

Trends show slowing disease spread, but still far ahead of most of 2020.

1,007 New COVID-19 Cases

Active hospitalizations increase by 40 to 697.

FEMA Provides $47 Million to the State of Wisconsin for Vaccine Distribution Support

1,493 New COVID-19 Cases

9,556 new cases in the past week.

Paid Sick Leave Has Health Benefits

Report finds universal paid sick leave would reduce pandemic’s spread by 10%.

State Launching Vaccine Appointment Website

It launches in February. Anyone can sign up, those ineligible will go on wait list.

1 in 10 Milwaukee County Residents Have Tested Positive For COVID-19

But under 10,000 people in Wisconsin have tested positive in past week for first time since September.

City Vaccination Program Delayed by Old Computer System

Health Department interim commissioner points to long term underfunding, deluge of work during pandemic.

Bucks VP Alex Lasry Gets Vaccinated by “Pure Happenstance”

Lasry offered vaccine by wife's uncle when doses were close to expiring.

Wisconsin Expands Medicaid Coverage of Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Members

New benefit becomes effective on February 1, 2021

1,802 New COVID-19 Cases

Weekly case totals keep dropping

DHS Expanding Vaccinators for Assisted Living Facilities

DHS is partnering with independent pharmacies, local health departments to hasten rollout.

Legislature Halts Mask Mandate Repeal

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said bill not being taken up, for now.

Peer-Run Respite for Veterans Now Open

The R&R House supports veterans with mental health and substance use challenges

New COVID-19 Cases Still Coming in Faster Than Any Point Last Summer

Seven-day rolling total keeps falling, but is still ahead of any date before September 17th.

Vos ‘Behaving Like a Bully,’ Democrats Charge

After 10 months with no COVID-19 response bill, frustrated Democrats condemn their colleagues.

New COVID-19 Cases At Lowest Point Since Mid-September

Despite trending lower, cases are still higher than at any point before September

State Announces Next Phase of Vaccines

More groups will be added on March 1. President Biden ramping up federal vaccines delivered to states.

DHS Announces Groups Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine Tentatively Beginning March 1

Focuses on vulnerability and exposure risk of COVID-19

946 New COVID-19 Cases

Excluding Christmas holiday, it's the lowest total since September. But testing is also down.

1,119 New COVID-19 Cases

Six deaths, 761 actively hospitalized

Timberlake Has Chops to Ramp Up Vaccines

Evers appointee to head state health department a seasoned pro. GOP legislators should confirm her.

1,681 New COVID-19 Cases Reported

Daily death toll and reported new hospitalization figures keep falling.

2,070 New COVID-19 Cases

785 people actively hospitalized with disease, down from 1,243 people 30 days ago.

2,177 New COVID-19 Cases

Average reported daily death total and positive case rate trending downward.

Mass Vaccination Bill Clears Committee

One provision would expand vaccination to everyone by March, DHS says bill doesn't address "critical limitation."

DHS Releases Enhancements to COVID-19 Data Disease Activity Dashboard

Offers new and improved case activity features

1,522 New COVID-19 Cases

Testing at its lowest point since May 23rd, cases at their lowest point since September 21st.

State Expands Eligibility for Vaccination

Proposal for next phase expands eligibility for vaccines to nearly half the population.

Assembly Bill Seeks to Vaccinate Everyone

Would overrule health officials, who say making everyone eligible would overwhelm limited vaccine supply.

Vaccines for Senior Citizens Start Soon

As of January 25, people 65 and older can get vaccinated. State committee still finalizing other recommendations.

Gov. Evers Announces New Public Health Emergency, Issues New Face Coverings Order as State Continues Vaccine Distribution

State Collecting At-Home COVID-19 Tests

In December state began distributing and receiving test kits. 1,600 collected so far.

Wisconsin Announces 65 and older Adults Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine Beginning January 25

1,083 New COVID-19 Cases

5,132 processed tests

Protect Our Care Applauds President-Elect Biden’s Selection of Andrea Palm as Deputy Secretary of HHS

Wisconsin National Guard continues COVID-19 testing throughout the state

State Losing Top Health Official To Biden Administration

Andrea Palm named deputy secretary of Department of Health and Human Services.

Gov. Tony Evers Releases Statement on DHS Secretary-designee Palm Nomination, Announces DHS Interim Secretary Karen Timberlake

9% of Wisconsin Residents Have Tested Positive for COVID-19

One death reported Sunday, down from Saturday's record 128.

Record 128 COVID-19 Deaths

But 30-day daily death average still below where it was for past two months.

2,269 New COVID-19 Cases

New cases, but not testing, below where it was a week ago.

Wisconsin Creating Mobile Vaccination Teams

Effort to be initially targeted at first responders.

Gov. Evers Announces DHS Assisted Living Facilities Will Begin Federal Pharmacy Partnership Program to Receive COVID-19 Vaccines

Gov. Evers Announces Launch of Mobile Vaccination Teams

Mobile vaccination clinics will expand vaccine access to all corners of Wisconsin

New Smelt Consumption Advisory for Lake Superior

Elevated Levels of PFAS Found in Rainbow Smelt

2,712 New COVID-19 Cases

42 deaths reported, as active hospitalizations hover near 1,000

GOP Legislators Criticize State’s Vaccine Rollout

Republicans want faster, wider rollout. Evers says state needs more vaccine.

Disability Community Demands Better Voting Access

Current system and election laws make accessibility difficult to guarantee.

Gov. Evers, DHS Announce Nearly $9 Million Awarded for Drug Treatment Services

Funding to support treatment for the problem use of opioids and stimulants

DHS Unveils Enhancements to COVID-19 Vaccine Data Page

Supervisor Martin Calls for Vaccination of MCTS Bus Drivers

2,134 New COVID-19 Cases

1,025 people actively hospitalized with disease, 37 new deaths

COVID-19 Variant Hits Wisconsin

Research indicates it is more easily transmitted and may have led to UK's spike in infections.

Gov. Evers and DHS Announce $86 Million in Funding for Local and Tribal Health Departments

Gov. Evers and DHS Announce $86 Million in Funding for Local and Tribal Health Departments