Department of Health Services

Evers Details $1.1 Billion Pandemic Plan

State’s share of CARES Act to ramp up testing, tracing, PPE supplies, hospitals.

COVID-19 Testing Data Sends Mixed Signals

Testing down, cases up.

Illinois Patrons Flock to State’s Bars, Restaurants

Kenosha County, where COVID-19 cases rising, gets in-flow from northern Illinois.

Evers Wants 270-Day Shutdown! Nope

Republicans, talk radio spread rumor of nine-month shutdown. Governor calls it "a lie."

Positive COVID-19 Test Rate Falls to Record Low

Milwaukee County crosses 5,000 case threshold, has positive rate nearly twice the state average.

Black Lives Collateral Damage in Pandemic

The rush to reopen state is most threatening to the black community.

Gov. Evers Announces $75 Million We’re All In Grant Program and Initiative to Spur Wisconsin’s Economic Recovery, Promote Safe Business Practices

As COVID-19 Testing Expands, Racial Disparities Persist

No new deaths reported in past 24 hours, a first since March.

No New State Pandemic Rules Likely

Evers and legislative leaders can’t agree. And even if they did it would take weeks to create.

Wisconsin Sets New High With 502 New COVID-19 Cases

Both Racine and Brown counties have more cases per capita than Milwaukee does.

Wisconsin National Guard conducting mobile testing at sites around the state

Attorney General Supports Local Health Orders

Kaul opinion finds local orders enforceable, but communities continue to rescind theirs.

Are Local “Safer at Home” Orders Legal?

Kenosha and Brown counties drop theirs, while Mayor Barrett stands by city's, says politics at play.

State Sets New Record, 6,469 Tests In 24 Hours

But percentage of tests coming back positive doesn't drop.

Milwaukee Allows Salons, Barbershops To Reopen

New order is similar to the order issued by Milwaukee suburbs Wednesday night.

Health Department Gets Support From Librarians, School Nurses

Government employees being retrained as contact tracers to fight COVID-19

Gov. Evers Approves DHS Statement of Scope, Beginning Administrative Rule Making Process

Wisconsin Sets New COVID-19 Testing High

Surge in testing comes as testing capacity drops because of supply shortage.

Wisconsin Politicos Respond to Safer At Home Ruling

Politicians, lobbyists and activists fall back on party line in attacking or praising decision.

Gov Evers’ Statement on Wisconsin Supreme Court Ruling

Supreme Court of Wisconsin Rules Against Science and the Health and Safety of Wisconsinites

Supreme Court Strikes Down “Safer at Home”

Decision goes into effect immediately. Milwaukee's order remains in effect.

8 City Nursing Homes Have COVID-19 Cases

State releases names, locations of 38 active investigations for the first time.

291 New COVID-19 Cases, 3 Deaths in Wisconsin

Positive case rate jumps over Tuesday's total, but stays below 14-day average.

Five of Six Badger Bounce Back Critieria Have Green Light

Testing totals should soon surge as a result of Wisconsin National Guard collections.

State Hygiene Lab Seeks Antibody Test Data

Data may help measure spread of immunity.

COVID-19 Testing Falls To One-Week Low

Three of six Badger Bounce Back plan criteria are now satisfied.

State Allows Most Retail Stores to Open

New order by Gov. Evers says stores can allow customers in, with restrictions.

AFP Applauds Dentistry Board Urging Access to Dental Services

Gov. Evers Announces Another Turn of the Dial for Wisconsin Businesses

Gov. Evers Announces New Community Testing Sites Being Held in Milwaukee and Madison

Free COVID-19 Testing Sites Open Monday Morning

Individuals do not need to exhibit symptoms or make an appointment.

Wisconsin Crosses 10,000 COVID-19 Case Threshold, 400 Deaths

Waukesha County passes 100 cases per 100,000 residents threshold, Kenosha County may soon pass Milwaukee.

Wisconsin National Guard conducting mobile testing at sites around the state

GOP Road Show Attacks Evers’ Plan

Analysis: Republicans want a Badger Bounce Back, but distort details of Evers' plan.

Free COVID-19 Testing Sites Will Be at UMOS, Midtown Center

Sites are on border of areas of city with highest number of COVID-19 cases.

COVID-19 Testing Capacity Drops

But state reports second highest total of tests processed in 24 hours, percent positive continues downward trend.

State Releases Guidelines for Businesses to Use Once Reopened

Guidelines include general advice and industry specific recommendations.

Businesses Prepare for Possible Re-Opening

State hangs in the balance while Supreme Court deliberates Safer-At-Home order.

Milwaukee Launching Two Free COVID-19 Testing Sites

Individuals will be able to receive free test without appointment or symptoms.

COVID-19 Testing Up 31% in Wisconsin

State reports over 5,000 tests in a day for first time. Positive test rate drops to record low.

PFAS Found In Sediment and Surface Water At Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern

PFAS Are Highest In The Kinnickinnic River

Gov. Evers Continues to Expand Community Testing Programs, Announces New Online Tool

Vos Suggests Changes to Evers’ Order

On stay at home policies, Republican leader says legislators more in touch with people than Evers.

Back-to-Back Record COVID-19 Testing Days

Wisconsin labs process over 4,000 tests in 24 hours for first time.

Baldwin, Moore, Kind, Pocan Push for Expanded Food Assistance for Wisconsin in Coronavirus Relief Legislation

"As we face historic economic and social disruption during this pandemic, we must bolster the SNAP program and ensure access for those Wisconsinites who need food assistance."

Justice Suggests Evers’ Order Is ‘Tyranny’

State Supreme Court justices compare safer-at-home order to Japanese internment camps.

Ventilators ‘Almost a Death Sentence’?

Study shows they don’t work for many COVID-19 patients, state's hospitals limiting their use.

Gov. Evers Details Expanded COVID-19 Contact Tracing Efforts

Local and State public health agencies have already completed nearly 18,000 contact tracing interviews since March

Wisconsin Sets New COVID-19 Testing Record

Percent of negative results increases, a positive sign.

State Will Test All Nursing Home Residents

38% of COVID-19 deaths were in long-term care facilities. 10,000 tests per week planned.

DHS Announces Hospital Metrics for Badger Bounce Back

Governor Evers Suspends Rules to Ensure Patient Care, Coverage Continues During COVID-19 Pandemic

Pandemic Temper Tantrums?

Republicans’ court challenge to Evers’s safer-at-home order is about anger, not state law.

State Passes 8,000 COVID-19 Cases

And 340 deaths. 48 percent of those with disease believed to have recovered.

Gov. Evers Announces Plan to Make Wisconsin One of the Top States in Testing Per Capita

Can Missy Hughes Help Businesses Recover?

WEDC director still hasn’t been approved by Senate, but has vital role in state’s economy.

Gov. Evers Announces Additional Community Testing Events in Northwest Wisconsin

Positive COVID-19 Testing Rate Trending In Wrong Direction

Even as testing expands, average number of people testing positive for disease expands.

Over 38% of Those That Died From COVID-19 Lived in Long-Term Care Facilities

Newly-public data highlights danger to those in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Independent Restaurants Devastated by Pandemic

Restaurants were already a tough business, then the pandemic hit.

State Supreme Court to Hear GOP Challenge of ‘Safer At Home’

Justices will hear oral arguments on Tuesday

State Hits New High in COVID-19 Cases

Number tested is higher, but so is percent of positive cases. Disease spreading in state.

Milwaukee County Struggling To Pass COVID-19 Peak

After a peak in early April there was a drop in COVID-19 transmission, but the rate again climbed

GOP Listens To Business Lobby Reopening Plan

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce wants to replace the Badger Bounce Back plan with their own.

The State’s 1918 Pandemic Shutdown Worked

Milwaukee was one of four cities with lowest rate of disease, at least 30% lower than most cities.

Gov. Evers Announces the Launch of Community Testing Events

1 in 5 Workers File For Unemployment During Pandemic

18 percent of the U.S. workforce has lost their job since the start of the pandemic.

Wisconsinites Starting To Ignore Stay-At-Home Order

State residents starting to experience “quarantine fatigue.”

Wisconsin COVID-19 Testing Grows 69 Percent Week Over Week

But the percentage of tests coming back positive isn't falling dramatically.

Low-income Communities are Hard Hit by COVID-19

Local African-American leaders lament the effect of COVID-19 on their communities.

Gov. Evers Delivers Democratic Radio Address Urging for Unified, Bipartisan Solutions

Business Lobby Wants State to Re-Open Monday

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce is pushing its plan to reopen Wisconsin businesses next week.

The Politics of the Pandemic

Republican push to reopen state economy depends on distorting the data.

Milwaukee County Passes Ordinance to Advance Racial Equity and Improve Health Outcomes

Milwaukee County leaders commit to eliminating institutional racism by addressing County polices, practices and power structures through a racial equity lens

Is The Meat Safe to Eat?

COVID-19 outbreaks at state's meatpacking plants raises questions for consumers.

DHS Releases Data About COVID-19 Public Health Investigations and Outbreaks Across Wisconsin

Cudahy Health Department and State Partners Investigate Cases of COVID-19 Linked to Local Meat Packing Plant

Testing and contact tracing are underway to prevent the spread of the virus

Positive Case Rate Falls, But State Wants It Even Lower

New webpage allows public to track progress on criteria in Badger Bounce Back plan.

‘It’s a Pain I Can’t Even Describe’

Adrienne Lathan, 48, describes how COVID-19 ravaged her body and killed her father.

Wisconsin to Provide Temporary Food Benefits for Children Missing School Meals

Unions Join Legal Battle Over Evers’ Order

GOP suit asking Wisconsin Supreme Court to quash stay-at-home order threatens workers' lives, union lawyer argues.

Evers Administration Seeks to Save Lives, Stop Republican Lawsuit

Wisconsin Needs 600 Contact Tracers

State making progress on hiring and training, but still short of 1,000 person goal.

State’s COVID-19 Death Toll Reaches 300

72 percent of those who've died have been 70 or older.

Half of State’s Restaurants Shut Down

Many may never return. Even for those doing carryout, business down by 50%.

Some Non-Essential Businesses Can Open

Evers order says dog groomers, small engine repair, upholsterers, others can reopen with precautions.

Positive Test Rate Falls to Lowest Percentage in 20 Days

State reports highest testing total ever reported on a Monday.

The Quack Science of Robin Vos

He’s “not a doctor,” he says while repeatedly rejecting medical experts amid a deadly pandemic.

Gov. Evers Announces Expanded Opportunities for Certain Nonessential Businesses

Johnson Controls Wants Pause in PFAS Testing

DNR is reviewing a request from the company, which wants to stop PFAS efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wisconsin Ends Week With 1,412 New COVID-19 Cases, Surge in Testing

Despite testing boost, state still has almost three times the capacity.

Governor Evers suspends Department of Revenue Administrative Rules in order to make certain commerce safer and maintain social distancing

At Least 40 COVID-19 Cases Tied to Election in Milwaukee

Number up five-fold from Monday, final report still pending.

UFCW Local 1473 Announces Universal Free Coronavirus Testing for Patrick Cudahy Workers

Agreement Between Union, Smithfield Foods and Local Public Health Authorities Important Step Forward for Stemming the Spread of Virus

COVID-19 Testing Jumps Over 50 Percent To New Record, Cases Rise as Positive Rate Falls

Over 3,400 tests performed in last 24 hours, 304 new positive cases.

WMC Announces Plan to Get Back to Business

Proposal Will Protect Lives, Livelihoods and Wisconsin’s Future

Conservative Groups Twist Coronavirus Facts

Think tank MacIver Institute and grassroots group #ReopenWisconsin misuse the data on COVID-19 for political ends.

State Reports Record High COVID-19 Testing Capacity

But the number of tests performed isn't keeping pace. State officials encourage doctors to test more people.

Gov. Evers Signs Emergency Order #32, Relating to the Operation of an Alternative Care Facility at State Fair Park

Over 300 COVID-19 Cases At Long Term Care Facilities

Nearly 100 reported cases at group homes, homeless shelters.