Department of Health Services

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.

Why Aren’t More COVID-19 Tests Given?

More available now, but other factors may limit use, says Department of Health Services official.

Council Okays Fines for “Safer at Home” Violators

107 arrests so far by Milwaukee Police; now can issue fines of $500 to enforce state order.

Biggest One Day COVID-19 Case Increase in Wisconsin

Meatpacking and food processing plant outbreaks create disease clusters beyond Milwaukee County.

Wisconsin Was a Leader in 1918 Epidemic

Only state to do a widescale shutdown, and had a mortality rate far lower than the national average.

Supreme Court Asked to Block State Shutdown

Republican legislators charge that ’Safer At Home’ order will leave state “in shambles.”

COVID-19 Testing Slows

State reports declining testing totals four days in a row, while positive test rate remains steady.

Some Sheriffs, Police Question Evers’ Shutdown

"For those not afraid of the Devil,” says one police chief, social distancing may not be needed.

State Still Not Using Full Testing Capacity

Death toll from COVID-19 grows to 230, 132 in Milwaukee County.

Evers Releases ‘Badger Bounce Back’ Plan

Lays out six criteria for reopening economy, getting Wisconsin back to work.

Demand for Food Assistance Doubles in State

Food share applications rise by 5,000 per week, food banks balance face shrinking supply.

New Data Shows Steady COVID-19 Growth, Nine More Confirmed Deaths

Number of people tested, percentage testing positive and other figures remain consistent throughout April.

State Reports 154 New COVID-19 Cases

New positive case total is just below April daily average.

Evers Calls For Federal Aid As Revenues Decline

State revenues are being decimated by the economic shutdown.

Healthcare Orgs Support Safer At Home Extension

More than a dozen major organizations in Wisconsin signed letter praising the extension.

Wisconsin Passes 4,000 COVID-19 Cases, 200 Deaths

Statewide ventilator use drops

Racine County Sheriff’s Office Statement on DHS Emergency Orders

State Still Reviewing Triage Guidelines for Ventilators

Committee has more time to decide how scarce medical equipment will be used.

Gov. Evers Signs Senate Bill 605 Expanding Access to Standing Technology for Individuals with Disabilities

The MacIver Institute: Governor Evers Is Wrong To Extend “Safer at Home”

The Permanent Damage That Extending “Safer at Home” Order Will Inflict On Our Families, Friends And Neighbors Is Not Supported By Science Or Common Sense

WMC Statement on Gov. Evers’ Safer at Home Extension

Reopen Wisconsin Rally Planned

A group is organizing a protest of the stay at home order, much like the one in Michigan.

Officials Want Physicians To Request More COVID-19 Tests

Testing capacity is more than triple what's being requested. Officials want doctors to test more people.

Evers Joins Six Governors in Planning Reopening

Wisconsin partners with Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.

Wisconsin’s COVID-19 Testing Capacity Doubles In Past Week

Twenty-nine labs can now process a total of 7,578 tests per day

Evers Extends “Safer at Home” Until May 26th, Loosens Restrictions

Golf courses can open, but the school year is canceled.

Gov. Evers Directs DHS to Extend Wisconsin’s Safer at Home Order

Healthcare Workers Want PPE, Sick Pay, Hazard Pay

17 percent of COVID-19 cases statewide are healthcare workers. They are calling on the Legislature to help them.

166 New Cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin, 3,721 Total

Death toll reaches 182

Sebring Calls for End to Closure of Businesses

Assembly Bill Responds to Pandemic

Passes 97-2 but Hintz says more needed. "I refuse to admit this is all we can do.”

Testing Slowing, But Death Rate Hasn’t

170 deaths from disease as week-over-week testing total falls.

DNR Directs JCI/Tyco To Provide Emergency Drinking Water for Three Homeowners On Private Wells Near JCI/Tyco Biosolid Applied Fields Investigation Area After Sampling Results Show High Levels of PFAS Contamination

DNR To Host Online Listening Session April 15

Number of COVID-19 Tests Falls to Three-Week Low as Death Toll Grows

Easter aberration or decline in test demand?

Business Groups Want State To Reopen

Pushing Evers to act within two weeks. Scientists say it's too soon.

Gov. Evers Announces Second Alternative Care Facility at Alliant Energy Center

3,341 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Wisconsin

ICU bed availability drops

ACLU Suit Calls for Elderly Inmates Release

State ACLU leader calls state prisons a “ticking time bomb” on COVID-19 for elderly and vulnerable.

Despite Slowing Growth Rate, No End in Sight for “Safer at Home”

"Science will determine what reopening looks like and when that will happen," said Evers.

New Northwest Side Assisted Living Facility Gets Committee Approval

Construction could start in June.

African-Americans Hard Hit By COVID-19 Across Wisconsin

African-American disparity isn't just a Milwaukee problem.

COVID-19 Testing Capacity Continues To Outpace Actual Testing

State officials say they've expanded guidance to allow more people to be tested.