Department of Health Services

Wisconsin State Fair Canceled

Ongoing pandemic would put safety of attendees and workers at risk.

DHS Announces $10 Million in Funding for Health Clinics

Funds will reimburse clinics providing care to underserved populations

GOP, Dems Battle Over Unemployment Backlog

Democrats say Walker administration failed to update the system, now it can't handle unprecedented wave of unemployment claims.

WI Supreme Court Dismisses Second ‘Safer At Home’ Suit

Ruling leaves local stay-at-home orders in place.

Justice Hagedorn Surprises Observers

Supreme Court justice seems like a true conservative, not a right-wing activist.

New Highs for COVID-19 Testing, Cases, Deaths

State reports over 10,000 tests in a single day for the first time.

Will Evictions, Home Foreclosures Rise?

State moratorium on both has expired, experts expect surge in problems.

Wisconsin National Guard surpasses 70,000 specimens collected at mobile testing sites around the state

Report Predicts Second COVID-19 Surge in State

Virus reproducing faster in Wisconsin than all but nine states, British study finds.

COVID-19 Hospitalizations Hit 30-Day High in Wisconsin

279 new cases in past 24 hours.

Kids and Families Invited to Virtually Experience the Milwaukee Art Museum at Kohl’s Art Generation Family Sundays

Virtual visitors can make and share art, hear a story and explore the galleries online.

307 New COVID-19 Cases, 24 Hospitalizations, 4 Deaths

Wisconsin reports third-highest single-day testing total, while positive case rate falls.

Wisconsin Crosses 15,000 COVID-19 Case Threshold

400 new cases Sunday, with percent positive exactly matching the seven-day average.

Will Northwoods Vacations Spread COVID-19?

Many owners of cabins come from hot spots like Milwaukee, Chicago, Twin Cities.

How State Reopening is Affecting PFAS Testing

DNR now navigating various local orders.

Advocacy Groups Want Better Worker Safety

Following COVID-19 outbreak at Kenosha Amazon facility, they urge legislators to reinstate protections.

All Inmates, Staff at Downtown Prison Being Tested

No confirmed cases among inmates yet, but 99 percent of tests are still pending. Seven confirmed cases among staff.

Pandemic Exposes Caregiver Shortage

Care for elderly and disabled was already hard to find, the pandemic made it worse.

Statewide COVID-19 Hospitalizations Up 16 Percent, 30 Percent in Milwaukee County

New testing record set each of the past three days.

Gov. Evers Orders Flags to Half-Staff on Memorial Day, Encourages Wisconsinites to Honor Memorial Day Safely

Baldwin Requests Funding to Study Opioid Crisis

Sen. Tammy Baldwin is behind a push for better data collection and monitoring of opioid use

Resilient Wisconsin Expands Reach

Initiative adds supports to website for Wisconsinites most significantly affected by COVID-19

State Allocates $100M for Nursing Home Aid

Funding from the CARES Act will go offset COVID-19 related expenses.

Federal Lawsuit Challenges Local “Safer at Home” Orders

Two plaintiffs are Republican candidates for office, another is a Milwaukee pastor.

Fear of COVID-19 in State’s Crowded Prisons

Despite reductions in overall population, overcrowded prisons remain a threat to inmate safety during the pandemic.

Wisconsin Sets COVID-19 Testing Record, Another Hospitalization High

All 72 counties have COVID-19 cases for the first time.

DHS Works with USDA and Retailers to Make Grocery Shopping Flexible and Safe for FoodShare Households

Milwaukee County Leaders Call on Governor for Support

Crowley and Nicholson Urge Governor to Provide Funding for Essential Services and Mitigate Racially Disparate Impacts of COVID-19

State Sees Biggest Hike In New COVID-19 Hospital Admissions In 30 Days

Testing hits new single-day high, as does the number of new cases.

Manufacturer Finds No PFAS In Most Wells

Fire fighting foam maker tested wells in Marinette County. DNR says more tests needed.

Did April Election Hike COVID-19 Cases?

Multiple studies differ on impact of in-person voting in Wisconsin during pandemic.

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.