Department of Health Services

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.

Gov. Evers Announces COVID-19 Volunteer Program

Health Officials Will Track Election Day COVID-19 Spread

It will take several weeks to see if in person voting increased transmission of the disease.

See Wisconsin’s Hospital Usage With New Dashboard

Interactive dashboard allows public daily insight into hospital capacity.

Wisconsinites Who Lose Health Insurance During COVID-19 May Be Able to Enroll on HealthCare.gov or in BadgerCare

Department of Health Services Increases Contact Tracing Capabilities

2,885 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Wisconsin

Death total has grown to 111, including 68 in Milwaukee County.

Gov. Evers Reiterates Options Available for Religious Gatherings and Services

Gov. Evers Announces Construction of Alternative Care Facility at Wisconsin State Fair Park

Opioid Treatment Facility Sees Uptick During Pandemic

The epidemic has not slowed down, and neither has treatment.

Gov. Evers Delivers Weekly Democratic Radio Address on Public Health after the April 7 Spring Election

COVID-19 Death Total Crosses 100 in Wisconsin

2,756 positive cases, including 1,417 in Milwaukee County.

State Grows COVID-19 Testing Capacity

Partnerships with private labs help. But still a shortage of tests.

State Faces April 16 Deadline for Medicaid Money

Legislature must amend lame duck law or lose hundreds of millions in federal funds.

2,578 COVID-19 Cases in Wisconsin, 92 Deaths

Death total has grown five-fold in past week.

State DNR Forges Ahead on ‘Forever Chemicals’

Despite pandemic, regulators continue work on enforcement standards for PFAS in drinking water.

Supreme Court Reinstates Election, Overrules Evers

April 7th in-person election will occur as scheduled says court.

2,440 Positive Cases of COVID-19, Testing Capacity Growing

27 percent of confirmed cases have required hospitalization.

Wisconsin Reports 2,267 COVID-19 Cases, 624 Hospitalizations

Death total has risen to 68. 1,148 cases in Milwaukee County.

Change Lame Duck Law, Baldwin Urges Legislators

Republican law passed to limit governor’s power prevents him from getting federal funding for COVID-19.

Who Will Be Denied Medical Resources?

State’s disability groups call for equal treatment should life-saving supplies need to be rationed.

State Prisons Seek More Protective Gear

Corrections department also releases holds on 1,148 nonviolent misdemeanor offenders to reduce spread of disease.

Wisconsin Reports 2,122 Positive COVID-19 Cases, 56 Deaths

Despite record increases, officials believe curve is flattening, "safer at home" working.

WI Congressional Delegation Backs Federal Help

All back CARES Act and Evers' disaster declaration for Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Records Biggest One Day COVID-19 Testing Total, 1,916 Positive Cases

Positives cases growing in linear, not exponential fashion.

National Guard Not Deployed To Enforce Quarantine

Rumors that guard units were deployed to enforce the stay at home order are unfounded.

Johnson Leads Wisconsin Delegation Letter Supporting Major Disaster Declaration Request

GOP Lame-Duck Law Blocks COVID-19 Aid

State GOP was warned of unintended consequences to their law in 2018.

1,730 COVID-19 Cases in Wisconsin, 869 in Milwaukee County

Milwaukee County reports 20 deaths from disease, 17 were African Americans.