Wisconsin DHS: 4,360 New Coronavirus Cases

MADISON, WI— On Monday, the state Department of Health Services reported a record 4,360 positive coronavirus tests. Wisconsin now has 271,770 coronavirus cases and 2,329 deaths.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to consider reinstating Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' coronavirus restrictions limiting the size of public gatherings, deferring to a lower court to decide.

The capacity limits order was issued Oct. 6 by Andrea Palm, secretary of the state Department of Health Services, in the face of surging coronavirus cases in Wisconsin. Evers said he was making the move to curb the spread of the virus as it spikes in Wisconsin.

On Friday, Evers released a statement regarding the Third District Court of Appeals' decision to order a temporary injunction on Emergency Order #3, limiting public gatherings to 25 percent of a building or room's capacity, which was set to expire.

“Today’s decision comes as we reported more than 6,000 new COVID-19 cases—the most ever in a single day. This is another blow to our state's response to this pandemic and our efforts to keep Wisconsinites safe. We will continue challenging this decision, but the bottom line is that we can’t wait for the courts to figure this out—we need Wisconsinites to stay home and mask up, and it has to start today. It’s the only way we will get this virus under control and ensure our economy can recover.”

The state also opened a field hospital near Milwaukee on to handle an overflow of patients from hospitals that hit a record-high number of COVID-19 patients. The capacity limits order is set to expire on Nov. 6, but could be renewed. As of Monday, there were four patients at the facility, according to DHS.

Evers also declared a public heath emergency in September and extended a statewide mask mandate until Nov. 21. The order, which was in effect since August, was set to expire in September. Under the original mask order, Wisconsin residents age 5 and older are required to wear a face mask when they are indoors or in an enclosed space, other than at a private residence, with anyone outside their family or living unit.

State officials said face masks also are strongly recommended if a person is outdoors where maintaining physical distancing is not possible. The order also spells out exceptions to the requirement, listing activities such as when someone is eating, drinking or swimming. People with health conditions or disabilities that would preclude the wearing of a face mask safely are also exempt from the requirement.

Reporting and writing from The Associated Press was used in this story.