14 Coronavirus Deaths In Wisconsin; 842 Confirmed Cases

MILWAUKEE, WI — On Friday afternoon, state health officials and Gov. Tony Evers confirmed that Wisconsin now has 13 coronavirus-related deaths in the state in addition to 842 confirmed cases across the state.

Milwaukee has by far the most cases in Wisconsin with 411. Evers said the northwest side of the city has been hit the hardest. "It's a crisis within a crisis," he said. State officials said the Center for Disease Control currently has a team in the area, investigating cases, including contact tracing, recommending quarantines and helping to minimize the spread of the virus. State health officials say they hop to learn more from the CDC in the coming weeks.

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When speculating on when Wisconsin's coronavirus outbreak will reach its height, Ryan Westergaard, Chief Medical Officer for Department of Health Service's Bureau of Communicable Diseases, said he's hoping that the coronavirus outbreak in Wisconsin will see its peak in the next two to three weeks.

"Right now is the critical time to implement safer-at-home so that peak doesn't happen further down the road," he said.

Absentee Ballots, Election Addressed

On Friday, Evers said he intends to have the April 7 election continue as planned. In new information released from the Governor's office on Friday, Evers said he's calling on the Republican-controlled state legislature to pass legislation that would result in sending absentee ballots to every registered voter in Wisconsin. Evers is also calling for state lawmakers to pass additional provisions that would allow ballots postmarked on election day to be considered valid. Evers is also asking for additional time so local clerks have the ability to count all the absentee ballots that come in.

When questioned by one reporter how he thinks Wisconsin is going to "pull this off" when referring to the election, Evers was direct.

"It ain't gonna be easy, but we're gonna do it," he said. Evers said the state has hundreds of races across the state that need the election so decision-makers can be in position during this public health emergency. "Frankly the last thing we need is to have all those positions vacant."

"I don't care who's running for office or what's on the ballot. Everyone should have access to a ballot," he said. "I'm hoping the legislature will act swiftly to send absentee ballots to every registered voter in Wisconsin. Our local election clerks are doing their best but they need help. the legislature needs to step up."

State Sen. Chris Larson, a candidate for the Milwaukee County Executive position, said he supports the governor's call for absentee ballot mailings and special considerations.

"I applaud Gov. Evers for calling for changes that will make it easier for each of our neighbors to vote in the April 7 election and ensure equal access to the ballot,” Larson said. “As in-person voting becomes a more and more difficult prospect, Wisconsin needs to put our efforts into sending absentee ballots to every registered voter and extending the deadline for when they will be accepted. Now it’s time we get this legislation passed and make sure every voter in Wisconsin has a chance to cast their ballot.”

Wisconsin's 14 Coronavirus-Related Deaths

14. March 27: Ozaukee County - A second resident of a senior care facility in Grafton died from complications from coronavirus.

13. March 27: Ozaukee County - One resident of a senior care facility in Grafton died from complications from coronavirus.

12. March 26: Iron County - One person died from the coronavirus. Officials did not provide any details about the deceased.

11. March 26: Milwaukee County - A 69-year-old man died Thursday evening from complications due to the coronavirus after spending one night in the hospital.

10. March 26: Milwaukee County - A 65-year-old Milwaukee woman died Thursday afternoon from the coronavirus after she was hospitalized the previous Saturday.

9. March 26: Milwaukee County - A 79-year-old Milwaukee woman died Thursday morning from the coronavirus after she had been in the hospital for about 10 days.

8. March 26: Milwaukee County - A 57-year-old West Allis woman died at a local hospital from complications of the coronavirus. She had been hosptialized since March 19.

7. March 25: Milwaukee County - A 60-year-old man from Milwaukee's north side died from a coronavirus-related infection at his home.

6. March 25: Dane County - A patient in their 70s died from complications due to a coronavirus infection.

5. March 23: Milwaukee County - A 54-year-old man died from complicatoins of a coronavirus infection. Officials said he had been hospitalized for only a short time before his death.

4. March 21: Milwaukee County - A 69-year-old man died from complications of the coronavirus. He had been in the hospital for several days.

3. March 20: Milwaukee County - Officials confirmed that a man in his 60s died from the virus in Milwaukee County.

2. March 19: Ozaukee County - The second person in Wisconsin who died from the coronavirus was a man in his 90s, and was from from Ozaukee County.

1. March 19: Fond du Lac County - Officials confirmed that a man in his 50s died as a result of the virus. He was Wisconsin's first confirmed fatality due to the virus.

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Grocery Stores And Carryout Food: What's The Risk?

Public health officials in Wisconsin fielded a number of questions asked by state residents during Thursday afternoon's conference call, with most of them focusing on quality-of-life issues and the risks of going out in public - especially to get food.

Westergaard answered one question that kept coming up: which is riskier, going to the grocery store or getting takeout food?

"We can feel comfortable that our usual ways of getting food are safe. I don't think people should feel concerned about ordering takeout or going to the grocery store. The frequently-touched surfaces are one of the way viruses like the coronavirus are spread. Pay attention to hand hygiene," he said. "Be safe, and be careful with hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette."