13 New Patients Tested For Coronavirus In Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE, WI — Health officials are reporting that 13 new patients are now being tested for the new coronavirus, known as COVID-19.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the 13 new patients are among a group of 39 patients that have been tested for COVID-19.

Of those 39 tests, 24 came back negative for the virus, 14 are currently in testing, and one person was found positive. That person has since recovered and is now healthy, health officials say.

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Stay Away From Emergency Room If You Think You Have Coronavirus

According to a WISN-12 report, health officials are urging people who think they've been exposed to COVID-19 to not go to the hospital emergency room, out of concern that they'll spread the virus. Instead, patients are urged to call their local health department to figure out care.

The latest numbers arrive one day after Vice President Mike Pence announced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would lift restrictions on coronavirus testing, allowing for a much larger group of people exhibiting symptoms to be directly tested for COVID-19.

Under the new guidelines, healthcare providers can order a test for any patient based on their risk factors and respiratory symptoms.

Ongoing Coverage

• Wisconsin Should Plan Now For Pandemic ... Just In Case
• 4 Self-Quarantined In Milwaukee Over Coronavirus Fear
• First Coronavirus Case Confirmed In Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Family Was Stuck Overseas Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
• Wisconsin University Students Screened For Coronavirus

Should I Be Tested?

According to health officials in Wisconsin, people must meet certain criteria for testing for COVID-19, including: having symptoms of the virus, such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, and having traveled to areas where the infection is active (China, Iran, South Korea, Italy) within 14 days of when symptoms began or having had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case.

Additionally, people having severe lower respiratory illness that requires hospitalization, along with no other positive tests for influenza or other respiratory diseases may be considered for COVID-19 testing.

Lucas Combos, Patch Staff, contributed to this story