Health & Fitness
Coronavirus: Wisconsin Closures, Cancellations, Schedule Changes
Here is our running list of closures and schedule changes related to the new coronavirus, known as COVID-19.
MILWAUKEE, WI — As concerns over transmitting coronavirus, known as COVID-19, grow in Wisconsin, many businesses, hospitals and universities across the state are implementing changes and closures.
Ascension, one of the largest healthcare providers in Wisconsin, has changed their visitor policy, citing COVID-19 concerns.
"Ascension Wisconsin is implementing temporary visitor restrictions, in both inpatient and outpatient settings, to minimize disease transmission, specifically the spread of viral respiratory infections including COVID-19," hospital officials said in a statement.
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Those restrictions include limiting patient visits to two people at a time, and restricting visitors who have returned in the last two weeks from one of several foreign countries.
Closures And Changes Due To Coronavirus
Below is our running list of closures, cancellations and changes due to COVID-19 concerns.
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If you have an update you want included in our list, email Milwaukee Regional Editor Scott Anderson at scott.anderson@patch.com.
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Date of Update: March 12
School Districts:
Waukesha Schools To Stay Open Amid Coronavirus Concerns
Elmbrook Moves To Virtual Learning Over Coronavirus Concerns
Greendale Schools To Remain Open Amid Coronavirus Scare
MLB Cancels Spring Training, Brewers' Opening Day Delayed
The Milwaukee Brewers 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 11 will be the final spring training game for the Crew, as Major League Baseball announced they were cancelling the remainder of the 2020 Spring Training season while also delaying the start of the 2020 MLB regular season over coronavirus concerns.
The Milwaukee Brewers were originally slated to begin the season at Miller Park on March 26 against the Chicago Cubs. That's not happening any more, MLB says, but we will have to wait to see what their plan will be.
Fiserv Forum Postpones 3 Concerts
Blake Shelton was originally scheduled to perform on March 20, Michael Buble on March 29, and Dan + Shay on April 11.
According to a FOX 6 report, Dan + Shay will be rescheduled for Aug. 28, Shelton will likely appear in Spring 2021 and no date has been set for Buble's appearance.
He will likely make that appearance in 2021. A Michael Buble concert make-up date has not yet been announced.
Local Catholics Don't Have To Attend Mass
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee announced Thursday that Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki has dispensed Catholics from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass due to concerns about the spread of Covid-19, the coronavirus.
Listecki said the dispensation will cover the next two weeks, including Masses for Sundays March 15, 22 and 29. Masses will still be celebrated across the 10 counties of the archdiocese, but the obligation to attend Sunday Mass will be lifted, leaving attendance to people’s individual judgment.
Milwaukee St. Patrick's Day Parade Canceled
Milwaukee's 54th-annual St. Patrick's Day Parade scheduled for Saturday, March 14 has been canceled due to growing concerns over the transmission of coronavirus, known as COVID-19.
On Thursday, City of Milwaukee officials, along with organizers with the Westown Association and Shamrock Club of Wisconsin made the decision together, calling it a difficult one.
Wisconsin Lutheran College Extends Break, Moves To Online Classes
"Wisconsin Lutheran College is extending Spring Break by one week through March 22, 2020. The decision to deliver classes online or in-person beginning the week of March 23 will be made and communicated by noon on Tuesday, March 17, officials said Thursday.
Ongoing updates will be provided at www.wlc.edu/coronavirus.
Marquette University Makes Changes To Calendar
According to university officials, here is the rundown of how Marquette will function through April 10.
- From March 16 through March 20, in-person classes are suspended. Faculty will receive training in online course deployment and will be working to develop a plan for moving instruction online. This is NOT an extension of spring break; students should complete their assigned readings and coursework. Faculty will follow up with specific instructions for their classes.
- From March 23 through April 10, all instruction will be accomplished online.
- Students who live in on-campus residence halls and university-owned apartments are directed not to return to campus before April 10. Those who live in off-campus housing are asked to use their best judgment on whether to return and to avoid campus facilities to the extent possible.
- The university is suspending all on-campus university-sponsored events with more than 50 attendees until at least April 10.
The 2020 Downtown Racine St. Patrick’s Day Parade scheduled for Saturday, March 14 in Downtown Racine has been canceled.
"As a precaution, and in order with the State’s recommendations to cancel all events that include more than 250 people, the City is canceling this weekend’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The City is in the process of reviewing other events and facility uses, and may announce further cancellations," Racine Mayor Cory Mason said Thursday afternoon.
Carthage College officials said they're extending spring break by one week, citing COVID-19 concerns. Spring break will now continue through March 20. University officials said once spring break is over, the university will resume classes through remote teaching.
Remote teaching will continue through Thursday, April 9, before Carthage’s regularly-scheduled Easter break, April 10-13, university officials said.
Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Canceled
The remainder of the Big Ten men's basketball tournament have been canceled over COVID-19 concerns.
The Wisconsin Badgers were supposed to play their opening 2020 Big Ten Tournament game at 11 a.m. Friday at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
"The Big Ten Conference will use this time to work with the appropriate medical experts and institutional leadership to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.
WIAA Basketball Tournaments Canceled
The 2020 WIAA state boys and girls basketball tournament have been canceled over COVID-19 concerns.
The WIAA announced Thursday night that it canceled all remaining games in both the boys and girls postseason basketball tournaments. This decision overrules a previous decision to keep playing both tournaments with limited attendance.
Date of Update: March 11
UW-Madison Suspends Face-To-Face Instruction
In a news alert posted on the UW-Madison website Wednesday morning, university officials wrote: "To lessen the risk to our community as much as possible, UW-Madison will suspend Spring Semester face-to-face instruction effective Monday, March 23, the date that classes would typically resume after next week's Spring Break."
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University officials said an "alternate delivery of classes" will begin on March 23, and continue at least through Friday, April 10.
According to the university, a decision on when and whether in-person instruction will resume will be shared in early April.
Students will receive additional information about this transition in the next few days, officials said.
UW-La Crosse became the second university in Wisconsin to announce major changes to their academic calendar.
"All UWL classes will be cancelled the week after spring break, March 23-27," UW-La Crosse officials said Wednesday afternoon. "Subsequently, all classes will be held in online formats through Friday, April 10. Any exceptions will be communicated to students in the affected courses."
According to the school's calendar, here are the changes:
March 15-21: Spring Break
March 22-28: All Classes Cancelled
March 29-April 11: All Classes Online
Alverno Extends Spring Break one Week
Alverno College is extending spring break by one week. "No classes will be held, in person or online, between March 16 and March 20 at 4 p.m. A decision will be made early next week about graduate classes for the evening of March 20 and all classes beyond March 20," university officials said. "This will allow all faculty to prepare classes to be offered online in the event that on-ground courses do not resume March 24."
All other Alverno administrative and business operations will remain open.
"The University will be suspending face-to-face classes from Monday, March 16 through Tuesday, March 31. During that period of time, all classes will be delivered online via the Canvas platform," university officials said.
Carroll University Extends Spring Break
"With rising concerns in regard to the spread of COVID-19, Carroll University is extending spring break for students through Friday, March 20. We plan to resume in-person classes on Monday, March 23. This decision has been made to help ensure the health and safety of our campus community. Faculty and staff will report to work as usual. We appreciate your patience and will continue to update you as this situation evolves," Carroll officials wrote.
UW-Milwaukee Extends Spring Break
The University of Milwaukee will extend its spring break by one week after university officials said a university employee fell ill after potentially being exposed to the new coronavirus, known as COVID-19.
That person is being tested, and is in quarantine. University officials also say they are not going to know the outcome of testing until the end of this week.
Waukesha County Technical College Cancels Open House
"Due to concerns over safety for our students, staff and the community, and official word from the World Health Organization declaring the coronavirus a pandemic, Waukesha County Technical College is canceling its spring open house set for tomorrow, March 12, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m," WCTC officials said.
Date of Update: March 9
CVS Delivering Prescriptions For Free
Citing COVID-19 concerns, CVS Pharmacy said they're no longer charging for prescription medication delivery.
"Being committed to the welfare of those we serve means being responsive to evolving needs and acting swiftly. This is particularly true in times of uncertainty," Troyen Brennan, M.D., M.P.H., executive vice president and chief medical officer, CVS Health, says in a company news release.
Date of Update: March 6
The Elmbrook School District is asking parents of students to fill out a new form that includes where they are going and for how long.
On March 6, 2020, the School District of Elmbrook updated the Family Trip Request Form found on page 3 of practice statement 5113, to include the location of travel and dates.
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