COVID-19 UPDATES FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS

As issues continue to develop and change at a quick rate with COVID-19, the Coronavirus, we at the Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) are working alongside Governor Tony Evers, the Administration, the National Association of Counties (NACo) and our general counsel, Attolles Law, s.c., to provide the latest resources and updates to assist county officials during this unprecedented time.

COVID-19 Daily Update: 5.1.2020

May 1, 2020

COVID-19 DAILY HEALTH UPDATE
(Information from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) current as of 1:00 p.m. Central, Friday, May 1, 2020)

  • Total people with negative results: 72,566 (+3,172)
  • Total people with positive results: 7,314 (+460)
  • Hospitalizations: 1,544 (+32) or 21%
  • Total deaths: 327 (+11)

COVID-19 COMMUNITY TESTING EVENTS IN BUFFALO, PEPIN, BARRON AND POLK COUNTIES, AS WELL AS ST. CROIX TRIBE, CHIPPEWA, CLARK AND TAYLOR COUNTIES
Governor Tony Evers today announced that the State Emergency Operations Center, Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Wisconsin Emergency Management, and Wisconsin National Guard are working with local health departments to create community testing events in places with a known lack of access to testing or additional testing is needed because of high rates of COVID-19.

“Taking our lab capacity from the ability to perform zero COVID-19 tests in early March to more than 11,000 tests per day now is one of our success stories here in Wisconsin,” said Gov. Evers. “But capacity is not the same as utilization, so we have some work to do to ensure everyone who needs a test is getting one and to understand the full scope of this disease around Wisconsin. The state has been working hard to support local health departments throughout this crisis and we’re pleased to announce that, starting today, our partnership will expand with the creation of community testing events throughout the state.”
Key information on testing:

  • Testing is free of charge
  • Turnaround time on testing is 24-48 hours
  • Testing is for Wisconsin residents that is 5 or older with ANY of the following symptoms: fever, cough, loss of taste/smell, shortness of breath, sore throat, fatigue, body aches, diarrhea, vomiting or nausea, chills, shaking with chills, muscle aches 
  • This is a nasal swab test

May 1, 2020: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Buffalo and Pepin County: Drive-Thru Testing
Buffalo County Highway Shop
S1672 WI-37
Alma, WI 54610

May 3-4, 2020: 9 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Barron, Polk, and St. Croix Tribe
St. Croix Casino Turtle Lake Campground
122 Tamarack Street
Turtle Lake, WI 54889

May 13, 2020: 11:00 a.m.-7 p.m.
Chippewa, Clark and Taylor Counties
Thorp High School
605 S. Clark St.
Thorp, WI 54771

Any Wisconsin resident experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are welcome at these sites.

WISCONSIN RECEIVES DELIVERY OF 230,000 N95 MASKS FROM FEMA; NEW BATTELLE CRITICAL CARE DECONTAMINATION SYSTEM COMING ONLINE IN THE STATE MID-MAY
 Wisconsin has received a delivery of 230,000 N95 respirator masks from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), providing a needed boost to efforts to obtain personal protective equipment (PPE) for distribution in the state.

FEMA has also informed the state that it will be receiving technology in the form of a Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System™ (CCDS) to help decontaminate N95 respirator masks, which will help extend the life of these important supplies.

JOIN US: WCA TO HOST MAY 5 WEBINAR ON FEMA’S PUBLIC ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE
The Wisconsin Counties Association will be hosting a Zoom webinar on FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant Program for COVID-19 Response on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, with WCA General Counsel von Briesen & Roper’s Matthew McGovern, Andrew Phillips and Steven Nelson presenting on the topic.

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS
Since the COVID-19 nationwide emergency was declared, 42 federal departments and agencies have come together with partners at every level for a whole-of-America response.

Below please find a link to FEMA’s Daily COVID-19 By the Numbers:

WCA AND WCA GENERAL COUNSEL VON BRIESEN & ROPER’S LEGAL RESOURCES PAGE
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wisconsin Counties Association has been working closely alongside WCA General Counsel von Briesen & Roper, s.c. to issue timely and relevant legal updates, Q and A documents and sample resolutions.

You can find all legal updates below: