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: 6.5.2020

June 5, 2020

COVID-19 DAILY HEALTH UPDATE
(Information from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) current as of 1:00 p.m. Central, Friday, June 5, 2020.)
Total negative counts: 303,332 (+11,965)
Total positive counts: 20,249 (+357)
Ever hospitalized: 2,791 (+52) or 14%
Total deaths: 633 (+7)

WATCH WISEYE NEWSMAKERS: WISCONSIN’S COURTS PREPARE TO REOPEN
On June 2, 2020, WisconsinEye senior producer Steve Walters sat down with Randy Koschnick, Wisconsin State Courts director; Judge John DiMotto, retired judge; and Judge John Anderson, Bayfield County Circuit Court judge, to discuss the work of the Wisconsin Courts COVID-19 Task Force, the issues around reopening courts, and the important work they do.

NACO PUBLISHES SERIES OF ISSUE BRIEFS ON COUNTY PRACTICES AND INNOVATIONS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
Counties are pursuing innovative solutions to the challenge of safely delivering and adapting quality services during a global pandemic. This week, NACo released a series of issue briefs that highlight ways in which COVID-19 has impacted America’s counties and replicable county responses.

The series includes examples of county approaches on issues such as health and behavioral health; perinatal supports and child care; housing and homelessness; victim services and unemployment; courts, corrections and first response; and supporting resident-owned small businesses.

  • Click here to read the issue briefs, and send your county’s COVID-19 solutions to research@naco.org as NACo continues to support counties nationwide in efforts to serve residents during COVID-19.

HELP NACO ESTIMATE COVID-19 IMPACT ON THE COUNTY WORKFORCE AND COUNTY FINANCES
Help NACo estimate the cumulative impact of COVID-19 on the county workforce (especially regarding furloughs and layoffs), as well as on county finances and budgets, by taking a quick, five minute survey. The results will help NACo ensure the needs of county leaders are accurately understood and adequately met in upcoming federal legislation responding to COVID-19.

If you are not the right person to respond to questions on the county’s workforce or budget policies, please forward the survey to the appropriate employee in your county.

ICYI: WCA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR O’CONNELL APPEARS ON CAPITAL CITY SUNDAY TO DISCUSS SAFER AT HOME ORDERS
On Sunday, May 31, 2020, WCA Executive Director Mark O’Connell appeared on Capital City Sunday on WKOW-Channel 27 in Madison to discuss in detail Safer at Home orders and the issues surrounding this topic for Wisconsin’s 72 counties.