COVID-19 UPDATES FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS

COVID-19 DAILY HEALTH UPDATE
Key Data Summary Updates for July 27, 2020 (unless otherwise noted)
Total negative counts: 823,905 (+6,356)
Total positive counts: 49,417 (+590)
Total ever hospitalized: 4,420 (+26) (9%)
Total deaths: 893 (+1)
Active cases: 9,873 (20%)
Recovered cases: 38,633 (78%)
Percent of confirmed cases by race*: American Indian (1%), Asian or Pacific Islander (3%), Black (15%), White (61%), Multiple or other races (10%), Unknown (10%)
Percent of confirmed cases by ethnicity*: Hispanic or Latino (25%), Not Hispanic or Latino (63%), Unknown (12%)
Emergency Department visits:
Influenza like illness: 49 visits on 7/25, compared to previous 3-day average of 57
COVID-19 like illness: 108 visits on 7/25, compared to previous 3-day average of 179
Total hospital bed utilization: 79%
*This data, without population context, is not an accurate reflection of disease burden by race and ethnicity. For a more complete picture, one should consider the percentage of cases by race and ethnicity based on the percentage of the whole population represented by each community.

WCA ANNUAL CONFERENCE POSTPONED 
Every Autumn for the last 81 years, county officials from around the state have gathered at the Wisconsin Counties Association’s (WCA) Annual Conference and Marketplace for educational opportunities, introduction to new products, and peer networking.

The safety and health of our Conference attendees is our top priority. The current public health situation has forced all of us to rethink how we conduct day to day operations at the county level, as well as at the Association. After careful consideration with regard to how WCA could safely conduct a large conference while implementing guidance provided by public health experts, the Association has made the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 WCA Annual Conference and Marketplace.

While we are unable to physically get together, WCA staff is working to ensure you can access some of the educational programming that you would have received at the annual conference. To that end, the September issue of Wisconsin Counties will include a series of articles from several of our concurrent session speakers. In addition, WCA hopes to host a number of webinars featuring concurrent session topics and speakers.

To ensure we can still conduct the business end of the annual conference, a virtual Annual Business Meeting will be held on Monday, September 21, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.

 Additional information on the Annual Business Meeting will be forthcoming to all county board chairs. Please watch your email for additional information.

• Read the Full WCA Memo and See Additional Information on Cancelling Registrations and Hotel Reservations

FORWARD ANALYTICS RELEASES NEW INTERACTIVE COVID-19 DATA TOOL
Forward Analytics, the research arm of the Wisconsin Counties Association, has created an informative and useful interactive Covid-19 data tool. The tool is designed to aid local officials in decision making and assist the public in understanding the extent of COVID-19 in their county. 

The data tool is composed of multiple tabs where users can see statewide trends in total cases, active cases, and deaths. It also has several tabs dedicated to individual county Covid-19 cases and deaths, including a time lapse map showing the spread of the virus since mid-March.

Forward Analytics will update the tool weekly using data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. 

The Covid-19 data tool can be accessed from the Forward Analytics website at forward-analytics.net or at the link below:

• See the Forward Analytics Interactive COVID-19 Data Tool Here

Questions
For questions, please contact Forward Analytics Director Dale Knapp via email or at 866.404.2700.

AS U.S. SENATE WORKS ON NEXT COVID RELIEF PACKAGE, URGE YOUR SENATORS TO SUPPORT DIRECT AND FLEXIBLE FUNDING FOR COUNTIES OF ALL SIZES
The U.S. Senate may soon unveil the next COVID-19 relief package and begin negotiations with leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives and the White House.

Take action today to ensure that your county has the resources and flexibility necessary to mitigate the virus, protect the public’s health and restore our economy.

Nationally, county revenues are plummeting while costs are skyrocketing because of the unique county role in responding to this pandemic. New NACo research finds that the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to massive budgetary impacts for county governments and local taxpayers, with as much as $202 billion in lost revenue and increased expenditures through FY2021. Congress needs to know that this fiscal impact means the loss of critical local services such as public health, court management, housing, human services and public safety. Help us tell your story!

• Learn More About What You Can Do To Urge Your Senators to Support the Next COVID-19 Relief Package

WATCH: LET’S GO WISCONSIN-HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread in Wisconsin, a diverse coalition of the state’s leading advocacy organizations, including the Wisconsin Counties Association, have partnered on a message to the public urging preventive measures to reduce the virus’ spread.

Representing some of Wisconsin’s leading health care and business organizations – as well as local governments, this new public service announcement (PSA) encourages the use of social distancing, proper hand washing techniques and wearing protective masks.

• Watch the Video, “Let’s Go Wisconsin: Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19.”