As of 2 pm Thursday, The Wisconsin Department of Health Services on Wednesday reported 707 total cases of coronavirus infection, an increase of 122, or 21 percent, since 2 pm on Wednesday.
At 7 pm Wednesday, the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center reported 621 confirmed cases and seven deaths.
DHS reported 114 cases in Dane County, a 30 percent jump since Wednesday. Milwaukee County reported 347.
The state reported just over 11,500 negative tests in total.
DHS reports eight fatalities – one in Dane County, one in Ozaukee County, one in Fond du Lac County and five in Milwakee County.
Up to 20 percent of those who have tested positive have required hospitalization, Bureau of Communicable Diseases Chief Medical Officer Ryan Westergaard said in a media briefing Tuesday. Westergaard also said that as many as 90 percent of the people infected never require medical care and therefore don’t get tested.
“We have hundreds of cases confirmed, but it could potentially be thousands right now,” he said.
On Tuesday, Governor Evers directed the DHS to issue what he’s calling a “Safer at Home” order, which closes non-essential businesses and orders people to stay home whenever possible. The order went into effect at 8 am today.
“No pot-lucks, no playdates, no dinner parties,” Evers said.
DHS Secretary-designee Andrea Palm said it might seem like an overreaction to issue the order — there were only 457 cases in Wisconsin.
“Our state benefits from those who have come before us,” such as Italy and Wuhan, China. Palm said public health experts’ models predict as many as 22,000 cases and 1,500 deaths in Wisconsin by April 8 if no measures are taken.
To find out what businesses are considered essential, visit wedc.org/essentialbusiness.
Neither the governor nor administration officials held a media briefing today.
