Wisconsin has lost 154 people to the coronavirus pandemic, and 3,460 people have been confirmed to be infected with the virus, according to state and county public health data.
Milwaukee County now reports 1,775 positive cases and 94 deaths. More than half of those who’ve died in Milwaukee County — 54 — were Black.
In Dane County, 340 have tested positive at 12 have died.
State Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm said the number of tests done over the past few days was likely lower than normal due to the religious holidays over the weekend. She said she hopes increased testing capacity will be useful for those feeling ill as well as some who aren’t yet showing symptoms — especially in places where the virus is likely to take hold.
“We continue more broadly to want to ramp up our (testing) capacity as well as make sure that we are communicating well with providers about their discretion to order tests when they think that is warranted for a patient,” Palm said in a media briefing Monday. “We are also very interested in using some targeted capacity to make sure we are wrapping around outbreaks in places like long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, jails and prisons, and other congregate settings.”
Evers said he still hasn’t decided when his “Safer at Home” order will be lifted. It was originally scheduled to expire April 24, but might be extended if necessary.
Bureau of Communicable Diseases Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ryan Westegaard said the social distancing is working, and has to be allowed to continue to work.
“We’ve flattened the curve, but we haven’t smashed the curb down to nothing yet,” he said. “There are still people in the community who are infected and don’t know it.”
