For more up-to-date information, read WUWM's March 18 post.
Updated Monday 1:52 p.m. CT
As of Monday afternoon, state health officials say Wisconsin now has 47 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. This is up from 33 reported cases on Sunday. Fourty-six of these cases are active; one case was reported in February in Dane County and that person has since recovered.
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Milwaukee County Transit System is requesting riders to limit non-essential travel. Passengers who must travel out of necessity are encouraged, whenever possible, to pay their fare with the MCTS M-Card – a contactless smartcard – or use the MCTS App. Both options allow riders to avoid cash and pay the fare without making direct contact with the farebox.
MCTS is also requesting that passengers leave extra space between themselves and other riders. Passengers are encouraged to exit through the rear doors instead of the front doors to limit contact with the bus driver. Additionally, MCTS is asking passengers to not ride the bus if they are experiencing symptoms or think they may be sick.
The Milwaukee County Zoo and the Milwaukee Art Museum and many other community venues and spaces like the Milwaukee Public Library announced Sunday that Central Library and all other branch locations will be closed through March 29. Library events and programs are halted until May 1, and checked out materials' due dates are extended to May.
Early voting at the Milwaukee Public Library Zablocki branch is continuing as planned.
The COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin by county:
- Dane County: 10
- Fond du Lac County: 11
- Milwaukee County: 13
- Outagamie County: 1
- Pierce County: 1
- Racine County: 1
- Sheboygan County: 3
- Waukesha County: 3
- Winnebago County: 3
- Wood County 1
People who've tested positive for COVID-19 have a range of symptoms, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
Most people develop mild symptoms. But some people, usually with pre-existing medical conditions, may develop more serious illness. Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after contact with someone who has COVID-19, believes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC has shared some tips to prepare your home for community transmission of the disease. To protect yourself and others, health officials recommend you wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when soap and water are unavailable. You can see more recommendations here.
