Teran Powell

Updated Wednesday at 9:20 a.m. CST

A number of Wisconsin religious leaders urged the public Monday to adhere to COVID-19 precautions as cases continue to surge in the state.

They reiterated messaging like wear a mask, practice physical distancing, wash your hands, and only leave your home for essential trips.

The faith leaders are also urging congregates to observe upcoming holidays by worshiping from home.

The coronavirus is not slowing down in Milwaukee County. Health officials reported Thursday that there are more than 47,000 cases, and the county is inching up to 500 deaths.

This past Tuesday was the highest single-day increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the county — a record 418. For comparison, Dr. Ben Weston says the county barely crossed 200 hospitalizations at any point earlier in the pandemic.

State health officials continue to report that Wisconsin is in a crisis regarding COVID-19.

Wednesday was another record-breaking day for coronavirus cases. Department of Health Services Secretary-Designee Andrea Palm says the state added nearly 6,000 new cases since Tuesday.

She says the seven-day average of new cases is more than 4,800. One month ago it was 2,400. Two months ago, it was 767. That’s a 531% increase.

Election Day is finally here. Thousands of people will head to the polls in Wisconsin but not as many as in previous presidential elections. That’s because a record 1.9 million Wisconsinites voted before Election Day.

Some people made plans to vote early before today after seeing what happened in April’s presidential primary.

Despite the ongoing threat of COVID-19 in Wisconsin and across the country, a record number of people cast their ballots for the general election. According to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, more than 1.8 million people have already returned their ballots.

Updated at 12:12 p.m. CT

COVID-19 cases continue to climb in Wisconsin. On Friday, the state Department of Health Services reported more than 5,096 new cases. That brings the total number of cases in the state to more than 220,000.

Millions of people have already cast their ballots for this year’s presidential election, but get out the vote efforts are still very active, including those aimed at Black and Latino voters.

A variety of organizations have tried to appeal to these communities, stressing the importance of voting, and how to do so accurately and safely.

The city of Wauwatosa was the backdrop for another protest on Thursday. A few hundred people gathered for the Rally for Justice in Hart Park. They’re continuing calls for justice in the cases of the two men and one teen killed by Officer Joseph Mensah – Antonio Gonzalez, Jay Anderson Jr., and Alvin Cole.

Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride and Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber addressed members of the media Monday in an effort to be “totally transparent” about what’s happened in the city over the last few days. But some protesters say they’re not telling the full story.

Protests against social injustice and violence by police have been ongoing in Wauwatosa since the summer. They've centered around suspended police Officer Joseph Mensah, who has shot and killed three people of color in the line of duty.

The cries of the community grew louder last week after Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm chose not to charge Mensah in the February fatal shooting of 17-year-old Alvin Cole.

WUWM is partnering with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee PBS and the Milwaukee Public Library on an initiative we call Listen MKE. Its goal: help Milwaukee’s north side residents get the information they want and need. More specifically, we want to better understand what's most important to people who live in these Milwaukee neighborhoods and help fill information gaps.

The number of coronavirus cases in Wisconsin hit another record single-day high Thursday, with more than 3,000 positive tests.

Due to recent increases, Gov. Tony Evers announced this week that the alternate care facility at state fair park would be opening as surges threaten the state’s health care systems. Evers also issued an executive order for businesses to reduce occupancy to 25% capacity.

READ: No Charges For Wauwatosa Officer In Killing Of Black Teen

The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office could announce a decision Wednesday on whether to charge Wauwatosa Police Officer Joseph Mensah in the death of Alvin Cole.

Mensah shot Cole, who was 17-years-old, in February when responding to a disturbance at Mayfair Mall. Police say Cole ran and fired a weapon. His family disputes the claim.

Cole was Black; so is Mensah.