A coronavirus aid package that divided Wisconsin's congressional delegation along party lines has passed the U.S. Senate. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, voted against the measure, while Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, voted in favor of it.
State officials are monitoring inventories of personal protective equipment, or PPE, as health care facilities prepare for a surge of patients impacted by COVID-19. Hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing homes and EMS services are already using additional PPE.
Gov. Tony Evers has ordered limits on the size of child care settings in the state. As of March 19, no more than 10 staff can be present, and no more than 50 children can be on site.
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin and Democratic National Committee have filed a federal lawsuit to extend voter registration and mail-in ballot deadlines, as well as suspend the state's voter ID law for mailed ballots.
Grocery stores in Wisconsin are adjusting hours to allow staff to restock depleted shelves and do extra cleaning. Many are also offering special shopping hours for the elderly and those who have health conditions that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19.
On March 12, 2020, Gov. Tony Evers declared a public health emergency for the entire state of Wisconsin. WisContext associate editor Will Cushman discusses what state law says about emergency declarations and the actions that can be taken in such a situation.
