COVID-19 Pandemic Update for the Afternoon of April 6th: Update State Numbers, Election Order and FEMA Declaration
Monday, April 6th, 2020 -- 2:28 PM
COVID-19 UpdateApril 6th, Afternoon
We have a COVID-19 update for you this afternoon.
Taking a look at the state numbers as of this afternoon, the state has 26,574 negative tests, 2,440 positive cases and 77 deaths. Of the positive cases, 668, or 27%, have been hospitalized. Clark County has 7 positive cases and 79 negative. For our neighboring counties, Chippewa has 16 positive cases and 434 negative cases, Eau Claire has 21 positive cases and 869 negative, Jackson has 4 positive and 81 negative, Wood has 2 positive and 219 negative, Marathon has 12 positive and 298 negative and Taylor still has no positive cases and 47 negative.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Monday issued an executive order to delay the state’s presidential primary for two months because of the coronavirus pandemic, a move that will almost certainly prompt a court challenge and inject new uncertainty about whether the election will move forward. Evers, a Democrat, had previously opposed moving Tuesday’s election. But he’s pushing to delay it until June 9 amid criticism about how in-person voting can proceed safely at a time when public health officials are discouraging groups of people from gathering to avoid spread of the virus. Some poll sites have already closed because nervous volunteers are unwilling to staff them. It was stated that absentee voting would continue on until June 9th as well. Evers had been unable to strike a deal with Republicans to reschedule the election. His order comes after the GOP-controlled Legislature refused his request to cancel in-person voting on Tuesday. The order, which Evers had previously said he didn’t have the legal authority to make, was expected to face an immediate challenge to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which is controlled 5-2 by conservative justices. One of them is on the ballot Tuesday and has not participated in other election-related legal fights, narrowing the conservative majority to 4-2. The Evers order came as a separate legal fight was pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. Governor Evers went on to say that he has ordered a special election again for tomorrow with hopes the legislature will agree with his decision and agree to delay the election until June. Along with that, the Governor stated the order would extend the terms of all public offices within the state of Wisconsin until the election is held. That includes all Clark County offices up for election. The Clark County Board of Supervisors had already approved a resolution at an Emergency Meeting that would extend their terms until the election is held.
FEMA announced that federal emergency aid has been made available for the state of Wisconsin to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic beginning on January 20, 2020 and continuing. Public Assistance federal funding is available to the state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures (Category B), including direct federal assistance under Public Assistance, for all areas in the state of Wisconsin affected by COVID-19 at a federal cost share of 75 percent. James K. Joseph has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further assessments.
Again, Wisconsin is under a “Safer at Home” order, which askses all residents to avoid unnecessary travel. You can still go to the grocery store or pharmacy, get gas, get dinner from a local business, work in the yard, walk the dog, ride a bike, etc.; just practice social distancing when you do so.
Finally, as we continue to mention, people need to take this seriously. This falls on all of us. If people don’t take this seriously, things are going to get much worse. Our numbers are climbing, but state officials have said that things would be much worse if the governor hadn’t issued the “Safer at Home” order. The methods are working. We just need to keep following the guidance of the CDC and the state so we can get Wisconsin back open for business and get things back to normal. But you must take this seriously. We must put aside petty partisan politics and work together. This is a trying time, but we will get through it with the right mindset and if we work together and help each other along during these difficult times. If there’s anything we can do at Central Wisconsin Broadcasting to help, please reach out. We have many resources available to you on our website and Facebook page and were happy to answer your questions. If we can’t, we can put you in touch with someone that can. But above all, stay calm, buy your groceries one week at a time like always and take care of yourself.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.