Blog Recap: Coronavirus updates from around Wisconsin on Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Updates on coronavirus and how it's affecting life in Wisconsin from reporters from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the USA Today Network-Wisconsin.

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9:15 p.m.: MPD asks public to follow stay-at-home order

Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales made a public appeal Wednesday, asking everyone to follow Gov. Tony Evers' stay-at-home order.

"Please remember, police officers do not have the option to stay at home," Morales said in a video released Wednesday. "We have taken an oath to protect and serve you."

Under the order, Wisconsinites are to stay home until April 24 and only go out if they need to obtain food, medicine or medical treatment or to work in an essential service field.

"As a representative of the Milwaukee County Law Enforcement Executives Association, I can tell you that all departments have instructed their officers to be understanding as you adjust to the governor's order," Morales said. 

"But make no mistake, violators of the stay-at-home order put first-responders and the community at risk of spreading COVID-19," he said. "And repeat offenders could face arrest and possible criminal penalties."

— Ashley Luthern

9 p.m.: Milwaukee Public Schools reminds parents that district is 'closed until further notice'

Milwaukee Public Schools sent a letter to district families Wednesday, reiterating that schools are closed "until further notice."

The letter mirrors the language of Gov. Tony Evers, who last week said schools would remain closed until further notice, and comes a day after Evers issued a "safer at home" order until April 24.

"During this time, we encourage you to help your child keep learning at home," Superintendent Keith P. Posley wrote, directing families to an online resource page.

The district will continue to distribute enrichment materials and meals at 20 sites

— Ashley Luthern

7:15 p.m.: Punch Bowl Social unlikely to reopen

Punch Bowl Social, a Colorado-based eatertainment chain with a location outside Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum, is facing foreclosure. The chain has closed all 19 of its locations and nearly all employees have been laid off.

All 91 employees at the Milwaukee location were laid off effective March 16. At the time, the company said the closure would be temporary. Punch Bowl Social is one of the anchor tenants for the entertainment block outside the Bucks' new arena. 

But it appears unlikely that any of the locations will reopen with the coronavirus pandemic adding to its financial woes. Its investor, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, did not rescue the chain from foreclosure and Punch Bowl Social is in default on its loan, according to trade publication Restaurant Business.

Punch Bowl Social, 1122 N. Phillips Ave., was forced to close after Gov. Tony Evers' directive to shut down bars and restaurants in the state.

— Sarah Hauer

6:15 p.m.: Cases at Grafton senior living facility rise to 13

Less than a week after a 91-year-old man died from coronavirus at a Grafton long-term care facility, the number of people infected at the location has grown to 13 — including both residents and caregivers.

That brings the total number of long-term care facilities being monitored as either outbreak or potential outbreak sites to three in Ozaukee County and two in Washington County.

“It’s looking like there are clusters, but it’s because we’re starting to trace those clusters,” Bailey Murph, Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department senior public health strategist, said Wednesday night.

The Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department issued an order Wednesday to staffing agencies that provide caregivers and hospice support at facilities in the counties. Those workers will be allowed to work at only one site.

“We have found evidence that COVID-19 is being spread by caregivers,” Murph said.

It’s not unusual for people working for health care staffing agencies to work at more than one facility. 

As of Wednesday, there are 21 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Washington County and 20 in Ozaukee County. Between those counties, there has been one death.

Robert Blackbird, 91, died last week at Village Pointe Commons in Grafton where he had been in hospice care. After his death, tests showed he had been infected with coronavirus. Now a total of 13 – both residents and caregivers – have tested positive.

The caregivers were immediately sent home with orders to self-quarantine, Murph said.

— Meg Jones

6 p.m.: Grocery stores make changes

Grocery stores in southern Wisconsin continue to make changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here’s a rundown of some of the changes:

Meijer

Effective immediately, Meijer is asking customers to stop bringing reusable bags for grocery shopping. 

Meijer, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, operates 248 supercenters and grocery stores in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

“Meijer is asking customers at all its stores … to refrain from shopping with reusable bags …” the company said in a statement. 

“This change is part of the retailer’s ongoing efforts to ensure Meijer team members can do their jobs in the safest manner while ensuring the most sanitary conditions possible in its stores,” according to the statement. 

Metcalfe’s

The Wisconsin family-owned chain of stores, which has a location in Wauwatosa, said Wednesday that it is adding a “contact-less pickup service” starting this weekend. 

“Shoppers place their orders on our website, park at a designated parking spot at their pickup time, let us know they’ve arrived and open their trunk,” said Darlene Murphy, marketing director for the company. “Our team loads everything up and (customers are) on their way.”

Metcalfe’s is also installing clear plastic partitions at all its checkout lanes by the end of the week. It will also seek to install the partitions at customer service counters, too, Murphy said.

Outpost

Outpost Natural Foods is warning customers that its stores won’t be able to remain open and may have to temporarily switch to a pickup only model unless shoppers pay more attention to the store’s COVID-19 guidelines.

Outpost said in a statement that it wants its customers to adhere to certain rules “after seeing too many (people) unaware how their store behaviors could impact grocery employees and fellow shoppers,” according to a statement from a store spokeswoman. 

Outpost is also installing clear plastic partitions at checkout lanes. 

Outpost is requesting that customers maintain a 6-foot distance between other shoppers and staff. “If an area is crowded, please move to another area until that space clears,” according to a statement. The cooperative is also asking customers to maintain a 6-foot distance at front checkouts.

In addition, "Leave reusable bags at home and, bring your own sanitizing wipes and use them on carts, etc.” 

Outpost also closed its stores on Wednesday and plans to do so again next Wednesday to “give all staff and central production a break.” Outpost is also “looking at limiting the number of shoppers in stores …” according to the statement.

— Joe Taschler

5:22 p.m.: State Capitol closes to the public

The Wisconsin State Capitol will no longer be open to the public under Gov. Tony Evers’ effort to slow the spread of the virus by limiting the public’s interactions. 

The state Capitol building sits in the middle of downtown Madison and is open daily to the public. Evers suspended tours of the Capitol on March 12 to limit the number of people interacting with each other within the building. 

On Wednesday, Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan said the decision to close the people’s building was difficult. 

“The State Capitol building is a symbol of the strength and determination of the Wisconsin spirit, as well as a physical reminder of the generations before us who have also faced the need to make challenging decisions in periods of uncertainty,” he said in a statement. “Although the decision to close the building was difficult, the health of our communities and loved ones is the priority we must all be focused on.”

Lawmakers and staff who work in the building will still be allowed to continue to work out of the building.

Melissa Baldauff, spokeswoman for Evers, said the state's director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness is notifying advocates and service providers for the homeless to ensure people who often seek shelter in the Capitol find a place a to go during the closure.

— Molly Beck

5 p.m.: Lac du Flambeau band issues shelter-at-home order

Although the reservation has no confirmed COVID-19 cases, the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians issued a shelter-at-home declaration Wednesday until further notice.

The order requires all nonessential businesses to close and residents to stay at home "unless traveling for essential needs."

"The coronavirus public health emergency knows no boundaries and we appreciate the town government supporting our Stay-at-Home declaration to keep everyone as safe as possible," said Tribal President Joseph Wildcat Sr.

"We've consulted the leading experts in multiple fields to determine the best course of action to help reduce the spread of this virus."

Wildcat called it "an extraordinary measure."

Matt Gaulke, chairman of the Lac du Flambeau Town Board, praised the tribe for "moving quickly to head off this coronavirus," and said the board has given the measure its full support.

During this period, local law enforcement may ask people why they are out traveling during the emergency.

"We have limited medical resources regionally and if we have an influx of people coming from hotspots outside of Lac du Flambeau to their second homes in the area, it could have a devastating effect," Wildcat and Gaulke said in a news release.

Visitors to Lac du Flambeau are being asked to register with the Tribe by calling 715-588-7717 or with the town by calling 715-588-3358.

— Mark Johnson

4:30 p.m.: Two MPD members test positive, others in self-quarantine

Two members of the Milwaukee Police Department have tested positive for the coronavirus and several others are self-quarantining as a precaution, Chief Alfonso Morales told WTMJ radio Tuesday.

After a civilian member tested positive, multiple members of the emergency communications staff self-quarantined, Morales said.

And a sworn officer with the virus is resting at home, spokeswoman Sgt. Sheronda Grant said.

Other officers from around the city are in self-quarantine but have not tested positive, Morales told the radio station.

Police are continuing to interact with residents on calls, Morales said. The department asked last week for donations of personal protective equipment, and it received a supply of masks, he said.

— Sophie Carson

4:15 p.m.: Wisconsin Dental Association donates masks, gloves, gowns

The Wisconsin Dental Association is donating 20,000 surgical masks, 25,000 pairs of gloves and 1,700 surgical gowns to Wisconsin Emergency Management.

The personal protective equipment would have been used for the Mission of Mercy charitable clinic that had been scheduled in June.

The two-day event – in which volunteer dentists, hygienists and assistants provide free oral health care to low-income adults and children – is sponsored by the Wisconsin Dental Association and the Wisconsin Dental Foundation.

The event, which was to be held in Green Bay at the KI Convention Center on June 12-13, has been postponed because of the COVID-19 crisis.

“It was disappointing to postpone this year’s event, but we are honored to be able to step up to aid our fellow health care professionals in this unprecedented international crisis,” Thomas Raimann, a dentist and president of the Wisconsin Dental Association, said in a statement. “We are all in this together, and we are glad to support all of those who are dealing with this problem head-on.”

The events have provided free dental care to more than 15,000 children and adults since the first one was held in 2009.

Members of the National Guard picked up the WDA supplies, which had been warehoused in New Berlin, on Wednesday.

In conjunction with the state’s “Safer at Home” order and recommendations from the American Dental Association, Wisconsin Dental Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most dental offices in the state are limiting care to emergency procedures only.

— Guy Boulton

4 p.m.: Building inspection process to change

The Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services will change its operations and building inspection practices on Thursday in order to safely allow construction to continue, the city announced Wednesday.

Changes include re-establishing some operations at the city’s Permit and Development Center, which will have a location to drop off plans. Staff will do reviews and issue permits, but the center will not be open to the public.

Live video inspections and photos will replace some on-site inspections and there will be new requirements for on-site inspections that limit contact between people.

— Alison Dirr

3:30 p.m.: Fond du Lac company makes bio-containment cubicles

A Fond du Lac company that normally makes metal structures used in places like the Super Bowl Village and in aircraft factories, has created a portable bio-containment cubicle for isolating possible COVID-19 patients during triage.

The unit uses a micron filtration system, and negative air pressure, to keep the virus contained.

“Epidemic containment is not something we ever thought we’d be forced into, but then again many … daily activities have changed so drastically,” said Patrick Santini, president and founder of ModTruss Inc.

The company worked with medical professionals to develop the quick set-up, quick changeover solution aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus in health care settings.

Patients can be isolated in the temporary, sealed space to protect medical personnel during triage.

Hospitals are in short supply of negative-pressure rooms, which is where they would typically place someone who highly infectious, Santini said.

In less than four days, the company went from having a concept for a unit to a working prototype.  It’s now in the testing phase.

“Hospitals want to know how fast we could deliver these and how many. We believe we could hit around 100 a day,” Santini said.

The portable units can be quickly assembled with no special skills required.

“It was an engineering challenge, and that is primarily what we are, an engineering company,” Santini said.

In addition to hospitals, the units could be useful in nursing homes, prisons and by emergency medical crews in triage.

— Rick Barrett

2:35 p.m.: State reports biggest single-day spike in cases

As Wisconsinites hunker down to prevent further spread of the coronavirus, the state health department reported the biggest single-day spike since the virus emerged here. 

There were 585 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Wisconsin as of mid-Wednesday, an increase of 128 from a day earlier.

The state also saw its seventh death Wednesday afternoon, a 60-year-old man on Milwaukee's west side.

The spike follows a prediction made Tuesday by the state Department of Health Services chief medical officer in the communicable disease division, Ryan Westergaard, who posited that cases may double in the coming weeks before social distancing measures begin to have an effect. Then, hopefully, case numbers would level off. 

The state's labs have now done more than 10,600 tests for the virus. Just over 10,000 of those tests have returned negative.

Read more here.

— Madeline Heim

2:25 p.m.: Ascension will not bill uninsured COVID-19 patients

Ascension Wisconsin announced Wednesday that uninsured patients will not be billed for coronavirus-related testing or treatment, and patients who are insured will not be billed for out-of-pocket expenses, or co-pays related to coronavirus testing or treatment.

Ascension also said financial assistance applications will be valid for one year to reduce the burden of re-application, and our payment grace period had been extended to four months.

Patients who are unable to make their monthly payments should call their hospital or clinic to have a hold placed on their account, a spokeswoman said.

— Mary Spicuzza

2:03 p.m.: Sendik's installing shields at checkout to protect virus spread

An employee at Sendik's installs a plastic shield at the checkout area of a store on Wednesday, March 25.

Milwaukee-based Sendik’s Food Markets said Wednesday it is installing more than 120 clear plastic shields at checkouts across its stores to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The action is “part of the local grocer’s latest efforts to ensure best protections available for its frontline employees and customers,” according to a statement from the company.

The installation began Wednesday.

“Nationwide, grocers are doing everything we can to best protect health,” Ted Balistreri, co-owner at Sendik’s, said in a statement. “Earlier this week, we began to design and fabricate the shields that could best work for our checkout lane configurations, and we’ve repurposed our internal teams to construct and install them immediately,”

The 30-by-36 inch Plexiglas shields sit on top of the register areas and extend about  6 feet off the ground, “providing a divider between the checkout worker and customer,” according to the statement.

Shields are the latest technique being employed by essential needs retailers nationwide in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, according to the statement.

“Sendik’s believes it is one of the first to have them installed locally …” according to the statement.

“Today’s installation is an example of our industry working together to best continue to meet the daily needs in our community,” Balistreri said.

— Joe Taschler

2 p.m.: Plasma from recovered patients tested in China, with success

Plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients was given safely and successfully to 10 patients severely ill from the pandemic, according to the preliminary report of a Chinese study that was released Wednesday.

The study, which has not been peer-reviewed, was posted online on a preprint server called medRxiv, which is run by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Long Island, New York, Yale University and the journal BMJ.   

Results from the 10 patients showed that one 200 ml dose of COVID-19 survivor plasma was "well-tolerated" by patients, increased their antibodies against the virus and led to the disappearance of the virus from the blood within seven days. Clinical symptoms, the Chinese scientists reported, "improved within 3 days."

— Mark Johnson

1:57 p.m.: Yes, golf courses must close with safer-at-home order

According to Gov. Tony Evers' "safer at home" order, golf is an outdoor activity that will not be allowed for the next 30 days. Golf courses around the state have been directed to close, deemed as nonessential businesses during the pandemic.

States around the country have been grappling with the decision whether to allow golf courses to remain open and, in the aftermath of stay-at-home orders, confusion has reigned. In Ohio, courses were unsure until further clarification came that courses could remain open as long as they adhere to social-distancing guidelines. Similar situations are playing out in Illinois and Michigan.

However, unlike Wisconsin, most other states don't mention golf courses specifically in their stay-at-home orders. That makes it less likely Wisconsin will reverse course, something that could be detrimental to the state's golf industry at the outset of the spring season.

Read the full story.

— Matt Velazquez

1:55 p.m.: Froedtert and Medical College accepting donations

Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin have announced that they are now accepting donations of personal protective equipment and other health care supplies for staff, patients and visitors.

Froedtert and the Medical College said they are accepting donations of the following items:

  •  Masks – both N95 respirator and ear loop surgical masks. These masks can also be sometimes used in the construction industry. Officials said, "We will gladly accept any new and unused masks from construction sites."
  • Eye protection – Clean eye protection is also being accepted, including goggles and safety glasses from other industries that may have slowed due to social distancing.
  • Hand sanitizer – All sanitizer must have at least 60% alcohol.
  • Hand-sewn masks – Masks must follow these instructions.
  • Other – Officials said, "if you know of a manufacturer looking to support health care providers, or you’d like us to consider other donations, please email purchasingassistant@froedtert.com."

Donations can be dropped off at locations in Menomonee Falls (N86 W12999 Nightingale Way) or Wauwatosa (10000 W. Blue Mound Road) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

1:48 p.m.: Cease and desist ordered against price gougers, several in Milwaukee area

State consumer protection officials say they’ve written “cease and desist” letters to 16 companies suspected of raising prices unlawfully during the coronavirus pandemic.

The actions came after the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection said it received dozens of complaints and did price checks at more than a hundred stores across the state.

“While it is not uncommon for prices to increase during times of high demand or low supply, DATCP will be closely monitoring the marketplace to ensure that Wisconsin consumers are being treated fairly,” Lara Sutherlin, administrator for the consumer protection division of DATCP, said in a statement.

The products in question included bleach, toilet paper, Lysol spray and wipes, hand cleaner, N95 masks, bottled water, milk, beans, rice, watermelon and cookies.

Individual stores sent warning letters included Walmart in Milwaukee and Rhinelander; Menard’s in West Milwaukee, Burlington and online; Walgreens in Cudahy and Waukesha; C&S Supermarket in Milwaukee; two Cermak stores in Milwaukee; Restaurant Depot in Milwaukee; Point Market in Stevens Point; Ace Hardware in Delavan; Dollar Tree in Marinette; three El Ray Foodmart stores in Milwaukee; Asian International Market in Milwaukee; Pacific Produce in Oak Creek; Matrangas in Racine; Marketplace Foods in St. Croix Falls; Grainger online and N95Sales.com.

To report suspected price gouging, a complaint form is available on DATCP’s website.

— Rick Barrett

1:42 p.m.: Those with coronavirus ask Evers for delayed election

Three people with coronavirus Wednesday urged Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to delay the April 7 election to protect public health as voting rights advocates warned they were likely to sue over the issue.   

If they bring a lawsuit, it would be the third one in Wisconsin over how to conduct an election in the midst of a global pandemic.  

"In-person voting puts our community and our poll workers at risk. And I can vouch for that because nobody wants what I have right now," said Gregory Lewis, president of the voter mobilization group Souls to the Polls.   

"This virus — I can’t even explain to you how bad it is," he said in a conference call with reporters. "A few weeks ago I was ready to knock down walls and move mountains. And now I can barely get out of bed." 

Read the full story.

— Patrick Marley

1:24 p.m.: Fourth Milwaukee County death attributed to virus

A fourth patient in Milwaukee County has died from the coronavirus, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The office said the latest victim is a 60-year-old man who died at his home in the 3100 block of West McKinley Boulevard, on Milwaukee’s west side.

No other information about the patient was immediately available. It is the seventh coronavirus death in Wisconsin.

According to the medical examiner, the man had underlying health issues and had been tested on March 20, but the test results were not provided until the day after his death.

— Elliott Hughes

11:54 a.m.: Dane County reports first coronavirus death

Dane County reported its first death as a result of the coronavirus Wednesday, marking Wisconsin’s sixth death from the outbreak.

The patient was in their late 70s, according to Public Health Madison & Dane County. No other information about the individual was immediately available.

More than 70 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Dane County as of late morning Wednesday. The county is home to Wisconsin's state capital, Madison.

— Elliot Hughes

11:46 a.m.: These are the stories of everyday lives affected by coronavirus

A school teacher checking in on her kids. A couple on vacation in Europe when everything went south. A mother of five. A former governor who can't visit his wife with Alzheimer's in the hospital. A beer distributor. These are some of the everyday stories among Milwaukeeans during the coronavirus pandemic. 

10:46 a.m.: Alderman calls for free testing at Milwaukee hospital

Milwaukee Ald. Khalif Rainey is calling on Ascension St. Joseph to offer free  coronavirus testing for the poor and uninsured.

In a letter to Ascension Health Care, Rainey said residents in his Seventh Aldermanic district have had the highest concentration of coronavirus cases in the city of Milwaukee.

He also noted that Milwaukee Health Department officials reported the majority of cases in the city involved middle-aged African American men, as reported Tuesday by the Journal Sentinel.

St. Joe's is "the only source of medical care for many of my own constituents and serves some of Milwaukee’s poorest residents — many of whom lack adequate insurance,"  Rainey wrote. "This pandemic cannot — must not — become a death sentence for the poor and uninsured."

— Mary Spicuzza and Alison Dirr

10:08 a.m.: Gas stations get OK to sell 'winter gas' later than usual

So many people are driving less because of the coronavirus public health emergency that gas stations still have too much "winter gas" in their storage tanks.

But now they will be able to sell it to drivers beyond the usual date at which they should switch to summer gas.

Gov. Tony Evers gave the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection the green light to grant waivers to fuel retailers allowing them more time to sell off higher-volatility gasoline best used in winter. It's gas that can increase chances of vapor lock in summer, but the biggest issue is environmental. 

April 1 is the normal switchover date. Thewaiver will allow the higher volatility fuel to be sold throughout April.

The U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency regulates the vapor pressure of gasoline during the summer ozone season to help control emissions that lead to ozone-related health problems. The summer gas has less butane, which helps cold starting but evaporates faster in warm weather, creating unhealthy ground-level ozone.

— Bruce Vielmetti

9:45 a.m.: Milwaukee Brewers opening registration to 'Summer Slugger' early

The Milwaukee Brewers are opening registration early to its free, online "Summer Slugger" program with children away from school because of coronavirus.

The program, established in 2017, uses baseball to help kids ages 8-11 retain knowledge in math and literacy. Lesson topics include arithmetic, geometry, spelling, grammar and units of measurement.

It's through a partnership with MLB and EVERFI, a digital education provider. Registration is available at https://summerslugger.com/mlb_clubs/brewers/.

9:22 a.m.: Breweries getting into the hand sanitizer business

Molson Coors is getting in the hand sanitizer game.

Amid nationwide shortages of hand sanitizer, the company is pumping out hundreds of gallons at breweries around the country.

Leinenkugel’s is sending 165 barrels of bulk beer to the nearby Chippewa River Distillery this week for the production of hand sanitizer. 

Another Molson Coors brewery, Revolver Brewing, is working with a nearby distillery in Texas to convert bulk beer into hand sanitizer.

Another Atwater Brewery, which is being acquired by Molson Coors, is using its distillery in Detroit to make hand sanitizer to help address nationwide supply shortages.

— Mary Spicuzza

9:09 a.m.: 'Hunker Down Wisconsinbly' T-shirts arrive 

As small businesses find ways to support employees who can't work, Drink Wisconsinbly got creative with "Hunker Down Wisconsinbly" T-shirts.

The novelty T-shirt company, which has also expanded into brandy and a pub in the Deer District, sold the shirts through Tuesday, benefiting Drink Wisconsinbly employees who can't work.

The shirts will be delivered in mid-April.

Similarly, MilwaukeeHome is selling a t-shirt saying "MilwaukeeStayHome," with proceeds benefiting the Greater Milwaukee Foundation's MKE Responds fund.

The fund will help "support community partners who are affected by and who serve others affected by the crisis."

RWB Milwaukee is selling “MKE STRONG” t-shirts starting at $15 in men’s and women’s sizes. The hope is to generate support for the staff through the sales of these t-shirts, while providing attire that reflects the strength of the service industry. 100% of the profits from the t-shirt sales will directly go to the staff.

— John Steppe

8:19 a.m.: Canceled clinicals leave nursing graduates in limbo

Wisconsin’s 3,000 nursing students slated to graduate this year  — and join a workforce where they are desperately needed — are in limbo as hospitals across the state canceled students’ clinical rotations, making graduation unlikely.

Facing a nursing shortage even before the COVID-19 pandemic, health care systems will suffer greatly if those students aren’t available to work, said Linda Young, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. 

“It would be devastating to Wisconsin,” Young said.  “We’re already short. This would put us further behind.”

Read the full story.

— Raquel Rutledge

7:41 a.m.: Gannett launches site to assist with gift-card purchases for small businesses

Gannett, the parent company of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, has launched a nationwide effort to support local businesses by creating a website for one-stop shopping of gift cards.

Currently, 80 businesses are listed alphabetically in Milwaukee and other area communities ranging from restaurants, taverns and brewpubs to yoga studios, shops and a beef jerky store. 

You can find the list here. 

— Meg Jones

7:35 a.m.: Milwaukee County nears 300th case

Twenty-seven new coronavirus cases were reported in Milwaukee County on Wednesday morning, bringing the countywide total to 295.

All but three of those new cases were in the city of Milwaukee, where the count now rests at 231, according to Milwaukee County’s online coronavirus dashboard. The majority of the cases appear to be coming from Milwaukee’s north and northwest sides, according to the county’s incident location map.

Countywide deaths remained at three.

Oak Creek is now the first suburban community to reach double-digits, with 10 confirmed cases. Wauwatosa and West Allis each have nine, while Shorewood and Whitefish Bay have eight and seven, respectively.

— Elliot Hughes

6:41 a.m.: Hunger Task Force remains open

A Milwaukee food bank, the Hunger Task Force, announced it will maintain operations after Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers issued his "safer at home" order Tuesday.

The organization announced it will keep its Mobile Market, food pantries and other food distribution activities open during the order, which is to last until April 24.

The order clarifies that people can leave their homes for basic needs such as food.

— Elliot Hughes

5 a.m.: White House, congressional leaders agree on $2 trillion stimulus

The White House and congressional leaders from both parties reached a $2 trillion stimulus deal early Wednesday that will include direct payments to most Americans and an unprecedented amount of money to small businesses that have been pushed to the brink amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The deal comes as the U.S. death toll stood at 802 early Wednesday after eclipsing 600 on Tuesday.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are done. We have a deal,” White House legislative affairs director Eric Ueland told reporters around midnight Central time.

Later, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters: "We have bipartisan agreement on the largest rescue package in history."

Blog recap: Coronavirus updates from Tuesday 

Daily Digest: What you need to know about coronavirus in Wisconsin

More Coverage: Coronavirus in the U.S. and around the world

The unprecedented economic relief bill would give direct payments to most Americans, expand unemployment benefits and provide a $367 billion program for small businesses to keep making payroll while workers are forced to stay home.

Full details of the stimulus bill are expected later Wednesday.

The agreement caps five days of negotiations.

The deal also comes after President Donald Trump said he hoped to "open up" the nation as soon as Easter, which is April 12. "Our country has to get back to work,'' Trump said.

— USA Today