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6:19
Wisconsin’s year of COVID-19 has featured one milestone after another, many of them disturbing to people in the state and here in the Northwoods.
Here’s a look back at the timeline of how Wisconsin went from COVID-free to a half-million cases, with plenty of tension, confusion, and sickness along the way.
2020
February 5: Wisconsin reports its first case of COVID-19, found in a person who had just returned from Beijing.
March 13: Gov. Tony Evers closes all schools for two and a half weeks.
March 19: Wisconsin reports its first two deaths from the disease.
March 24: Evers orders people to stay at home and nonessential businesses to close as part of his Safer at Home order. It’s not “something I thought we’d have to do. It’s not something I wanted to do. It’s not something I take lightly,” Evers says.
1:32 Wisconsin reported another new record for daily deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday, as 120 more people died statewide.
The report comes on the same day as the state introduced a free, at-home testing option.
Wednesday marked the third time Wisconsin has tallied more than 100 deaths in a daily reporting period. All have come in the last month.
The total number of deaths in the state has now surpassed 4,500.
“As always, our thoughts are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones, especially as you feel this grief during the holiday season,” said Department of Health Services Sec.-designee Andrea Palm.
It’s called WI Exposure Notification, and will be available next Wednesday.
“This smartphone apps uses Bluetooth technology to let you know if you’ve been in close contact with someone who has tested positive,” said Gov. Tony Evers. “Android and iPhone users will see a notification on their phones to download or enable the app next Wednesday.”
The app does not use, collect, or store any GPS or personal details. Instead, it relies upon anonymous Bluetooth signals.
This week, Wisconsin got its first shipments of Pfizer vaccine to eight regional hubs.
That was welcome news for Department of Health Services Sec.-designee Andrea Palm.