covid-19

As you're making plans for the holidays this year, health experts urge you to keep COVID-19 precautions in mind.

The CDC has released guidelines for the holidays that you can view here. Those guidelines are also recommended by local health officials.

Wisconsin is seeing another day of 7,000-plus COVID-19 cases.

The Department of Health Services is reporting 7,048 new cases.

It’s also reporting 62 more deaths and 277 more hospitalization.

Pepin County is reporting its first death due to COVID.

That means all 72 counties in Wisconsin have had at least one person die because of the virus.

Here’s a breakdown of where local counties stand as of Wednesday:

Forest County has had 613 cases since the start of the pandemic. 11 people have died.

A public health official has told business leaders that the only way to stop the coronavirus pandemic from worsening in Wisconsin is to “triple down,” individually and collectively, on public health measures.

Wisconsin once again set records for new daily positive cases, deaths and hospitalizations on Tuesday.

Mayo Clinic Health System says its hospitals in the northwest region of Wisconsin are full to capacity. System officials say 100% of their beds are full at hospitals in the region, which encompasses Barron, Bloomer, Eau Claire, Osseo and Menomonie.

The health system says 50% of the patients in intensive care have COVID-19 and 40% of its medical or surgical beds are filled with coronavirus patients.

In addition, 300 workers are on work restrictions due to COVID-19 exposure.

The Wausau Common Council has approved a resolution that would require a city wide mask requirement.

It passed by an eight to three vote.

The resolution would only go into effect if the statewide mask mandate expires and isn't renewed, it is set to expire on November 21st.

The city's public health and safety committee approved the resolution last week.

The committee considered both a mask resolution and a mask ordinance. The mask ordinance includes a civil fine, the resolution does not.

On the day Wisconsin broke records for number of new COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations, Governor Tony Evers gave an address regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

He called for unity and working together in the fight against COVID-19 as he issued a new executive order.

The order advises people to stay home. It follows many of the restrcitions put in place under the Safer at Home Order back in March. 

Wisconsin broke records for new COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations on Tuesday. 

The Wisconsin Department of Health Service is reporting another 7,073 COVID-19 cases.

66 more people have died.

Another 291 people have been hospitalized.

Schools districts in the Northwoods continue to navigate and further education through the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools have offered families options when it comes to their child's education this school year. It includes in-person, virtual, and a hybrid of the two. 

The following is a list of the impact COVID-19 has had on local districts. This list will be updated regularly. 

Oneida County

School District of Rhinelander:

Like many states in the midwest, Iowa is seeing record hospitalizations from COVID-19. And with the holiday season near, health officials advise against large gatherings to avoid more outbreaks.

Virtual connections are encouraged, and a nonprofit said planning can make for a better experience.

Nola Aigner Davis, public information officer for the Polk County Health Department, said pandemic fatigue is still resulting in people not following guidelines in social situations.

Businesses, schools and other organizations are all feeling the impact of the COVID-19 impact one way or another.

For non-profits, the pandemic has made it difficult to hold fundraisers.

The annual budget for the Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing is around $280,000.

That money helps NATH provide safe housing and basics needs to people and families experiencing homelessness.

About $20,000 to $30,000 its budget comes from state and federal governments.

Wisconsin health officials reported a new daily high of more than 7,000 new COVID-19 cases — another new daily record. Saturday’s total of 7,065 confirmed infections is more than 900 cases higher than the previous record, set Friday with 6,141 cases.

The state first passed 6,000 daily cases on Friday, and Tuesday and Wednesday of this week also saw record-setting numbers of new cases.

U.S. voters went to the polls starkly divided on how they see President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, with a surprising twist.

In places where the virus is most rampant now, Trump enjoyed enormous support.

An Associated Press analysis reveals that in 376 counties with the highest number of new cases per capita, the overwhelming majority went for Trump, a rate above other less severely hit areas.

Wisconsin’s chief health officer quit Thursday as COVID-19 continues to run rampant across the state.

State Health Officer and DHS Interim Division of Public Health Administrator Stephanie Smiley announced her resignation effective Nov. 11 in a letter to local health departments.

She wrote that her work has been difficult and she has accepted a position outside state service so she can focus on her own health.

The DHS reported an additional 5,922 confirmed cases Thursday, just 17 cases shy of the daily case record of 5,935 set Wednesday.