COVID-19 Update - Tuesday, December 15th

In order to support your families being able to take a deep breath, turn away from constant news updates, and create a new temporary normal, my office will continue sending a near-daily update on the COVID-19 public health emergency and posting to our website and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

It is my hope that one reliable update each day will allow you to take a deep breath, oversee all that is happening in your own life and home, and have a reliable source of news you can count on to be up to date and accurate. As always, previous updates are on our website and linked beneath the graphic below.

My greatest concerns right now are your lives and livelihoods. We are working hard to keep you and your loved ones safe, and to fight for our small businesses in an unprecedented crisis.

Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced yesterday that Wisconsin is anticipating the arrival of 49,725 doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week with shipments expected to increase over the coming weeks and months once more supply becomes available. The first doses of the vaccine will be shipped directly to regional hubs across the state. Read the full statement HERE.

Governor Evers also announced that the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has officially activated the federal government’s pharmacy distribution program for the COVID-19 vaccine. Read the full statement HERE.

The Department of Health Services hosted a vaccine Q&A yesterday as well - that can be viewed HERE.

Over the weekend, Wisconsin reported over 4,000 COVID-19 deaths total in the state since the start of the pandemic.

Also this week, the United States has reported more than 300,000 total deaths from COVID-19.

Milwaukee County Announces New Joint Mental Health Facility with Milwaukee Health Systems

Milwaukee County, represented by the Mental Health Board and the Behavioral Health Division, recently announced along with the four Milwaukee Health Systems – Advocate Aurora Health, Ascension Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin and Froedtert Health – the development of a joint venture (JV) mental health emergency center.

This new emergency center is the next major milestone in their shared efforts toward redesigning the county-wide mental health delivery system. Final agreements are slated for approvals in February 2021. Community engagement, detailed design and construction of the new center are expected to begin in early 2021 with the goal of being operational by the spring of 2022.

COVID-19 Community Testing Sites

WAUKESHA COUNTY

WHAT: Drive thru COVID-19 testing
WHERE: Waukesha County Expo Center (1000 Northview Rd, Waukesha, WI)
WHEN: Tests will be administered during the following hours, or until the 300 tests per day have been administered,
Mondays & Wednesdays: 9 am – 4 pm, Fridays: 9 am – 4pm; Tuesdays & Thursday: 9am - 4pm

More information HERE.

MILWAUKEE COUNTY

Testing is available at Milwaukee Health Department’s Northwest Health Center, 7630 W. Mill Road, and Southside Health Center, 1639 S. 23rd St. Hours are 9 am - 3 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 10 am - 6 pm on Wednesdays.

A consolidated, centralized community testing location at Miller Park is now open for COVID-19 testing. Hours are Monday through Friday 11 am - 6 pm, and Saturday 9am - 3pm.

More information can be found HERE.

Free, rapid-results COVID-19 tests are now available for community members at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. For more information, click HERE.

Department of Health Services Updates

For daily updated information on COVID-19 in Wisconsin, visit the DHS website HERE.

Updates on the Badger Bounce Back plan gating criteria can be found HERE.

Statewide

442,396 confirmed cases (increase of 3,501*)

47.9% of total tests are positive, by person (for 12/15)

19,510 hospitalizations (4.4% of cases- increase of 184)

394,095 recovered cases (89.1% of all cases)

2,259,792 negative test results (increase of 3,798)

4,122 devastating deaths (increase of 54)

5 patients at Alternate Care Facility at State Fair Park

14th District Counties

Milwaukee - 78,267 confirmed cases (increase of 722)
Waukesha - 31,200 confirmed cases (increase of 642)

*Changes over yesterday

Forward together,