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COVID-19 is the disease caused by a virus strain that began spreading in people in December 2019.

Health experts are concerned because little is known about this new respiratory virus, and it can cause severe illness and pneumonia in some people.

  • The COVID-19 virus was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
  • The COVID-19 virus is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold.
  • Formerly, this disease was referred to as "2019 Novel Coronavirus" or "2019-nCoV."

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On May 13, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the governor’s safer at home order, effective immediately. This rendered the Safer at Home and Badger Bounce Back orders unenforceable. Please continue staying safer at home, practicing social distancing, frequently washing your hands, and only traveling for necessity.

Please see the industry-specific guidelines to safely re-open provided by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

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It’s OK to ask for help. Practicing self-care, staying connected, and reducing stress when possible are the foundation of these tools. Specific action-steps for each of these strategies can be found on the Resilient Wisconsin website.

The SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7 365 day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human caused-disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents of the United States and its territories.

 

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We are looking for companies, educational facilities and other organizations that may have personal protective equipment (PPE) that could be used in the state’s response to the COVID-19 emergency. Types of equipment needed includes:

  • Surgical Gowns (S, L, XL, and XXL)
  • Face/Surgical Masks (adult, pediatric)
  • Gloves (Nitrile, Vinyl, or Butyl)
  • N-95 Particulate Respirators
  • Isolation Gowns
  • Face Shields
  • Tyvek Coveralls
  • Thermometers
  • Foot Coverings

 

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  • The statewide approach to containing the spread of COVID-19 will continue with robust testing and contact tracing efforts in all corners of Wisconsin, resources that ensure our critical workers have the equipment they need to do their jobs safely, and direct investments in local communities and health providers.
  • Governor Evers announced a robust $1 billion statewide effort to support COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, acquisition of needed supplies, emergency operations, and resources for local communities throughout Wisconsin.
  • The effort is funded by $1.17 billion in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

The $260 million testing program includes:

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You can find testing sites available here.

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The Department of Children and Families (DCF) have tools available to connect essential workforce families to local, safe child care.

Healthcare workers and essential employees can now submit a request for care through the department’ Child Care Finder or proactively view up-to-date availability across the state using the department’s Child Care Map.

Providing child care to the families of essential workers is critical to flattening the curve of COVID-19 in Wisconsin. Governor Evers created the Child Care for Essential Workers Taskforce to address this need. Led by DCF, the taskforce worked with the Early Childhood Association (WECA) and Supporting Families Together Association (SFTA) to connect essential workforce families in need of child care with locally available child care resources. To date, the taskforce has accomplished the following items.

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The Department of Workforce Development encourages those who are out of work through no fault of their own to apply for unemployment insurance through the DWD website. The DWD prepared a specific FAQ page addressing unemployment insurance benefits during this time.

Governor Evers issued Emergency Order #7 that waived work search requirements for unemployment insurance benefits for workers impacted by COVID-19.

Those continuing to search for work, many Job Centers in Wisconsin have taken precautions so they can remain open and safely serve their communities.

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The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation has information online that you may find useful regarding essential businesses, business resources, small business guidance and loan assistance. 

Additionally, Governor Evers and the Wisconsin Economic Development Cooperation announced the We’re All In initiative which is a rapid grant program for small businesses.

Funded largely by federal dollars received through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, this initiative will provide direct assistance to small businesses most impacted by the duration and restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. These $2,500 cash grants will assist with the costs of business interruption or for health and safety improvements, wages and salaries, rent, mortgages, and inventory. Businesses will be able to apply for grant assistance in early June.

Wisconsin small businesses have stepped up during this pandemic to keep people safe and many have pivoted to producing needed items such as hand sanitizer and face coverings. Providing relief to small businesses in Wisconsin that have been impacted by the pandemic is an important part of our response to and recovery from the pandemic.

Background Information:

  • The $75 million in assistance will be administered through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).
  • Businesses will be able to apply starting in early June.
  • The cash grants will be $2,500 each. 30,000 grants will be awarded.
  • Small businesses with 20 or less full-time equivalent (FTE) employees and less than $1 million in annual revenue will be eligible to apply.
  • Businesses that have not yet received federal assistance will have priority in receiving WEDC Rapid Execution Small Business grants.

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Wisconsin Farm Support Program, a $50-million investment to provide direct payments to Wisconsin farmers in support of the agricultural sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a $15-million Food Security Initiative to combat hunger in Wisconsin.

Eligible farmers will be asked to apply for the aid through the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, which is working in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Farm support payments could begin arriving as early as June.

To complement the Wisconsin Farm Support Program and combat food insecurity, the governor has also committed $15 million to the Food Security Initiative. A portion of the funding will go toward helping food banks, pantries, and other nonprofit organizations fighting food insecurity adapt to challenges posed by the COVID-19 public health crisis. This may include adjustments to public health and social distancing guidelines, such as curb-side pick up or delivery services, purchasing prepared meals from local restaurants for distribution, as well as other expenses that are being incurred by these organizations as they continue to provide services to families in need. The initiative will emphasize the importance of prioritizing the use of Wisconsin products wherever possible in feeding citizens who find themselves in need of support. Applicants are strongly encouraged to partner with local food experts to aid in connecting with farmers in their area.

Additionally, the Food Security Initiative will help food banks, pantries, and other nonprofit organizations purchase, process, and/or store Wisconsin agricultural products for distribution to local consumers in need. Furthermore, these grants will bolster Wisconsin’s food supply chain by strengthening bridges, from producers and processors to food banks and consumers. This section of the Food Security Initiative will help ensure that the funding provided in the federal CARES Act goes to help Wisconsin organizations distribute nutritious Wisconsin food products to Wisconsin consumers who need them most.

 

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Gov. Evers recently launched a $25 million Wisconsin Rental Assistance Program for Wisconsinites who have experienced income loss as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Administered by the Department of Administration (DOA), the Wisconsin Rental Assistance Program will provide direct financial assistance for owed rent, security deposits, and wrap around services for program eligible individuals.

The effort is funded by $25 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars.

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DOA will partner with Wisconsin Community Action Program Association member agencies to accept applications from interested individuals and distribute the rental assistance.

More details about the Wisconsin Rental Assistance Program, including complete eligibility criteria, application documentation requirements, and the distribution process for the rental assistance, will be shared in the upcoming days. Initial details regarding the program are available here.

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Governor Evers announced a $100 million grant program to support providers most at-risk for financial hardship during the COVID-19 public health crisis. The program is funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

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The program will be administered in two parts: an initial release of funds to support immediate needs, and a second, targeted release for additional needs of individual providers. Both rounds of funding will be allocated to support expenses directly related to COVID-19 as well as expenses associated with the interruption of typical operations, such as overtime pay, changes to sanitation procedures, and disruption to the standard delivery of care.

 

Emergency Medical Service providers have been on the frontlines in their communities responding to COVID-19. Long-term care facilities and home and community-based service providers are ensuring the elderly and people with disabilities can stay healthy and safe in their own homes and communities. These providers are experiencing significant challenges as pandemic-related expenses like purchasing necessary PPE and retaining workers have increased operating costs. This funding will make it possible for this network to continue providing their essential services, protecting many of those most at risk from the virus.

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Routes to Recovery Grants for Wisconsin counties, cities, villages and towns will provide reimbursements for unbudgeted expenditures incurred this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, in the following categories: 

  • Emergency operations activities, including those related to public health, emergency services, and public safety response
  • Purchases of personal protective equipment
  • Cleaning/sanitizing supplies and services, including those related to elections administration
  • Temporary isolation housing for infected or at-risk individuals
  • Testing and contact tracing costs above those covered by existing State programs
  • FMLA and sick leave for public health and safety employees to take COVID-19 precautions
  • Meeting local match requirements for expenses submitted for reimbursement by FEMA, to the extent allowed by federal law

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The determination of a local government's Routes to Recovery Grant amount is a formula based on the jurisdiction’s population, as well as the priority of providing Wisconsin's units of local government no less than $5,000, regardless of size of the population.

More information regarding the Routes to Recovery Grants, including the allocation amounts for counties and municipalities, is available here.