Watch the state’s news conference below.
The state of Wisconsin has issued a public health emergency over the COVID-19 virus.
“We have been working aggressively to slow the spread of COVID-19, and this declaration allows us to get the resources we need to continue to be proactive when it comes to protecting Wisconsinites,” said Governor Tony Evers, as cited by WTMJ news partner Channel3000.com.
“It is the latest step in the work our state agencies have been doing around the clock with our health care partners to prepare for the possibility of COVID-19 becoming a global pandemic.”
The state has six total cases of coronavirus confirmed, with three in Southeastern Wisconsin announced on Wednesday. One of those people has been cleared. 37 people from Wisconsin are also returning to the state after being quarantined on a cruise ship that was affected. There were no positive tests among them, but they are being asked to self-quarantine.
The Governor’s executive order reportedly allows the Department of Health Services to help people with medications “regardless of insurance or health coverage,” and to give assistance to local health departments if people are isolated and quarantined, per the report.