2,383 Latinos/as Have Tested COVID-19 Positive In Milwaukee County Compared To Statewide Latino Total Of 5,649 Cases Reported And 49 Hispanic Deaths Due To Complications With The Virus Pandemic In Wisconsin

The conservative GOP controlled Wisconsin State Supreme Court justices ignited a spike in COVID-19 cases in the state after shutting down Governor Evers (D) "Safer at Home" order and created chaos around Wisconsin leaving most of the 72 counties without any COVID-19 restrictions to stop the spread of the virus pandemic.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 29, 2020

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WIDHS) reported at least 16,974 had tested Positive (+ 512), with 2,452 Hospitalized (+ 41), 550 Deaths (+ 11) and 220,719 had tested Negative (+ 10,114) from the previous day in the state, while Milwaukee County reported at least 7,182 Positive cases, 268 Deaths and at least 2,383 Latinos/as have tested Positive in Milwaukee County compared to a total of Hispanics statewide of 5,649, 33% of COVID-19 cases reported and 49 deaths among Latinos, 9% of reported deaths, with a majority residing in the Southside of Milwaukee. At least 599 Positive cases in a single day were reported on Thursday, making it the highest statewide COVID-19 cases in a seven day average, according to the WIDHS.

The increase in positive COVID-19 cases is due to the increase of testing sites in the state including Milwaukee County. Also the increase of virus pandemic cases was ignited by the Republican controlled State legislature, which filed a lawsuit with the Wisconsin State Supreme Court challenging Governor Tony Evers (D) extended "Safer at Home" order. The conservative WI State Supreme Court justices in a ruling 4-3 decided to shutdown Governor Evers extended order that would have lasted until May 26th leaving a majority of the 72 counties in chaos without any COVID-19 restrictions to stop the spread of the virus.

Allowing businesses and bars to open and patrons not being required to use facemasks and to also practice social distancing around the state including in Lake Geneva and other parts of Wisconsin.

Hospitals have been forced to make adjustments, since the State Supreme Court ruling to accommodate the expected Coronavirus (COVID-19) surge. Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) learned that on May 19, 2020, Jill M. Berg, RN, PhD, FAHA, FATA, FAAN Vice President of Patient Care sent a memo "Expanding COVID Inpatient Capacity" to all Ascension St. Francis Hospital Associates and Medical Staff saying that the "...the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to have a significant impact on the country, Wisconsin residents, and Ascension St. Francis Hospital. This week we are experiencing our highest number of confirmed and suspected (PUI-Patient Under Investigation) hospitalized patients. With this continued trend, we are now moving to the next phase of our surge plan." 

"Effective immediately, the existing Cardiac Intervention Center (CIC), will serve as our ICU for our non-COVID and non-PUI critical care patients. The existing ICU will be dedicated to care for COVID and PUI patients requiring critical and intermediate level of care. This arrangement will make the unit "acuity adaptable" so we do not have to transfer patients as frequently when their care needs change. Also, happening today, we are opening 3S as a second dedicated COVID unit to accommodate our expanding needs...The continued surge we are experiencing will require us to be creative as we adapt to these changing demands and rise to the challenge..."

With the continued COVID-19 surge in Wisconsin and no actual vaccine in sight and treatment, multiple outdoor major venues like the three-day Mexican Fiesta at the Summerfest grounds in late August sponsored by the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation, Inc. has been canceled including other ethnic festivals as well. Also the Wisconsin State Fair has been canceled for the first time in 75 years due to the virus pandemic.

The Latino community lost a well known doctor last weekend to COVID-19 complications. Dr. Leonardo J. Aponte, 86,  who served the Southside Latino community for nearly 45 years and provided affordable health and medical care to the residents passed away on Saturday due to complications with the novel COVID-19, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office.

As businesses, bars, restaurants and other venues in Milwaukee County and around the state begin to reopen, a word of advice is worth mentioning today, stay away from possible COVID-19 crowed havens and venues that don't practice facemask protection to keep droplets from spreading to others or unsuspecting victims and venues that lack the practice of social distancing restrictions to avoid getting infected by possible COVID-19 carriers.

Currently in Wisconsin, there is no law making it a felony criminal act to intentionally spread and infect others with COVID-19 when tested positive, while not wearing a facemask, not practicing social distancing and required to self quarantine.

WIDHS COVID-19 data link: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/data.htm

Update: On Friday, May 29, 2020, Wisconsin set a new record with 733 positive coronavirus cases reported in one day, according to the WIDHS.