• Gov. Evers announced an application to FEMA for a second alternative care facility in Wisconsin at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison to prepare for a potential surge in COVID-19 cases. Additional details regarding facility operations, acuity level and patient capacity will be shared as they become available.

• The Department of Health Services (DHS) announced new tracing mechanisms for local health departments to better track Wisconsin residents who may have been exposed to COVID-19 during Tuesday’s election.

• The IRS created a website for low-income individuals who do not need to file income taxes to register for the COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments. Any individuals that are not required to file federal income taxes can register here.

• Click here to view today's DHS COVID-19 media brief with Gov. Evers

• Are you interested in playing a critical role in helping Wisconsin’s health care system respond to the COVID-19 pandemic? Volunteer now if you are an active or retired health care or behavioral health professional. Both clinical and non-clinical support positions are needed.

• The work requirement for the Medicaid Purchase Plan is temporarily suspended for applicants and members. Members will not lose Medicaid Purchase Plan benefits if they are unable to work as a result of COVID-19. Members still need to notify their agency about changes in employment, even if the change is temporary, as well as any changes to income, assets, medical expenses, number of people in the household, or job within 10 days of the change. Members will be sent a letter of this change.

• More than 215,000 FoodShare households will be receiving additional benefits. FoodShare households not currently receiving the maximum monthly benefit amount for their family size will receive additional benefits bringing them up to that level. Households will receive a letter notifying them of the additional benefits which will be available April 12 and April 26.

• The Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment announced the award of nearly $4.8 million in funding to 17 projects designed to support health care and community agencies in the fight to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The projects include efforts that will support outreach and communication to high-need populations in rural and urban areas of Wisconsin, expand access to resources and care, and use innovative technologies and potential treatments to stop the spread.

• Are you at higher risk of serious illness? Some groups of people are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. Adults over the age of 65 and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions, such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease and HIV, may be at higher risk. Read more here.

• Resources for Managing Mental Health:
• Mental Health Resource Hub: Some of the nation’s most credible mental health organizations have teamed up to offer a free resource hub to help people address their mental health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• MyConnectionNEW.org: Mental health and substance abuse information, resources and services in Brown, Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago Counties.
• Healthcare Professionals: Physicians and other frontline health care professionals are particularly vulnerable to negative mental health effects as they strive to balance the duty of caring for patients with concerns about their own well-being and that of their family and friends.

• CDC updated guidance for:
• Administrators in Parks and Recreational Facilities
• Childcare Programs - Additional options for screening children upon arrival to ensure those with a fever or other signs of illness are not admitted to the facility. This may be useful when personal protective equipment (PPE) is in short supply.
• FAQs for administrators, staff and people who are incarcerated and their families
• Preventing the Spread in Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities - This guidance is for owners, administrators, operators, workers, volunteers, visitors and residents.
• What Bus Transit Operators Need to Know About COVID-19

• New Emergency Orders issued by Gov. Evers:
• Order #22 related to certain timelines established by the Department of Safety and Professional Services
• Order #23 related to the Department of Veterans Affairs Assistance to Needy Veterans Program, suspending certain Department of Veterans Affairs administrative rules
• Order #24 related to the Department of Transportation emergency overweight commodity permits, waiving certain fees for transportation of supplies

• The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection released guidance for:
• Operating u-pick produce activities
• Essential and nonessential auction operations
• Essential agribusiness
• FAQ about recreational operations and pools

• BEWARE OF ONLINE AND PHONE SCAMS related to the Economic Impact Payments:
• The government will not ask you to pay anything up front to get this money. No fees. No charges. Nothing.
• The government will not call, email or text to ask for your Social Security number, bank account or credit card number. Anyone who does is a scammer.
• These checks will not be sent until mid-April or even later. Anyone who says they can get you the money now is a scammer.
• The FTC encourages anyone who is contacted by a scammer asking for your bank account number or Social Security number to file a complaint on their website.
• Consumer Protection resources are being updated by DATCP on their COVID-19: Consumer Protection webpage, including additional info on relief check scams.

• Agricultural producers can apply for the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) which provides loans for payroll costs, benefits, interest on mortgages, rent, utilities, etc.

• Cloth Face Coverings - Visit this DHS site and click on "Should I wear a cloth face mask?" for tips on wearing, clean and making cloth face coverings.

• COVID-19 symptoms may include: fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, headache, fatigue, aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of smell or loss of taste. For many, symptoms are mild, with no fever. You can still spread the virus even if you have mild or no symptoms.

• REMINDER: Call your healthcare provider before going into a clinic if you are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19. This allows them to provide guidance, prepare ahead if you need to be seen, and minimize risk to others.

• For past Situation Updates, visit the WCHD website.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating and after going to the bathroom, blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
• If you do not have soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Cough or sneeze into an elbow if no tissue is available. Wash your hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household disinfectant cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wear a cloth face covering in public settings.
• Click here for additional guidance from the CDC

• Full library of print resources for schools, businesses, etc. from the CDC
• Winnebago County Health Department - resources specific to the general public, healthcare providers, businesses, community organizations, schools and first responders.
• Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
• Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
• Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
• Wisconsin.gov website - Resources from multiple state agencies
• Oshkosh Area United Way Community Resource List
• OSHA COVID-19 Website
• FEMA COVID-19 Website
• coronavirus.gov - Official information from the COVID-19 Task Force at the White House
• Wisconsin Restaurant Association - Employer resources, temp jobs for displaced workers, etc.
• usa.gov/coronavirus - federal government updates