FRIDAY UPDATE: Wisconsin COVID-19 cases increase to 206

MADISON (WKOW) -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin continues to rise as of Friday, March 20, according to new information from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

The number of positives is now 206, and 3,455 tests have come back negative so far. Dane County cases rose from 27 on Thursday to 32 by Friday. The numbers, and several other updates, came on a press call with health officials and Gov. Tony severe.

Test result Number tested
Negative 3,455
Positive 206

State health officials said they expect around 99 percent of cases to recover. However, too many people are infected to monitor them all. Because of this the state does not have an exact count of all recovered cases.

Three deaths have been confirmed in the state. "Unfortunately this number is expected to rise," said Gov. Tony Evers.

DHS Secretary-Designee Andrea Palm said the situation will worsen before it gets better.

Evers said he believed Wisconsin could avoid an order to shelter in place. The governor promised to monitor the outbreak with regards to the upcoming spring election. Wisconsin has thus far held firm on its April 7 Spring Primary Election. Evers asked people to go to myvote.wi.gov to request their absentee ballot, rather than go in person to the polls.

The governor also encouraged people needing unemployment benefits to apply online if at all possible.

The Department of Children and Families is making plans for what to do with group homes and the foster system.

wkow.com/2020/03/20/friday-update-covid-19-cases-increase-to-206-three-dead/