As we navigate through the ever-changing COVID environment, we will provide information on developments, regulations, statistics, and programs surrounding the outbreak.

Central Wisconsin county numbers

As of April 26, central Wisconsin county numbers were: Adams – positive cases, 4; negative cases, 135; deaths, 1; case fatality percentage, 25. Clark – positive cases, 19; negative cases, 194; deaths, 1; case fatality percentage, 5. Marathon – positive cases, 17; negative cases, 602; deaths, 1; case fatality percentage, 6.  Portage – positive cases, 4; negative cases, 263; deaths, 0; case fatality percentage, 0.  Wood – positive cases, 2; negative cases, 389; deaths, 0; case fatality percentage, 0.

Wisconsin COVID cases, according to state DHS numbers as of April 26. Tom Wood image.

The impact of COVID-19 on Wisconsin restaurants

The following information was released by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association regarding the state’s restaurant climate during Safer at Home, following a survey conducted in early April.

On average, restaurant operators reported a 70 percent decline in sales during the period of April 1-10.

Eighty-four percent of Wisconsin restaurant operators say they have laid off or furloughed employees since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in March. Nine percent of operators anticipated a layoff or furloughing of additional employees following the survey.

Among restaurant operators that laid off or furloughed employees, the average reduction was 81 percent of the restaurant’s total staff.

Based on these results, the National Restaurant Association estimates that more than 136,000 restaurant employees in Wisconsin have been laid off or furloughed since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in March. This represents at least 68 percent of the 199,900 employees who were working at Wisconsin’s eating and drinking places in February.

Sixty-one percent of Wisconsin operators say they continued operating but for off-premises traffic only. Fifty-nine percent of operators anticipate operating for off-premises traffic during the next 30 days.

Forty-four percent of Wisconsin operators say they temporarily closed their restaurant since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in March. Forty percent of operators anticipate temporarily closing their restaurant during the next 30 days.

“We have been hearing from restaurant operators that the COVID-19 crisis has been devastating to their businesses, but the numbers really drive it home,” says Kristine Hillmer, president & CEO of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association. “It is critical that the state has a solid plan to safely reopen the state as soon as possible.”