7 Virus Cases Appear to Be Linked to Wisconsin Election

One was a poll worker, the rest voters
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 21, 2020 9:55 AM CDT
In Milwaukee, 7 Virus Cases Linked to In-Person Voting
Voters observe social distancing guidelines as they wait in line to cast ballots to vote in the state's presidential primary election on April 7, 2020, in Milwaukee.   (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Officials have identified seven people who appear to have contracted the coronavirus through activities related to the April 7 election in Wisconsin, per Milwaukee's health commissioner. Jeanette Kowalik said six of the cases involve Milwaukee voters and one is a Milwaukee poll worker, the Journal Sentinel reports. Officials hope to have additional information on the cases by the end of the week, including whether any of them were concentrated in any of the city's five polling places or if any resulted in death, Kowalik said Monday.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm said Monday there were no signs yet of a surge in cases from the election as some had feared. Palm noted, however, that if cases do exist, symptoms may not have appeared yet. Tuesday marks the 14th day since the election, which is a time frame during which health officials say symptoms typically appear. Voters who went to the polls in Milwaukee stood in long lines, many for several hours, in order to cast their ballots. Many had no protective gear, per the AP. To date, 230 people have died in Wisconsin and nearly 4,500 have tested positive.

(More coronavirus stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X