Name: Wisconsin's percent positive coronavirus rate continues downward trend as Milwaukee restaurants and state parks prepare to open
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Wisconsin's percent positive coronavirus rate continues downward trend as Milwaukee restaurants and state parks prepare to open

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Milwaukee Journal SentinelThough hundreds of new coronavirus cases are reported each day in Wisconsin, the percentage of positive test results continues to drop — and more areas of the state are reopening or increasing capacity, including state parks, Dane County churches&nbsp;and Milwaukee bars.Bars and restaurants in the city were allowed to reopen Friday at 2 p.m. with limited capacity — delighting many&nbsp;owners and patrons while exasperating&nbsp;others.&nbsp;Mayor Tom Barrett had announced the change Thursday afternoon, giving restaurateurs 24 hours to scramble to bring in staff and ensure that operations are safe for employees and patrons.Some, like Hooligan's sports bar and The Harp, opened as soon as possible Friday; Good City and others are planning Saturday reopenings.Others felt blindsided by the announcement and won't be reopening this weekend.Paul Zerkel, a chef and co-owner at Goodkind in the Bay View neighborhood, said the&nbsp; 24-hour notice was not enough time to prepare, nor is he convinced it's yet safe to reopen."We were given no notification whatsoever,"&nbsp;Zerkel said, adding that he would need two weeks to reopen properly. "I think it’s completely a political thing and has nothing to do with the safety of patrons."Wisconsin's confirmed cases of the coronavirus surpassed 20,000 on Friday, but the percent of new tests that were positive for the virus continued to fall.Of 12,322 new test results reported by state health officials, 357 were positive for the virus, or 2.9%.That's the lowest rate since Sunday, and less than half the state's cumulative rate of over 6%.It was also less than half the record number of new cases the previous Friday (733).Confirmed case increases have tended to peak later in the week, possibly due to a lag in testing and reporting over the weekends. The last time new cases announced on a Friday numbered so few was April 24, when 304 cases were announced (a single-day record high at the time).The time between cumulative case milestones&nbsp;also reflects a slowed doubling time in the state. Wisconsin went from 5,000 positives to 10,000 in 18 days, then from 10,000 to 20,000 in 27 days&nbsp;— doubling 50% slower&nbsp;despite dramatic increases in testing.Seven more deaths due to COVID-19 were added to the state's count Friday, bringing the total to 633.The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the state stayed level Friday at 355, according to the . Of those hospitalized, 124 were in intensive care.Another 178 inpatients were awaiting test results, down 18 from Thursday's total.Portage County health officials are investigating a coronavirus outbreak tied to a May 30 college graduation party in Stevens Point.&nbsp;Eight people "associated" with the graduation party have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Portage County Division of Public Health.&nbsp;Those who tested positive have been ordered to isolate themselves and those they had close contact with will be quarantined.&nbsp;As of mid-Friday, there were 6.7 million confirmed cases globally, according to , and 393,000 deaths due to COVID-19.&nbsp;Nearly 1.9 million of those cases and 109,000 deaths were in the U.S.&nbsp;The Potawatomi Hotel &amp; Casino will&nbsp;reopen on Monday after&nbsp;closing its doors&nbsp;on March 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Guests should make reservations online or through the company's mobile app. Slot machines will be the only gaming available&nbsp;and plexiglass panels will separate players.On-site restaurants will offer takeout but will not be open for dine-in.&nbsp;The spa and&nbsp;fitness center will remain closed.Twenty-five percent of hotel rooms will be available.Staff will wear face coverings, and guests must bring their own.Guests and employees will have their temperatures taken. Anyone with a temperature exceeding 100.4 degrees will not be allowed to enter., though restrictions will still apply, according to a release from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.&nbsp;Making reservations for camping can only be done online or over the phone. Once campers arrive at the campground, they'll be able to go straight to their site, without any sort of check-in. Staff will be visiting sites to monitor occupancy.&nbsp;Most bathrooms are now open to the public, the release said, but drinking fountains&nbsp;in day-use areas will likely still not be in use. Access to water spigots will be available for campers.&nbsp;Dane County to allow churches to operate at 25% capacity after it faced a legal threat from the Catholic Diocese of Madison.A team of lawyers from three law firms and a religious liberty foundation working with the archdiocese&nbsp;sent a 17-page letter to city and county leaders this week&nbsp;saying the previous order unconstitutionally discriminated against churches.&nbsp;The earlier order had limited worship services to 50 people. The same order had a different limit for businesses — 25% of capacity.The&nbsp;new order&nbsp;puts businesses and houses of worship on the same footing. Both can now operate at 25% of their capacities.&nbsp;On Friday, the total number of cases in each Wisconsin county stood as follows. Note that these numbers are frozen once daily by the Department of Health Services and may not match local case counts.&nbsp;Agya Aning of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.Contact Matt Piper at (920) 810-7164 or . Follow him on Twitter at .

Milwaukee Journal SentinelThough hundreds of new coronavirus cases are reported each day in Wisconsin, the percentage of positive test results continues to drop — and more areas of the state are reopening or increasing capacity, including state parks, Dane County churches&nbsp;and Milwaukee bars.Bars and restaurants in the city were allowed to reopen Friday at 2 p.m. with limited capacity — delighting many&nbsp;owners and patrons while exasperating&nbsp;others.&nbsp;Mayor Tom Barrett had announced the change Thursday afternoon, giving restaurateurs 24 hours to scramble to bring in staff and...

Wisconsin's percent positive coronavirus rate continues downward trend as Milwaukee restaurants and state parks prepare to open

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