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19 people who voted in or worked Wisconsin's primary have COVID-19

DHS says they may have been exposed elsewhere
Posted at 8:51 AM, Apr 23, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-23 10:51:17-04

Wisconsin's Department of Health Services (DHS) has reported that 19 people who have tested positive for the coronavirus after the state's primary election on April 7 either voted in-person or worked the polls.

Despite efforts by Gov. Tony Evers to delay in-person voting until June, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled on April 6 that the primary elecitons must be held as scheduled the next day.

Poll workers attempt to ensure proper social distancing during the election, requiring people to stand six feet apart in line.

DHS says that several of the 19 reported other possible exposures as well.

"Public health officials continue to interview people who have tested positive with COVID-19 and query whether someone has reported voting in person or working at the polls," the DHS said in a statement. "Since we only have data on positive cases (without a comparison group of people who were not tested or tested negative), there is no way to know with certainty if any exposures at the polls that are reported are in fact attributable to COVID-19 illness."

Currently, 230 people have died from the coronavirus in Wisconsin.

This story was originally published by Tess Klein on WTMJ in Milwaukee.