The NNS coronavirus update: What Milwaukee residents need to know the week of Aug. 31 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
August 31, 2020
The Milwaukee Health Department will be hosting Back-to-School Fairs on Aug. 31. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Here’s the latest update on COVID-19 in Milwaukee and the resources you need to combat it.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 31, the Milwaukee Health Department will distribute  bookbags, school supplies, hand sanitizer and masks at the following locations:
Hopkins Lloyd School – 1503 W. Hopkins St.
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Riverwest Elementary School – 2765 N. Fratney St.
Greenfield Bilingual School – 1711 S. 35th St.
Kilbourn School – 5354 N. 68th St.
Supplies will be first come, first serve.  The Health Department will also distribute community educational materials.
Greenfield Health Department Director Darren Rausch has monitored testing for students 18 and under. He said high school students currently have the highest rate of positive COVID-19 tests.
Rausch reminded everyone to remember the 3 W’s: Wear a mask. Watch your distance. And wash your hands.
“We know COVID will impact the schools, and we hope all of you are making collective decisions to help us minimize that,” Rausch said.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said there has been a “significant downward trend” for positive tests in the last two weeks. With an average of over 2,000 tests a day, Barrett said 5% have returned positive.
“That, to me, is the key number: bringing that positive rate down,” Barrett said.
The county is “green” in three of its five key indicators. The indicators are in place to measure the effectiveness of the COVID-19 response. Barrett said last week’s improvement marks a substantial improvement.
The number of individuals seeking tests declined over the last two weeks, Dr. Ben Weston of the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management said.
As we see encouraging signs, “we must maintain our momentum,” Weston said.
Weston strongly encourages testing for:
1. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms
2. Anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19
3. Anyone who has been instructed by a public health or health care provider to seek out testing
To obtain a free mask, residents can visit these sites:
NNS reporters also gathered a list of where to buy locally made masks if you’re looking to show some local business love when masking up.
Check the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s website for the most updated facts and answers to questions about the mask ordinance.
Look here for up-to-date statistics on COVID-19 in the county. More precautions on how to stay safe and information on COVID-19 can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Contact your health provider, call IMPACT 2-1-1 or take a look at the county’s testing site map to find a testing center near you. The free community testing sites at UMOS, 2701 S. Chase Ave., and Custer Stadium by Barack Obama School, 4300 W. Fairmount Ave. continue to operate.
Check out our continuing coronavirus coverage.
Looking for more personalized direction to resources and information during the coronavirus crisis? Get connected with News414, a texting-based news resource from Milwaukee NNS, Wisconsin Watch and Outlier Media. You can text MILWAUKEE to 73224 and begin to receive free, personalized data via text messages.
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