Wisconsin Examiner A year after COVID-19 arrived, considering what comes next for health and for society Ani Weaver, a Madison nurse, speaking April 23, 2020, at a candlelight vigil for people hospitalized from COVID-19. The vigil was held in support of state public health measures the night before a demonstration opposing the state's Safer at Home order. (Photo by Luther Wu) This coming Friday, March 12, will mark the anniversary of Wisconsin’s first COVID-19 health emergency. When Gov. Tony Evers issued the declaration on Thursday, March 12, 2020, five Wisconsin residents had been confirmed positive with the novel coronavirus. A year later that number has multiplied by 110,000. In Wisconsin, the virus SARS-CoV-2 has infected more than 566,000 people, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). It has taken nearly 6,500 lives.