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Wisconsin election could affect length of state's Safer at Home order, DHS says

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Tuesday's election could have an impact on the state's Safer at Home order.

Wisconsin's Safer at Home order is set to end on April 24. The Department of Health Services said Wednesday they may recommend extending the order if they see an increase in COVID-19 patients due to in-person voting.

"One factor will be the impact of yesterday's election and if standing in line will create a bump," Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm said on a conference call.

Palm said DHS will also look at data from neighboring states to determine whether or not that order should be extended.

On the same conference call, DHS officials also said models show Wisconsin's peak of COVID-19 patients is anywhere from three to six weeks away. They thanked the public for stepping up and listening to health officials, saying we are flattening the curve and pushing our surge further down the road.

"When you flatten the curve, you are pushing the peak and making it as low as possible, so health care infrastructure is such that we can meet the demand," Palm said.

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