Coronavirus cases confirmed at Milwaukee County psychiatric hospital; spokeswoman won't say whether they involve staff or patients

There have been several cases of coronavirus at Milwaukee County’s public behavioral health hospital, and the children’s unit has been shut down, officials confirmed Saturday. 

A union leader representing staff at the hospital said employees were not protected quickly enough, though they now have access to masks and other protective equipment. 

Katharine Foley, a spokesperson for the county’s behavioral health division, would not say exactly how many people tested positive or whether they were staff or patients. She would not say when the first person tested positive. 

Jeff Weber, president of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, the union representing workers at the hospital, said the first test on a patient with COVID-19 was March 25. 

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Foley said the hospital has set up an isolation unit for any patients with COVID-19 and stopped housing multiple patients in shared rooms. She said the division would not share how this has impacted the number of patients being served, as the data has not yet been reported to the Mental Health Board. 

Foley did not answer questions about the type or amount of protective equipment available to workers, saying only that it is “sufficient” to follow recommended safety protocols. 

A health worker at the hospital, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of losing her job, said the day before the first patient was tested staff members were concerned about the patient’s symptoms and decided to wear protective gear. The worker said a supervisor told them to remove the protective wear or they would be written up. 

After the positive test, Weber said staff members were told they could ask their supervisor for protective wear. But he said when an employee requested it March 25, the employee could not reach a supervisor until the shift was ending. 

Jamie Lucas, executive director of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, said multiple health workers had problems reaching their supervisors to get protective wear. 

“Nobody felt like they understood the process,” Lucas said. 

Foley would not say whether these incidents occurred, but noted guidelines are changing rapidly. She said the division “takes all staff concerns seriously and has increased management communications to ensure any challenges are addressed.” 

Lucas said he is aware of two county behavioral health staff members being quarantined. One tested positive and one wasn’t tested, he said. 

The worker who asked to remain anonymous said staff members have been able to use more protective equipment recently. 

“So far there seems to be enough,” she said. “They are rationing it but not as bad as other hospitals. We get a mask to wear for the day. We have gowns and face shields.” 

In a statement, Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Administrator Michael Lappen encouraged residents to use their services — whether at the hospital or in the community. 

“If recent events or changes to one’s routine become too much to handle, please talk to people who can help,” Lappen said. “There are resources available in our community that are here to help and support you through these rough times.”

For children needing inpatient attention for mental health crises, county staff are referring families to other providers such as Rogers Behavioral Health and Aurora Healthcare, Foley said. 

The county offers a 24-hour crisis line at (414) 257-7222. When needed, a mobile team can meet adults and adolescents anywhere to talk and connect them to resources. 

Lappen also recommended residents call 2-1-1 for connection to other community resources. 

Rory Linnane reports on public health and works to make information accessible so readers can improve their lives and hold officials accountable. Contact Rory at (414) 801-1525 or rory.linnane@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @RoryLinnane.