Milwaukee County sets up emergency operations center

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- There are now 13 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Milwaukee County, with 180 more cases being investigated.

Health officials say they don't know the source of at least one of the cases, which means it's being spread through the community, not just coming from people traveling. 

On Monday, the county announced they have set up an emergency operations center, or EOC.

The center brings together all officials and municipalities to coordinate their efforts. It will get information to first responders and to the community. 

The virus has reached the community spread phase, so it's more important than ever that people stay home and stay away from crowds. Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said that's how you end a pandemic. He also drove home just how serious the situation is. 

"It's not like a bad weather story, it's not like they canceled my favorite basketball team season, it's about the potential to lose as many lives that this state has lost to any disease in over a half century, and that's real, and that's why we're all here," he said.