Health
Wisconsin will expand vaccinations to those over 65 next week, but the larger pool begs the question of whether Wisconsin will receive enough vaccine to inoculate that population. Reporter Will Cushman breaks down what the hurdles will be for the state.
January 22, 2021
coronavirus
Latest Stories
UW-Madison Ups the COVID Testing for Students and Faculty
As students begin returning to campus for the spring semester UW-Madison implements new COVID testing protocols for faculty and students to lessen the degree of COVID that was experienced on campus during the fall semester.
January 22, 2021 • South Central Region
Republicans Resolve To Shut Down Mask Order
Republicans in the state Senate have introduced a joint resolution that would overturn Gov. Tony Evers’ latest statewide mask order. Nine Senators, including Senate President Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, have signed on to the resolution, and 18 Republicans in the Assembly are listed as co-sponsors. The joint resolution, which needs to ...
January 22, 2021
Noon Wednesday: Wisconsin’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
The COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been up and running for about a month, but there’s still a lot of confusion over how that process is going in the state. Will Cushman of WisContext discusses the latest in vaccine news and how to interpret the data.
January 20, 2021
Wisconsinites Over 65 to Receive Vaccinations Starting Monday
Wisconsin will begin vaccinating people 65 and older as soon as next Monday, which will add about 700,000 new Wisconsinites to the list of those eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Wisconsin’s deputy health secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said the decision was made to include this group because older ...
January 19, 2021
Wisconsin COVID Legislation Gains Bipartisan Support
Governor Tony Evers speaks to COVID legislation. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says Senate changes went too far to please the Governor.
January 15, 2021
The state Senate passed a COVID-19 bill this week which the governor supports but received pushback from Assembly Republicans. Senate majority leader Devin LeMahieu talks about the status of COVID-19 relief in Wisconsin.
January 15, 2021
Deputy Health Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk talks about the procurement and distribution of the coronavirus vaccine in Wisconsin and what the state is doing to get more shots in arms.
January 15, 2021
New Approaches to Address COVID Racial Health Disparities
Communities of color have been experiencing significantly higher amounts of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. “Here & Now’s” Marisa Wojcik reports from Milwaukee, where they saw early warning signs and mobilized to address these inequalities.
January 15, 2021
Evers Announces Mask Mandate Extension, Next Steps for Vaccines
Gov. Tony Evers announced Friday he will extend the state’s mask mandate another 60 days, as the current mandate is set to expire on Tuesday. “While there's light and hope at the end of this tunnel, this virus hasn't gone away,” Evers said during a Friday media briefing. This will ...
January 15, 2021
DHS Finds New COVID Strain in Wisconsin
A new strain of the coronavirus, known to be more contagious and which has caused mass shutdowns in the United Kingdom, has been detected in Wisconsin for the first time. The state Department of Health Services said in a news release the new strain was found through routine sequencing of ...
January 13, 2021
Senate Passes COVID Relief Bill, Sends Changes Back to Assembly
Tuesday afternoon the state Senate passed an amended version of the Assembly’s COVID-19 relief bill, with changes that remove a number of controversial provisions in the Assembly bill that were likely to result in Gov. Tony Evers vetoing the bill altogether. The amendment passed 29-2 with only one Democrat and ...
January 12, 2021
Bayfield Mayor Gordon Ringberg talks about the challenges faced by his and other Wisconsin cities, and what he hopes 2021 will bring.
January 1, 2021
Racial Disparities and the COVID-19 Vaccine
Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. Dr. Tito Izard discusses the ongoing disparities seen among minority communities amid the pandemic, and how that will impact efforts to vaccinate the state.
January 1, 2021
Congress Passes COVID Bill Without Wisconsin GOP Support
Republican members of Wisconsin's congressional delegation voted against the coronavirus aid bill that passed Congress Monday night.
December 22, 2020
Evers Floats Compromise Proposal for COVID Aid
Gov. Tony Evers put forward two coronavirus aid bills Monday, which he is asking the Legislature to consider “without delay.” The first bill is a compromise proposal of issues upon which the governor said he and Republican leaders have already agreed. A second bill contains policies the governor says are ...
December 21, 2020
State epidemiologist and Wisconsin Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ryan Westergaard talks about the first doses of the COVID vaccine in Wisconsin and what is next for the state regarding the pandemic.
December 18, 2020
As positive COVID cases spike at state nursing homes among residents and staff, State Director of AARP Wisconsin, Sam Wilson, talks about how the virus impacts seniors, as well as those living in long term care facilities.
December 18, 2020
Restaurants Weather the Pandemic
Joanne Palzkill, who owns three restaurants in the Eau Claire area, talks about the struggles of staying open amid the pandemic and what another round of coronavirus aid would mean for the restaurant industry.
December 18, 2020
Evers: ‘Unacceptable’ Wisconsin Is Getting Fewer Vaccines
Wisconsin is set to receive fewer doses than expected in the next round of Pfizer vaccine distributions, Gov. Tony Evers announced Friday. “This is unacceptable,” he said. “Wisconsin citizens deserve the vaccine the federal government promised.” The state received 49,725 doses this week, and is scheduled to receive 35,100 doses ...
December 18, 2020
DHS to Launch Contact Tracing App, Vaccine Delivery Ramps Up
Gov. Tony Evers, along with the state Department of Health Services, announced Thursday a new smartphone app will be available starting next week to help COVID-19 contact tracing efforts. “The voluntary WI Exposure Notification app is another tool in our toolbox to stop the spread,” Evers said in a press ...
December 17, 2020
Supreme Court Hears Capacity Limit Challenge
The case heard before the court challenges an October 25% capacity limit order, and is seen as a possible re-hashing of the case that threw out the state's stay-at-home order in May.
December 17, 2020
Wisconsin Hubs Receive COVID-19 Vaccine
Wisconsin has received roughly 50,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as state health care workers began receiving the vaccine this week. “While the arrival of the vaccine is a critical and exciting milestone, and so very important to our ability to end the covid-19 pandemic, it is early and our ...
December 16, 2020
UW Health’s Dr. Matt Anderson discusses plans to store and distribute the first round of COVID-19 vaccines in Wisconsin starting as soon as next week.
December 12, 2020
Homeland Security Committee Approves Vaccine Therapies
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson talks about this week's Homeland Security Committee hearing where medical clinicians voiced support of therapies that have been dismissed as unsafe by the FDA.
December 11, 2020
State COVID Numbers Down, DHS Still Wary
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported an overall decline in the number of positive COVID-19 cases Thursday as the state hit the two-week mark after the Thanksgiving holiday. The decline in cases after the virus’s known incubation period could be a sign that people followed public health advice to ...
December 10, 2020
DHS Rolls Out Flu Vaccine Campaign to Reach Wisconsin Minority Communities
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is looking to increase flu vaccination rates as the state enters the annual flu season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the flu circulates continuously, the infections peak between December and February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is on top ...
December 9, 2020
Health Officials Forecast Rollout of Vaccine in Wisconsin
The first doses of COVID-19 vaccine are soon headed to Wisconsin and plans are being finalized for how to distribute them. “Distributing the COVID-19 vaccine is the most significant public health undertaking of our lifetimes,” Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said. The Pfizer vaccine, which ...
December 7, 2020
Pocan on Election, COVID Relief
U.S. Democrat Representative Mark Pocan weighs in on the pending court cases challenging the state's election, as well as the possibility of more coronavirus aid being passed in Washington.
December 4, 2020
COVID Timeline, Flow of COVID in Wisconsin
Wiscontext partners show a timeline of how coronavirus cases have grown within the 72 counties of Wisconsin on a daily basis.
December 4, 2020
Evers Asks Feds to Put Wisconsin Among Top of the List for Vaccine
Evers told federal officials state legislative inaction has left him with few options, and that he wants to prioritize Wisconsin health care workers with the vaccine to help staff overcrowded hospitals.
December 3, 2020
Local Officials Push Back on GOP COVID Proposal
“It undermines the ability of public health officers to keep us safe, and it politicizes health care,” says Dane County Exec. Joe Parisi.
December 2, 2020 • South Central Region
Assembly Republicans Propose New Round of COVID-19 Legislation
The legislation would create a $100 million fund to be used for pandemic-related expenses as well as provide for more legislative oversight over the pandemic response.
December 1, 2020
Wisconsin Hits Record Daily Deaths, Bringing Death Toll to 3,420
Wisconsin hit a record daily number of COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, with the state Department of Health Services reporting 107 people died of the virus. That brings the total number of deaths to 3,420 as of Dec. 1. Daily positive tests were reported at 4,078 and DHS officials said hospitals across ...
December 1, 2020
Grim COVID Milestone in Wisconsin
Here & Now’s Trevor Keller spoke with frontline pandemic workers about how they are managing and holding up as Wisconsin has recently reached over 100 COVID deaths in a single day.
November 27, 2020
Is COVID Affecting Those with Mental Illnesses
Dr. Ned Kalin, the Chair of the Dept. of Psychiatry at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health discusses the impact of COVID of those with mental illness and their care providers.
November 27, 2020
Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin President Patti Habeck talks about the struggles Wisconsinites face as they head into the fall and winter amid continuing pandemic stress.
November 27, 2020
Health Officials Implore People to Stay Home for Thanksgiving
In the days leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, public health officials locally and nationally are still delivering the same message: stay home. What has changed is the urgency with which they are conveying it. “We’re seeing such a surge in cases with the holiday season among us. You really ...
November 25, 2020
Conservative Group Asks Supreme Court to Throw Out Dane County Gathering Ban
The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty filed a petition for original action before the state's high court, seeking to throw out Dane County's ban on indoor gatherings.
November 23, 2020
Deer Hunting During COVID and Camp Safety
Here & Now’s Zac Schulz reports from Taylor County about how hunters and businesses are preparing for the gun deer season in the age of COVID; Bellin Hospital M.D. Paul Casey sound about deer camp safety.
November 20, 2020
UW System President Thompson on Rapid Test Sites
UW System President Tommy Thompson talks about surge COVID-19 rapid test sites on UW campuses and support they are getting from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Students who decide to go home for the holidays must plan to get tested to prevent spreading the virus to their families and must take two tests upon returning to campus.
November 20, 2020
Planning for Vaccine Distribution
While the COVID-19 surge in Wisconsin does not appear to be relenting, help is on the way. New vaccines are in the final stages of approval. State Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk talks about the complicated planning for distribution of a vaccine.
November 20, 2020
Evers Extends Emergency Orders as Hospitals Reach Capacity
Over one third of Wisconsin hospitals are experiencing critical staffing shortages as hospital official warns without steps taken, the health care crisis will turn into a catastrophe.
November 20, 2020
How COVID-19 Is Shaping the 2020 Deer Season
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is advising hunters not to travel across the state to hunt for this year’s gun-deer season. Keith Warnke, the administrator of the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Division, said “We're recommending hunters keep hunting local and they do it with members of their household to ...
November 20, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Planning a Safe Holiday Amidst COVID-19
Public health officials are bracing themselves for the coronavirus surge to get worse as people plan to gather for the holidays. Sara Lornson, a contact tracer and public health nurse, and Lisa Tutskey, a marriage and family therapist, talk about the impact of gathering and how to have difficult conversations with family and friends.
November 18, 2020
Evers to Extend Mask Order in Coming Days
The new emergency order that will re-up the statewide mask mandate will extend through January, 2021.
November 18, 2020
State Leaders Introduce Competing COVID-19 Plans
The partisan rhetoric that had mired previous COVID-19 discussions continued Tuesday despite both sides indicating publicly their desire to work together.
November 17, 2020
Wisconsin Front Line, Nursing Home Workers to Get First Round of COVID Vaccine
The first people to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Wisconsin will be hundreds of thousands of front-line healthcare workers and support staff, along with nursing home workers and residents, and could come as early as the end of the year according to Department of Health Services officials. Officials reported Tuesday ...
November 17, 2020
Supreme Court Hears Challenge to Mask Mandate
The challenge will determine whether the governor can declare successive emergencies.
November 16, 2020
Affordable Care Act Challenged in Court
The U.S. Supreme Court heard a challenge to the Affordable Care Act this week, and whether the whole act can stand if a part is thrown out. ABC for Health's Bobby Peterson reacts to the court hearing and discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts current health insurance enrollment.
November 13, 2020
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos discusses the possibility of compromise between legislative Republicans and Gov. Tony Evers on coronavirus legislation, as well as his call to have an Assembly committee investigate fraud in the 2020 election.
November 13, 2020
Gov. Evers addresses the Spike in COVID Cases
Governor Tony Evers took to the prime-time airwaves this week to make an urgent plea--and an Executive Order--to advise people to stay home amid a concerningly high percentage of positive COVID-19 cases.
November 13, 2020
UW Hospital’s Dr. Nasia Safdar talks about how hospitals are coping with the influx of COVID-19 patients and nearly reaching maximum capacity and what they are doing in the wake of mounting staffing shortages.
November 13, 2020
Wisconsin Faces ‘Critically High’ Rates of COVID-19 Activity
The state set a new record of 7,497 new cases Thursday as the Department of Health Service creates a new "critically high" category for COVID-19 spread in Wisconsin.
November 12, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Women Hit Harder by Pandemic’s Economy
Hundreds of thousands of women left the workforce this fall, and research is showing that women are bearing a higher economic burden from the pandemic. Angela Russell, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion at CUNA Mutual Group, joins us to talk about the social and economic factors that drive up these inequities.
November 11, 2020
Governor Addresses Wisconsin on COVID-19 Pandemic
The governor addressed the state Tuesday, urging collective action to combat the virus.
November 10, 2020
Wisconsin Officials Stress Importance of ACA as Supreme Court Hears Arguments
Wisconsin officials touted the importance of the Affordable Care Act as the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments for its repeal Tuesday. “There's a lot at stake here with these continued efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act as this pandemic rages on,” Gov. Tony Evers said during a news conference ...
November 10, 2020
Dane County Exec on COVID: ‘We Need Our State Leaders to Govern’
Dane County Exec. Joe Parisi called out state officials for inaction on the coronavirus, saying they need to do more. “The election is over, we need our state leaders to govern,” Parisi said during a Monday news conference. “There are people lying unconscious in ICUs across our state and they ...
November 9, 2020
Wisconsin recorded 7,065 new coronavirus cases Saturday—a new record and an increase of 924 over Friday’s number. This came with 45 new deaths and brought the seven day average to 5,394. Hospitalizations continue to climb in the state as 1,787 Wisconsinites were hospitalized as of Friday. Wisconsin intensive care unit ...
November 7, 2020
Appellate Court Again Blocks 25% Capacity Limit
An Evers administration order that limited public indoor gatherings to 25% capacity was again blocked by a state appellate court Friday. The order was previously blocked by an Oct. 23 decision by the same court, which Friday’s decision affirmed. In its decision, the court also said the bar-owning plaintiffs who ...
November 6, 2020
All 72 Wisconsin Counties Experiencing Very High COVID Levels
Wisconsin set a new record for daily COVID-19 cases Wednesday as the state neared 6,000 new cases overnight. The state recorded 5,935 new cases and 54 new deaths—setting the seven day average to 4,839. State health secretary Andrea Palm said Wisconsinites needed to take the resurgence of the virus in ...
November 4, 2020
I Was Going to Vote In-Person, Then I Caught COVID. Now What?
The country’s two major concerns will come together Tuesday, national elections and the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Monday, nearly 1.9 million absentee ballots have already been cast in Wisconsin. However, polling data indicates there are still plenty of voters planning on heading to the polls on Election Day. That comes ...
November 2, 2020
COVID at ‘Nightmare Scenario’ in Wisconsin
State epidemiologist Dr. Ryan Westergaard called the state’s COVID-19 status a “nightmare scenario” as cases show no sign of slowing down. He talks about the status of the virus in Wisconsin, and what to expect in the weeks and months ahead.
October 31, 2020
As the two presidential campaigns visit Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers urges residents to do what they can to stop the spread of the virus. This as Wisconsin sees another day of 5,000+ new cases.
October 30, 2020
How Politics Paralyzed Wisconsin’s Pandemic Response — and Left Families to Grieve Their Losses
Courts and the Republican-controlled Legislature limited the powers of the Democratic governor. Partisan messaging led many residents to spurn masks and distancing.
October 29, 2020
Menominee County Reaches State’s Highest Rate of COVID-19
In the county with the second-lowest population in Wisconsin, Menominee has recently become the state’s largest COVID-19 case burden.
October 27, 2020 • Northeast Region
State Epidemiologist: ‘Nightmare Scenario’ for COVID-19 in Wisconsin
Wisconsin broke new records in deaths and new daily cases—topping 5,000 new cases Tuesday for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
October 27, 2020
Governor Backs the Precautions Health Officials Suggest
Governor Tony Evers touches on the COVID-19 conversation from Thursday’s media briefing and that more people need to treat COVID like the real risk that it is. Evers explains that Wisconsin health officials have worked very hard to prepare the public for the worst of the come from COVID.
October 23, 2020
Misinformation and the Pandemic
WisContext's Will Cushman discusses his new reporting on how misinformation became rampant during the COVID-19 pandemic, how it propagates, and the role partisan politics plays in perpetuating it.
October 23, 2020
Birx: ‘You Have to Go Back to the Beginning’ On Coronavirus Prevention
Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House Coronavirus Taskforce said in Madison Friday that what Wisconsin did over the summer and into the fall is not working.
October 23, 2020
WisContext: COVID-19 Misinformation and the Paranoid Style in Wisconsin’s Pandemic Politics
How False Claims About Public Health Data Are Frustrating Efforts To Fight The Coronavirus
October 23, 2020
Evers Says Mask Mandate Working, Still Waiting for GOP COVID Plan
Gov. Tony Evers said during a Thursday media briefing he is still waiting to meet with legislative Republicans on a state-level COVID-19 response. “I think both leaders do want to meet at some point in time, I'm guessing the national election is playing a role in that,” Evers said. The ...
October 22, 2020
Dane County Shifts to Contact Tracing ‘Crisis Model’ Amid Another Record-Setting Day
The state has seen two consecutive days of more than 4,000 new COVID-19 cases, as new deaths hit an all-time high.
October 21, 2020 • South Central Region
Health Secretary: ‘This Isn’t Sustainable’
Wisconsin set a new record in its seven-day average of cases as health officials say contact tracing is "beyond strained."
October 20, 2020
Barron County Judge Reimposes 25% Capacity Limit
The judge denied a request by the Tavern League of Wisconsin to block the order. A lobbyist from the group tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel they will not appeal the judge's ruling.
October 19, 2020
An in-depth look by Zac Schultz at differences in approaches to voters between Democrat and Republican candidates during the pandemic.
October 16, 2020
Northeastern Wisconsin Grapples with Hospitalizations
Emergency Department Medical Director at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay Dr. Paul Casey talks about how the region’s hospitals are handling the influx of COVID-19 patients.
October 16, 2020 • Northeast Region
Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke discusses Republican legislative plans to address the pandemic and keep the economy running.
October 16, 2020
Governor Stresses the Importance of COVID Precaution
Governor Tony Evers defends his 25% capacity order that is in place until November 6, after Wisconsin has seen persistent rises in COVID-19 cases since September.
October 16, 2020
Evers Calls for GOP Legislative Action on COVID
This comes as the state sets another new record with 3,747 new coronavirus cases Thursday.
October 15, 2020
State Fair Park Field Hospital Opens to Alleviate Strained Infrastructure
Hospitals are evaluating their capacity "not only to care for COVID-19 patients, but also to continue to care for cardiac patients, oncology patients, those patients in the ICU...people are still having babies," says field hospital CEO Deb Standridge.
October 14, 2020
Judge Blocks Evers’ 25% Indoor Capacity Limit
A judge in Sawyer County temporarily blocked the Evers' administration's 25% capacity on public indoor gatherings at the request of the Tavern League of Wisconsin, scheduling arguments to hear the case on Monday.
October 14, 2020
Wisconsin Sets New COVID-19 Records
The Department of Health Services reported 3,279 new cases Tuesday, with the seven day average for new daily cases up to 2,727.
October 13, 2020
Legislative Committee Seeks to Compel Oversight over 25% Capacity Rule
The committee is asking the health department to submit the 25% capacity regulation as an administrative rule, over which the Legislature has oversight—rather than an emergency order.
October 12, 2020
Judge Upholds Statewide Mask Order
A St. Croix County judge denied a conservative request to temporarily throw out Evers' statewide mask mandate.
October 12, 2020
Noon Wednesday: A Fair and Just Recovery
Last week, the Just Recovery Racial Equity initiative was launched, where $2.6 million will go toward addressing the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color in the state. Paula Tran Inzeo from the UW-Population Health Institute joins us to talk about how this initiative plans to target these inequities when helping communities fight the spread of the coronavirus.
October 10, 2020
Governor Tony Evers says new order will help slow the rate of COVID-19 cases. The order reduces establishment capacity to 25% in all retail stores, bars, and restaurants.
October 9, 2020
What Should Wisconsin Be Doing for COVID?
UW-Madison public health expert Dr. Patrick Remington with the Global Health Institute talks about the current status of the pandemic in Wisconsin and what policy makers can do to help mitigate the further spread of the virus.
October 9, 2020
Wisconsin to Open Field Hospital as COVID Cases Overwhelm System
The alternative care facility will open at State Fair Park Oct. 14, and can serve as many as 500 patients.
October 7, 2020
Evers, Palm Order Reduced Capacity at All Public Gatherings
Public gatherings will be reduced to 25% capacity as COVID-19 cases continue to spike.
October 6, 2020
Court Hears Challenge to Evers’ Mask Order
The current statewide mask mandate faced its first legal challenge in court Monday at a hearing in St. Croix County. Plaintiffs represented by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty wanted a county judge to file an emergency injunction to the governor’s order, claiming the governor does not have ...
October 5, 2020
Update: Johnson Tests Positive for COVID-19, Says He Does Not Have Symptoms
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson has tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolating. He told reporters during a Saturday morning conference call that he has no symptoms and has not received any medical treatment related to his diagnosis. Johnson received a test shortly before a Republican Party event in Ozaukee County ...
October 3, 2020
Questions Amid Pres. And First Lady Positive COVID Results
Political analysts Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross discuss what’s next in the race for President after incumbent Donald Trump tests positive for COVID-19.
October 2, 2020
As COVID-19 cases spike in Green Bay, President and CEO of Prevea Health Dr. Ashok Rai joins to discuss the pressure that spiraling COVID cases in Brown County is placing on hospitals and health professionals; and how the area’s health care infrastructure is handling the surge.
October 2, 2020 • Northeast Region
Health Secretary on COVID Surge
Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services Secretary-Designee Andrea Palm discusses the crisis-level surge in COVID-19 in parts of Wisconsin and ways the state is marshalling resources to combat the spread.
October 2, 2020
State Sets New COVID-19 Record as Hospitals Continue to Worry About Surge
"Ninety five percent of my beds are full," says ThedaCare CEO Dr. Imran Andrabi. The state set a new record in new daily cases Thursday, at 2,887.
October 1, 2020
Epidemiologist: ‘We Are In a Crisis’
The state continues to see high rates of spread of the coronavirus, according to state epidemiologist Dr. Ryan Westergaard.
September 29, 2020
Republicans Denounce Evers’ New Emergency Order
Last spring, the State Supreme Court struck down Governor Tony Evers “Safer at Home” order, after being challenged by the Republican-led legislature.
September 25, 2020
Virus Enters Near-Exponential Growth
Due to high rates of infection among young people, COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin are growing at a near-exponential rate. State epidemiologist Dr. Ryan Westergaard discusses what that high rate means, and how the state is working to combat the increased spread.
September 25, 2020
Governor Tony Evers discusses his new declaration of a public health emergency as rates of infection increase among young people.
September 25, 2020
Audit Shows Almost All Unemployment Calls to State Agency Went Unanswered
Fewer than 1 in 100 calls to the Department of Workforce Development’s unemployment insurance call centers were answered, according to a report from the Legislative Audit Bureau. The audit details 93.3% received busy signals or had the calls blocked while trying to call the agency. Another 6.2% of calls were ...
September 25, 2020
Wisconsin COVID-19 Cases at Unprecedented ‘Near Exponential Growth’
The governor's media briefing comes a few days after he declared a third public health emergency due to rising cases among young people.
September 24, 2020
UW-Madison Announces In-Person Instruction to Resume
This comes after the campus was shut down for two weeks amid a spike in COVID-19 cases.
September 23, 2020
Evers Issues New Public Health Emergency, Extends Mask Mandate
Gov. Tony Evers declared a new public health emergency Tuesday due to rising COVID-19 cases among young people. The order will extend for 60 days and comes with a re-upping of the state’s mask requirement. “We continue to learn more about this virus, but what we do know is that ...
September 22, 2020
Wisconsin Schools Begin to Shift Gears and Resort to Online
State School Superintendent Address Challenges of Learning during COVID. While more than half of Wisconsin's K-12 school districts reported plans to start with some form of in-person instruction, things are changing. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Carolyn Stanford Taylor on the status of the coronavirus school year
September 18, 2020
Toll of COVID-19 on Wisconsin’s Workforce
UW-Madison's Center on Wisconsin Strategy Associate Director Laura Dresser shares findings of a new report. The center reached out across the state to better understand the impact of the pandemic on workers in a wide variety of job settings.
September 18, 2020
Epidemiologist On Risk of Going Back to College, K-12 School
Infectious disease epidemiologist at UW-Madison, Malia Jones, discusses sharp uptick of COVID-19 cases on Wisconsin's college campuses and what that means to the surrounding communities.
September 18, 2020
DWD Secretary Resigns, COVID-19 Cases Hit New Records
Despite attempts to decrease the state's unemployment backlog, almost 11% of weekly claims, 713,508, have yet to be processed.
September 18, 2020
Big Ten Announces Football Season Return
Plans to move forward with the football season will require daily antigen testing of student-athletes, coaches, trainers and anyone else present during practices or games.
September 16, 2020 • South Central Region
Wisconsin COVID-19 Cases Spike in People Age 18-24
The state’s seven-day positive case average has reached its highest peak since the beginning of the pandemic in March.
September 15, 2020
UW Madison Goes Virtual After One Week
Here & Now reporter Will Kenneally asks UW Madison students how they are dealing with the drastic changes ordered by university administration amid a large spike in student COVID-19 cases.
September 11, 2020 • South Central Region
UW Madison Transitions to Virtual and Two-Week Quarantine
With students back on campus, coronavirus cases are spiking. UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank talks about moving classes online, quarantining selected dorms for two weeks and the future of university life for students.
September 11, 2020 • South Central Region
UW Health Vaccine Study Placed on Hold
A vaccine trial study that UW Health launched last week, part of an international trial, was out on hold when a study participant in Great Britain experienced concerning side effects.
September 11, 2020
UW-Madison Goes Virtual, Quarantines Two Dorms
The decision comes amid high testing rates among university students. UW System Interim President Tommy Thompson says the other 12 UW campuses are continuing to operate as expected.
September 9, 2020 • South Central Region
UW Health’s Dr. Jeff Pothof Discusses COVID-19 Vaccine
This is an interview with UW Health's Chief Quality Officer, Dr. Jeff Pothof. Dr. Pothof was the first among an expected 1,600 volunteers to take an experimental COVID-19 vaccine at a study run jointly by UW Health and the UW School of Medicine. He joins the program from Madison.
September 4, 2020 • South Central Region
UW Madison Adjusts to “Smart Restart” Plan
The UW Madison starts school in a week where hundreds of students are reported positive for COVID-19 and fraternities are placed in quarantine.
September 4, 2020 • South Central Region
UW-Madison, Dane County Quarantine Hundreds in Fraternities and Sororities
Public Health Madison and Dane County and UW-Madison on Friday directed 420 members of nine campus fraternities and sororities who live in off-campus chapter houses to quarantine for 14 days because of positive COVID-19 cases among their members. Public health officials reported that as of Wednesday, Sept. 2, 38 of ...
September 4, 2020 • South Central Region
Mask Mandate Gets Legal Challenge from Conservative Group
The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty is seeking to have a court throw out the current emergency declaration, saying it is an illegal extension of the previous order.
August 25, 2020
Thompson Pushes UW Budget Increase
Interim UW System President Tommy Thompson joked that he got one of the only standing ovations he has seen at a board of regents meeting when the former governor presented his biennial budget request. That applauded budget request seeks a $96 million increase to allow for programs such as a ...
August 21, 2020
DHS Releases Updated Guidance for Schools Opening
The guidance outlines best practices for mask wearing and tactics for identifying and stopping outbreaks that may arise.
August 20, 2020
Evers: Trump Must Wear Mask During Wisconsin Visit
The president and vice president are expected in Wisconsin next Monday and Wednesday, the same week as the Democratic National Convention that was originally to be hosted in Milwaukee.
August 13, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Wisconsin Arts and Culture in Peril
A new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum says the pandemic has created an existential threat to arts and culture in Wisconsin as the sector being the hardest hit. Joe Peterangelo, the report's lead researcher, and Deanna Tillisch, president and CEO of the United Performing Arts Fund in Milwaukee, talk about what's at stake if the arts economy and community continues to decline.
August 12, 2020
Wisconsin Nears 1,000 Coronavirus Deaths
This comes as state health officials say 66 of Wisconsin's 72 counties have high levels of coronavirus activity.
August 8, 2020
U.S. Senators On a Possible Coronavirus Aid Package
As the U.S. Senate considers a new coronavirus aid package, Wisconsin U.S. Senator Ron Johnson talks about the debate over the $600 unemployment supplement. Republicans are pushing to have the amount of the unemployment supplement lowered. Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin provided a statement regarding coronavirus relief.
August 7, 2020
Governor Tony Evers on Coronavirus and Wisconsin
A little more than a week into the statewide mask mandate, Gov. Tony Evers provides an update on how the order is intended to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases in the state. He also responds to possible Republican challenges to the rule.
August 7, 2020
Evers Says No ‘Secret Plan’ to Close Schools
The governor said he does not have a plan to use the new public health emergency to close schools like he did in the spring.
August 4, 2020
Evers Mandates Masks; Washington County Executive Opposes
Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann discusses why he believes the order is an executive power grab.
July 31, 2020
Tribal Nations Took Early COVID-19 Precautions
Here & Now reporter Marisa Wojcik spoke with the Tribal Nations about their response to coronavirus. Tribal Nations took action before the State of Wisconsin in part due to health risks within their population and a higher population of elderly.
July 31, 2020
Evers Issues Statewide Mask Mandate
Gov. Tony Evers issued a mask mandate for the state of Wisconsin that will go into effect Saturday, lasting through Sept. 28.
July 30, 2020
Epidemiologist Warns to Take COVID Rise Seriously
One of the country’s top epidemiologists, University of Minnesota’s Dr. Michael Osterholm, discusses ways Wisconsin combat COVID-19 cases. He also addresses the status of a possible vaccine.
July 24, 2020
Governor Seeks Way to Mandate Mask-Wearing Statewide Amid Court Decision Limiting His Authority
Gov. Evers calls mandate “something we’re considering” while acknowledging he would enact it if not concerned about legal challenge.
July 23, 2020
Noon Wednesday: COVID and Conspiracy Theories
As COVID-19 rapidly spread across the globe, conspiracy theories and misinformation about the novel coronavirus spread just as fast. Ajay Sethi, Associate Professor of Population Health Sciences, is teaching students how to combat an infodemic.
July 22, 2020
New COVID-19 Cases Reaches Record Increase
Wisconsin set a record for COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, with the Department of Health Services announcing 1,117 new positive cases and 13 deaths. It is the first time the state has reported more than 1,000 cases in a day. The 13 deaths is the state’s highest one-day total since June ...
July 21, 2020
Gov. Tony Evers on Latest Escalation of COVID Case Numbers
As Wisconsin is experiencing more COVID-19 cases daily, Gov. Evers articulates the importance of incorporating the small gestures - social distancing, wearing face masks - into all daily activities to keep Wisconsin residents safe. Evers administration working on unemployment benefits continuation and options for residents when it comes to the shutting off of utilities.
July 17, 2020
Boys & Girls Club of Dane Co. Distribute 15,000+ Free Masks
150 teens receiving resources as they work distributing masks as part of effort by Boys and Girls Club to support the unemployed, children and families and provide PPE during the pandemic as Dane County's mask mandate goes into effect. Michael Johnson, CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Dane County, advocating for representation of people of color at the Capitol in the form of a Vel Phillips statue.
July 17, 2020 • South Central Region
‘The News Is Mostly Bad’ Says Epidemiologist
State epidemiologist Dr. Ryan Westergaard said COVID-19 rates are potentially getting worse in the state.
July 16, 2020
Local Officials Say Dire Help is Needed to Keep ‘Basic Services’ Afloat
The Madison mayor urged passing the federal HEROES Act to supply direct funds to municipalities. She also called on the Public Service Commission to continue its disconnection moratorium.
July 15, 2020
Wisconsin Reaches ‘Significant Community Spread’ as Schools Prep for Fall
Gov. Tony Evers said he was optimistic about schools opening in the fall as Wisconsin sets another record for single-day COVID-19 case increases.
July 14, 2020
Milwaukee Approves Mask Mandate
Milwaukee will join the neighboring Village of Shorewood and Dane County in requiring residents to wear masks in public places. The unanimous vote from the Milwaukee Common Council will require residents 3 years and older to wear masks in public buildings and outdoors where maintaining six feet of distance is ...
July 14, 2020 • Southeast Region
Despite Pandemic Wisconsin Dells Busy Over July 4th Weekend
An estimated 100,000 people ventured into the Wisconsin Dells during the Fourth of July weekend, even with Coronavirus concerns. There were crowds at Noah’s Ark Water Park, despite keeping attendance to 35% capacity. Guests were "asked" to wear masks inside the park, but were "not required" to wear them.
July 10, 2020 • South Central Region
Challenges with Local Health Orders Regarding COVID-19
In lieu of a statewide order, local public health officials have implemented their own orders to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris discusses the challenges and pushbacks he’s faced while navigating a local response to the virus.
July 10, 2020 • Northeast Region
Direction of COVID-19 Pandemic
Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm provides an update on the spread of COVID-19 in the state as cases increase. She also weighs in on potential statewide responses, including a mask mandate.
July 10, 2020
Kewaunee Native Approaching Six Months of Isolation in China
Coach James Malechek Continues Quarantine with the Chinese Olympic Swimming Team
July 9, 2020
DHS Announces COVID Connect Tool
The web-based tool will register those waiting to get tested to ease wait times and provide valuable information to contact tracers.
July 9, 2020
Dane County to Implement Face Mask Requirement, Milwaukee Takes Similar Steps
The Dane County order will go into effect July 13, requiring anyone five years and older to wear masks in indoor spaces outside of their homes.
July 7, 2020 • South Central Region
Pandemic Keeps Madison Physician Busy in Semi-Retirement
Dr. Peter Pryde oversees hopeful plasma treatments for COVID-19 patients.
July 7, 2020
Evers Announces Millions of Masks for Schools
The governor announced Tuesday he would send more than two million masks to public and private schools as Wisconsin sees a spike in COVID-19 cases.
July 7, 2020
Racine Co. Rule is On-Off-On, Dane Co. Tightens Restrictions
A civil suit filed by a Racine business owner alleging 'Safer Racine" order would lead to business closings and significant loss of revenue resulted in ruling by Racine Co. judge to end order earlier this week. At 3pm July 3, Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Racine. Ordinance remains in effect while city’s appeal is argued in court. Madison and Dane Co. enacted stricter COVID-19 rules.
July 3, 2020 • South Central Region
Epidemiologist Stresses Evidence-based Prevention Strategies
State epidemiologist Dr. Ryan Westergaard provides an update on COVID-19 in the state. He talks about the recent spike in the virus among young people and whether Wisconsin should be prepared to see spikes in the virus like southern and western states have seen.
July 3, 2020
Northwoods League Baseball Underway with Full Rosters and One-Third Fan Capacity
July 2, 2020
Wisconsin Officials Encourage Mask-Clad Independence Day
As Wisconsin sees a growing number of cases, officials urge residents take safety precautions over the holiday weekend to prevent the spread of the virus.
July 2, 2020
Dane County Adds Restrictions to Bars and Restaurants
The move comes after a recent spike in COVID-19 cases among residents in their 20s, which contact tracers linked to bar attendance.
July 1, 2020 • South Central Region
Community Gardening: An Eternal Return to Wisconsin’s Roots
June 30, 2020
New DHS Dashboard Shows County-by-County Risk
The state health department's new online dashboard shows the risk level for every county in the state with the darkest shades showing where there is the highest current risk. Central Wisconsin from Green Bay to Eau Claire is at the highest level along with most of southern Wisconsin. The map is updated each Wednesday.
June 26, 2020
Benedictine Sister Describes Staying at Home in a Monastery
Sister Mary David Walgenbach knows a little bit about staying home. She’s done it for 60 years.
June 25, 2020
New DHS Data Shows Localized Outbreak Trajectories
Health officials are hoping a new dashboard categorizing counties into low, medium and high activity levels will help individuals better understand what the spread of the virus looks like in their community.
June 23, 2020
Door County’s “Chicken Priest” Adjusts To Being Cooped Up During The Pandemic
June 23, 2020
La Crosse County Sees Sharp Uptick in COVID-19 Cases
A "Severe Risk" red alert has been issued in La Crosse area. Public was notified of possible exposure if they visited any of seven bars and restaurants in the downtown La Crosse area. Residents are being advised to stay at home and reduce gatherings to no more than 10 people. Jennifer Rombalski, director of La Crosse County Health Department says to "take this seriously as a community altogether."
June 19, 2020 • West Central Region
Health Officials Remind Public That COVID Has Not Gone Away
Wisconsin Epidemiologist Dr. Ryan Westergaard stresses continued adoption of infection prevention strategies like wearing masks in public and maintaining physical distancing in public to prevent new cases going into the late summer and fall.
June 19, 2020
Coronavirus Affecting New Communities in Milwaukee
The largest spike in COVID-19 cases is now among the Latinx population in the state’s largest city, where Milwaukee’s Black community had previously suffered the brunt of the pandemic. Milwaukee Commissioner of Health Jeanette Kowalik discusses the city’s current response and testing capacity.
June 19, 2020 • Southeast Region
Green Bay Meat Packing Worker Recovers from COVID-19 and Returns to Work
Guadalupe Paez Says His Life Will Never Be the Same
June 18, 2020
DHS Announces Two Testing Studies for COVID in Wisconsin
The Department of Health Services announced two studies to evaluate the spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin, using antibody and wastewater testing. Public health experts said at a Wednesday media briefing that the studies provide another tool for them to provide recommendations on how best to prevent the spread of the ...
June 17, 2020
Oneida Nation Got Ahead of the State on Nursing Home Regulations for Coronavirus
Health Director Debbie Danforth Believes that Helped Save Lives
June 16, 2020
Wausau Hmong Community Stays Strong in the Face of COVID-19
Mang Xiong Helps Find Relief for Hmong Small Businesses
June 11, 2020
Librarian Continues to Provide Resources
Although the Brown County Library is closed to the public, Mary Jane Herber is working to answer questions and provide books.
June 9, 2020
Small Town Mixed Martial Arts Fighter Eager to Spar Again
Waiting to get back in the ring while training at home
June 4, 2020
UW Researchers Work Toward COVID-19 Vaccine
UW-Madison's Influenza Research Institute is working on an vaccine that takes material from the novel coronavirus to update an existing flu vaccine.
June 2, 2020
Working at home while driving 3,000 miles-per-week
June 2, 2020
Epidemiologic Update: Goal Still to Shrink Virus Footprint
State epidemiologist Dr. Ryan Westergaard provides an update on how the state is handling the coronavirus pandemic. He discusses a recent uptick in new cases as well as what medical professionals recommend as the state continues to reopen.
May 29, 2020
Contact Tracing Efforts Ramp Up
As Wisconsin begins to open back up, contact tracing and aggressive testing of COVID-19 will be the state’s best line of defense against the continued spread of the disease. Contact tracing follows where an infected person has been and who else they may have infected, but it requires extensive time and resources that many local public health departments severely lack.
May 29, 2020
The Pandemic’s Impact on People Experiencing Homelessness in Wisconsin
PBS Wisconsin talks with a married couple who are living without housing — for the first time in their lives — during the pandemic. We also talk with Elizabeth Duffie, manager of Porchlight’s Safe Haven, one of Madison's only day shelters serving people experiencing mental illness.
May 28, 2020
Evers Allocates COVID-19 Funds to Local Governments
The governor says $200 million of the Cares Act funding will go to help a variety of costs incurred by municipalities during the pandemic.
May 27, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Outlook for Wisconsin Hospitals
Wisconsin hospitals never saw the surge of COVID-19 patients that many other parts of the country did. But as the state begins to open, how are hospitals preparing for the changes? Dr. Mark Kaufman, chief medical officer of the Wisconsin Hospital Association, joins us to talk about the healthcare community is drafting plans going forward.
May 27, 2020
The Pandemic’s Impact on LGBTQ Youth
PBS Wisconsin checks in with a Green Bay Preble High School LGBTQ leader, senior Daniel Croake, who talks about earning a college scholarship and how things have gone with the virtual close to his high school career. We also talk with Brian Juchems, co-director of the statewide LGBTQ youth support network, GSAFE, who will offer an overview into the pandemic’s impact on LGBTQ students.
May 26, 2020
Wisconsinites Celebrate Memorial Day Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Health officials urge social distancing as parts of the state are largely open, while business owners work to provide a clean experience and build customers' confidence.
May 26, 2020 • South Central Region
Gov. Evers: Focusing on Testing, Contract Tracing
Governor Tony Evers' administration changed course this week and stopped pushing for a statewide response to COVID-19, citing clear signs from Republicans that they preferred a regional approach. The governor discusses the current environment of partisan politics and how the state is using the $2 billion in coronavirus aid it received from the federal government.
May 22, 2020
Rep. Steineke: Counties Have Tools to Manage Pandemic
Governor Tony Evers said this week he would not pursue a state-wide coronavirus response due to Republican objections. Assembly Majority Leader State Representative Jim Steineke weighs in on the governor’s decision, says county health officials have tools to manage pandemic and discusses priorities he would like to see any subsequent federal coronavirus aid go to support.
May 22, 2020
Risk Assessment Key to Reopening, Determining What’s Safe
As Wisconsin heads for a busy holiday weekend, University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Population Health Sciences Professor Emeritus Patrick Remington discusses what are the safest activities for Wisconsinites. He also discusses what the epidemiologic impact will be of reopening part of the state suggesting the use of masks are a key to minimizing transmission.
May 22, 2020
Unemployement Numbers Reach Historic High, Evers Allocates Funds to Nursing Homes
The federal funds will go toward emergency medical services, home and community-based services, and long-term care providers. This comes as unemployment numbers rose to 14.1% during the month of April.
May 21, 2020
Photographer Captures Nature in Hushed Urban Landscape
With Less City Hustle and Bustle, Mary Lee Agnew Finds Her Animal Subjects and Herself Calmed
May 21, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Who’s Supposed to Stay Home?
Over the last week there has been a whirlwind of changes for Wisconsin's "Safer at Home" orders after the state Supreme Court struck down a statewide extension of the emergency rule. Laurel White, Wisconsin Public Radio Capitol bureau reporter, joins us to talk through what stay at home rules look like today.
May 20, 2020
State Promotes Testing and Tracing Locally in Coronavirus Efforts
The state is preparing a testing and contact tracing-based response to the coronavirus after last week’s Supreme Court ruling left details of opening businesses to counties. “While we all stayed home, we didn't become immune to the virus and the virus didn't become any less lethal,” said Department of Health ...
May 19, 2020
Home Movies: A Visit with PBS Wisconsin Director’s Cut Host Pete Schwaba
Thoughts on the movie industry during the pandemic
May 19, 2020
Evers Administration Ends Push for Statewide Approach
Gov. Tony Evers said during a media briefing Monday that it was not worth going through the rulemaking process since Republicans made their position clear that they did not want a statewide approach to combat the virus.
May 18, 2020
Community-based Testing Sites in Green Bay, Madison
Despite the State Supreme Court ruling this week, work on the front lines continues. The number of people able to get tested for COVID-19 is on the rise. More than 20 Wisconsin counties are benefiting from the increased testing at community-based sites. 1600 members of the National Guard are now serving in direct support of the state’s coronavirus response.
May 15, 2020 • Northeast Region
Public Health Doctor Advises Gradual, Monitored Reopening
UW Health's Division of Infectious Disease Dr. Nasia Safdar provides an update on how well the state is doing to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. She also discusses what to expect after the Supreme Court struck down the governor’s “Safer at Home” order, saying Wisconsinites should continue to maintain social distance. Dr. Safdar also previews the vaccine timeline.
May 15, 2020
Skeptical Crawford County Man Almost County’s First Fatality
Craig Bell was skeptical COVID-19 would affect his small town in southwest Wisconsin. Now he's sharing a story of survival. Bell became Crawford County’s first case of the virus in late March. According to doctors, he was nearly its first COVID-19 fatality. He says people now ask him, "How bad really is it? Is it like the flu?” Bell says, “Not even close to the flu. This thing is mean."
May 15, 2020 • South West Region
Counties Rescind Orders over Legal Concern from Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court order striking down the state's "Safer at Home" order has caused confusion among counties that issued their own stay-at-home orders. Now counties are rescinding their orders in fear of legal retribution.
May 15, 2020 • Northeast Region
County Approach Dominates Wisconsin’s COVID-19 Future
In the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that struck down the governor's "Safer at Home" order, counties are left to decide what stay-at-home orders to enforce locally. Gov. Tony Evers says he will work with legislative Republicans via an administrative rulemaking process to coordinate a statewide response to the virus.
May 14, 2020
Pandemic Extends Wisconsin Scientist’s Stay in Antarctica
That’s the bad news. But, what if your home was in the safest spot in the world?
May 14, 2020
Noon Wednesday: The Future of K-12 Schools
The end of a pre-empted school year is approaching and many students, teachers and parents across the state have been navigating learning at home since schools closed in March. Deputy State Superintendent Michael Thompson joins us to explain how districts are coping, as well as what the future holds for Wisconsin K-12 schools.
May 13, 2020
DHS Releases Names of Nursing Homes with COVID-19
Health secretary Andrea Palm says the release is to create transparency and peace of mind for those who have relatives in nursing homes.
May 13, 2020
National Guard Helps Testing Efforts, Staffing Tuesday’s Polls
As the state continues to increase testing, the Wisconsin National Guard will provide 25 testing teams as early as Wednesday to help the effort. The guard will also help fill a shortage of poll workers in the 7th Congressional District special election.
May 12, 2020
Safer at Home on the Front Porch: A Photo Essay
Eric Schwierske is a PBS Wisconsin Media Production Engineer. Photography is his hobby. Here’s what Schwierske had to say about this photo essay for the No Place Like Home project:
May 11, 2020
Retailers Allowed Five-Person Limit
Under a new order, Gov. Tony Evers allows Wisconsin retailers to open their stores to five customers at a time.
May 11, 2020
UW Leaders Work to Weather COVID-19 Pandemic
Among the sectors affected by the economic turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic is the state’s university system, prompting UW System President Ray Cross to release a scaling-down plan late last week. “The University of Wisconsin System must refine the missions of its comprehensive universities to provide greater institutional distinctiveness and ...
May 11, 2020 • South Central Region
Craig Bell was skeptical COVID-19 would affect his small town in southwest Wisconsin. Now he's sharing a story of survival. Bell became Crawford County’s first case of the virus in late March. According to doctors, he was nearly its first COVID-19 fatality. He says people now ask him, "How bad really is it? Is it like the flu?” Bell says, “Not even close to the flu. This thing is mean."
May 10, 2020 • South West Region
Health Services Release Criteria, Progress Needed to Reopen
Wisconsin Secretary-Designee of Health Services Andrea Palm discusses increased testing in long-term facilities and with assistance from the National Guard, status of outbreaks around the state and responds to the assertion she did not have the authority to extend the "Safer at Home" order
May 8, 2020
Evers Provides Guidance for Businesses as State Makes Progress Toward Opening
The guidance to businesses will help ensure customer confidence once businesses reopen, as the Dept. of Health Services announces Friday the state has met half its goals to begin reopening.
May 8, 2020
UW-Madison Chancellor Blank Addresses Impact of COVID-19
Rebecca Blank, University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor, discusses the impact COVID-19 is having on campus, furloughs, budget cuts, online classes, freshman enrollment, and what the situation might be like in the fall when classes resume.
May 8, 2020 • South Central Region
Southwest Wisconsin newspaper is now an at-home affair.
May 7, 2020
USDA Urges Meat Plants to Stay Open while Safety Concerns Remain
USDA Sec. Sonny Perdue says meat processing plants should remain open or reopen soon, but advocates say plants are not following CDC recommendations.
May 6, 2020 • Northeast Region
Noon Wednesday: Tracking Safer at Home
As Wisconsin's stay-at-home order drags on, are people continuing to shelter in place? Location data tracking people's movement shows trends in how the pandemic has impacted where people go over time and if the state's public health order is working.
May 6, 2020
Wisconsin Makes Progress on Criteria to Reopen State
Wisconsin must meet certain "gating criteria" before it can start to reopen under the governor's order. According to new data from the Dept. of Health Services, the state has met two of the six criteria and is making progress on the rest.
May 5, 2020
Global Pandemic Has Serious Impact on Those with Developmental Disabilities
PBS Wisconsin spoke with two people with developmental disabilities in Rhinelander to see how life during the pandemic was going for them. Our interview with John and Carol Anne was arranged with help from Jenny Felty, Director of Headwaters, Inc., a Rhinelander-based human services agency whose partners include the Ashland and Bayfield Counties Departments of Health and Human Services. Part 1 is a visit with John and Carol Anne. Jenny Felty provides a larger context about people with special needs during the pandemic in Part 2 which is a Q&A.
May 5, 2020
In a Monday announcement, the governor said the state would provide more resources to long-term care facilities like nursing homes and provide pop-up community testing sites around the state.
May 4, 2020
Community Testing Begins in Northwestern Wisconsin
National Guard deployed to support county and tribal health efforts.
May 4, 2020 • West Central Region
Turning the Dial to Reopen Wisconsin
Gov. Tony Evers explains how the state plans to safely reopen after Wisconsin saw its largest one day increase in COVID-19 cases. There were 460 cases were reported on Friday bringing the state total to 7,314 cases statewide.
May 1, 2020
New Report Highlights Racial Divide in COVID-19 Outbreak
A new report from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee shows how coronavirus is spreading along lines of segregation in north Milwaukee, and African-Americans are being disproportionately impacted. Rep. David Bowen, D-Milwaukee, says, “This does not end the story about us. This is a continuation of just how much we have been through and how much farther we have to go.”
May 1, 2020 • Southeast Region
How Wisconsin is Handling Unemployment amid COVID-19
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Secretary Caleb Frostman discusses what Wisconsin is doing to help those out of a job due to the COVID-19 crisis. As businesses continue to close or cut down on costs due to the social distancing rules, a record number of residents are filing for unemployment.
May 1, 2020
UW’s Frontline Braces for the State to Reopen
A report on how workers on the front lines are continuing to save lives as the state prepares to reopen the economy. Healthcare workers in UW’s Hospital’s COVID-19 unit say the long hours and hard work are beginning to add up.
May 1, 2020 • South Central Region
WI Supreme Court Reviews Lawsuit Against Safer at Home Order
State Supreme Court is reviewing a lawsuit brought by legislative Republicans over the extended Safer at Home order. Gov. Tony Evers and Health Secretary-Designee Andrea Palm extended the order to May 26th but the state Republicans believe that the order was an overreach of Palm’s power.
May 1, 2020
Wisconsin Parks and Businesses Set to Reopen
State parks like Devil’s Lake are reopening after being closed due to overcrowding and vandalism. Additional businesses like dog groomers, car washes and small engine repair shops are also cleared to reopen under the new guidelines of the extended Safer at Home order.
May 1, 2020
UW-Madison orders Furloughs to Cut Costs
Eleven UW System schools including LaCrosse, Oshkosh and Milwaukee announced furlough plans last week. The University of Wisconsin-Madison ordered furloughs for nearly 16,000 employees this week in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 1, 2020 • South Central Region
Congregations Find New Ways to Celebrate Faith
The outbreak of COVID-19 has made gathering together hard for many religious congregations, at a time when many need religion the most. Here & Now’s Zac Schultz reports on how religious communities across the state are creating innovative ways to remain connected.
May 1, 2020 • South Central Region
Lawmakers Question ‘Essential’ Designation under ‘Safer at Home’
Republican lawmakers advocated a broader definition of essential, as they argued some multi-purpose stores could sell non-essential goods as those non-essential stores remain closed.
May 1, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Milwaukee’s Coronavirus Racial Divide
To date, Milwaukee has been hit the hardest by COVID-19 over other areas of the state. A new study from UW-Milwaukee highlights the racial divid of the virus's spread, particularly on the city's north side. Rep. David Bowen represents much of the impacted area in Assembly District 10 and joins us to talk about the full picture of the impact of the virus.
April 30, 2020
Evers, Legislators Call for Bipartisanship as Court Battle Continues
Gov. Tony Evers said he and legislative Republicans are not far apart on coronavirus policy, as he defends his ability to issue a stay-at-home order in a Republican-brought suit before the state Supreme Court.
April 29, 2020
Wisconsin Pushes New Guidance for More Testing
Health officials say any Wisconsinite who is symptomatic should receive a test, as they hope to increase the current testing level of 2,000-3,000 per day to meet the state's capacity of 11,000 per day.
April 29, 2020
Testing and Tracing to Help Combat Brown County Outbreak
Thousands of test kits from the state help officials track the spread of the disease among outbreaks in three meatpacking plants, as the president encourages meatpacking plants to stay open as essential businesses.
April 28, 2020 • Northeast Region
Evers to Reopen State Parks Friday
Many of the state parks that were closed to enforce social distancing efforts will reopen Friday. Operating hours will be reduced and capacity will be lowered to roughly 75%.
April 28, 2020
Wisconsin Begins to ‘Turn the Dial’ on Reopening
The governor announced changes today that loosen the state's "Safer at Home" restrictions, allowing outdoor gear rentals and more businesses to do curbside pickup.
April 27, 2020
Brown County Officials Grapple with COVID-19 Spike
Meatpacking plants are essential parts of food infrastructure, especially during a pandemic, but a recent outbreak of COVID-19 in Brown County facilities is causing a full-court press to ensure workers and the community are safe.
April 27, 2020 • Northeast Region
Gov. Tony Evers Outlines Criteria for Reopening the State
Gov. Tony Evers breaks down the criteria for eventually opening up the state amid the COVID-19 crisis. The three-phase plan outlines when schools and businesses can safely reopen. Evers also reacts to push back from Republican legislators seeking to limit his Safer at Home order in the state Supreme Court.
April 24, 2020
Trade Associations Create Plans for Reopening Economy
The Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and Tavern League of Wisconsin created alternative plans for reopening Wisconsin’s economy. The Tavern League of Wisconsin, which represents over 5,000 bars across the state, is looking to reopen bars on May 1 nearly a month before Gov. Evers Safe at Home order expires.
April 24, 2020
Dr. Westergaard: Is the “Safer at Home” order working?
State Epidemiologist Dr. Ryan Westergaard discusses the progress made on flattening Wisconsin's COVID-19 curve. Westergaard also explains why additional outbreaks have been spotted around the state and how increased testing may play a role in the numbers.
April 24, 2020
WEDC Secretary Shares Steps to Protect Small Businesses
WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes offers safety advice for businesses preparing to reopen under Gov. Evers Badger Bounce Back plan. Hughes says her office is also working on a data collection project to better understand the financial impact of the pandemic on small businesses.
April 24, 2020
1,500 Rally at the State Capitol to Reopen Wisconsin
Protesters gathered at the state capitol demanding Wisconsin be reopened despite the governor’s extended stay-at-home order. They are calling for Gov. Evers to open the state to allow economic activity to continue. As protesters rally at the capitol, Republican state legislators fight a similar battle in the state's Supreme Court to limit Evers' Safer at Home order.
April 24, 2020 • South Central Region
Wisconsinites Protest ‘Safer at Home’ Order
More than 1,000 Wisconsinites protested at the state Capitol, urging Gov. Tony Evers to loosen the state's stay-at-home order. Here & Now reporter Marisa Wojcik shares these images from the scene.
April 24, 2020
WMC Proposes Plan to Reopen Businesses
The plan would evaluate risks specific to individual businesses, and consider the health care infrastructure of the business's county.
April 24, 2020
Evers Encourages Continued Distance Ahead of Extended Order
The governor's original order was set to expire Friday, but is now extended through May 26. The new order loosens some restrictions, like allowing curbside pick up for libraries and golf courses to open.
April 23, 2020
National Guard Contributes to State COVID-19 Effort
The National Guard's adjutant general said troops are helping with testing and supplies to bolster state agencies' responses to the virus.
April 22, 2020
Pence Applauds Increased Ventilator Production During Madison Visit
The VP says the Trump Administration will use the Defense Production Act to make sure facilities like the one in Madison are adequately supplied to keep production moving forward at increased capacity.
April 21, 2020
GOP-Controlled Legislature Sues over “Safer at Home”
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald filed for original action in the state Supreme Court, alleging the governor overstepped his executive authority.
April 21, 2020
Evers Releases Three-Phase Plan to Reopen the State
The plan hinges on an increased ability to test potential cases, as well as a 14-day drop in suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases.
April 20, 2020
Getting Dairy Products to Food Banks Has Win-Win Potential
As aftershocks from COVID-19 devastate the dairy industry, local and statewide efforts are trying to make a pipeline for dairy products to get to food pantries.
April 19, 2020
Rep. Steineke on COVID-19 Response Legislation
Majority Leader Rep. Jim Steineke shares his response to the COVID-19 legislation and Gov. Tony Evers’ decision to extend the Safer at Home order until May 26.
April 17, 2020
Gov. Tony Evers on COVID-19 Aid, Safer at Home Extension
Gov. Tony Evers gives an update on the Safer at Home extension and the Wisconsin COVID-19 relief package signed into law this week. Gov. Evers extended his social distancing order to May 26. He also signed Assembly Bill 1038 to provide additional support to Wisconsin residents.
April 17, 2020
Wisconsin Tourism Copes with COVID-19 Challenges
A report on COVID-19 in Door County and the healthcare impact of people arriving at tourist destinations during the pandemic. “I never thought in my wildest dreams I would ask people not to come to Door County,” said Door County Board Chair Dave Lienau.
April 17, 2020 • Northeast Region
Recovered COVID-19 Patients Donate Plasma
Here & Now’s Marisa Wojcik reports on how UW Hospital is using donor plasma to treat other seriously ill patients. Gary Dalgaard of Sun Prairie survived COVID-19 and is one of the first to offer his plasma in hopes of saving lives.
April 17, 2020 • South Central Region
COVID-19 Relief Legislation Explained
Here & Now Reporter Zac Schultz breaks down Wisconsin’s COVID-19 legislation and how it will address the challenges ahead. Gov. Tony Evers signed Assembly Bill 1038 into law this week. The legislation creates a pathway for over $2.3 billion in federal funds slated for Wisconsin.
April 17, 2020
Door County Grapples with Safety and Lost Revenue During Pandemic
Door County residents wish Wisconsinites could visit, but urge them to stay home during the public health crisis.
April 17, 2020 • Northeast Region
Recoverees Help Others by Donating Plasma
Plasma transfusion can be a promising technique for a recovered patient to share antibodies with someone currently suffering from COVID-19.
April 16, 2020
Update: Evers Extends ‘Safer at Home’ Order Through May
The new order extends "Safer at Home" social distancing through the morning of May 26. The governor says increased testing capacity and other public health measures are needed to be in place before the state reopens.
April 16, 2020
Legislators Push for Stronger Protections for Health Care Workers
The "Healthcare Heroes" bill would help acquire personal protective equipment as well as provide for hazard pay and paid sick leave for health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 16, 2020
Federalism Newly in Focus as Governors Take Frontline Action
PBS Wisconsin sits down with UT-Austin professor Don Kettl, formerly of UW-Madison's La Follette School of Public Affairs, to discuss what federalism means during a global pandemic.
April 15, 2020
Update: Legislature Passes COVID-19 Aid Package
The bill received broad bipartisan support and would eliminate the state's one-week waiting period for unemployed Wisconsinites to receive benefits, among other provisions. The governor signed the bill Wednesday afternoon.
April 15, 2020
Nonprofit Sector to Be Challenged and Changed by COVID-19
Non-profit organizations face new challenges as the COVID-19 outbreak affects their daily operations and bottom line.
April 14, 2020 • South Central Region
Health Officials Begin to See Flattened Curve
The governor and public health officials expressed cautious optimism in a Monday briefing.
April 13, 2020
Churches Hold Drive-In Easter Services
Church services around Wisconsin have moved online in the wake of Gov. Tony Evers’s “Safer at Home” order. Easter Sunday however, some churches held drive-in services, with parishioners staying in their cars and listening to the service through their radios. There was confusion earlier in the week about whether drive-in ...
April 13, 2020
Wisconsin Bands Together to Address Homelessness and COVID-19
Advocacy groups in Wisconsin work to help the homeless amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 11, 2020 • Northeast Region
Governor Closes 40 Parks Due To Vandalism and Crowds
Wardens from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources blocked the entrances to Devil's Lake State Park Friday. A snow fence blocked the entrance to nearby Parfrey's Glen State Natural Area. Just a few days earlier people were parking on the road and rubbing shoulder-to-shoulder on the paths, in clear violation ...
April 11, 2020
State Increases Contact Tracing After In-Person Voting
In-person voting could have exposed more Wisconsinites to COVID-19, as health officials become concerned about the disease's disproportionate impact on the state's African-American population.
April 10, 2020 • Southeast Region
Legislature to Take Up Coronavirus Bill Next Week
The bill is still being drafted according to legislative leaders, and the session could come as early as next Tuesday.
April 10, 2020
E.R. Doctor Says In-Person Election Will ‘Likely Lead to Deaths’
“I was very disappointed that this in-person election occurred, because I truly think it will lead to additional cases of COVID-19 in our community and likely lead to deaths,” says emergency room Dr. Marin Darsie. She says Wisconsin can expect to see an increase in deaths from Tuesday's election in a matter of weeks.
April 10, 2020
Assembly Majority Leader Lays Out COVID-19 Relief Package
Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) breaks down the proposed COVID-19 relief package set to be discussed in an extraordinary session on Tuesday. Rep. Steineke also shares his response to the Spring election and the controversy of in-person voting.
April 10, 2020
Gov. Evers weighs-in on the April 7 Election and COVID-19
Gov. Tony Evers shares his plans moving forward after a move to postpone the April 7 election failed, along with updates on the trajectory of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wisconsin
April 10, 2020
Reaction and Fallout after the April 7 Election
Here & Now Senior Reporter Zac Schultz reports on the looming legal battles that may follow the controversial April 7 election last week. As the state awaits results from Tuesday’s elections, the frustrations remain high among voters and lawmakers
April 10, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Holding an Election During a Pandemic
Wisconsin held an election yesterday in the midst of a statewide order from Gov. Tony Evers to stay at home to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Neenah Mayor Dean Kaufert was part of a group of mayors pushing to delay the April 7 elections. He joins to talk about what in-person voting looked like in his community and what he's hearing from his constituents.
April 9, 2020
Governor Criticizes GOP COVID-19 Plan
Republican leaders are working out their own plan to fight COVID-19 in Wisconsin, drawing criticism from the governor.
April 8, 2020
Live: Where Wisconsin’s Election Currently Stands
6:45 p.m. U.S. Supreme Court Rules Ballots Must Be Postmarked by Tuesday Under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, all absentee ballots in Wisconsin’s election must be postmarked by Tuesday, but can be received as late as April 13. Allowing ballots to be sent later than Tuesday “would fundamentally alter the ...
April 6, 2020
Breaking: Evers Suspends In-Person Voting Tuesday
Under an executive order, the in-person election would be delayed until June 9. Republican leaders say they will challenge the order in the state Supreme Court, while elections officials say to continue preparing for Tuesday's election while they wait for litigation.
April 6, 2020
Update: Coronavirus Election Session Gavels In and Out
Republican leaders gavel in and out a special session called by the governor to address voting concerns amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The legislative leaders said they had "grave concerns" about election security, if ballots were cast after Tuesday.
April 5, 2020
Health Officials See ‘Glimmer of Hope’ in Wisconsin COVID-19 Outbreak
State Epidemiologist Dr. Ryan Westergaard said Friday that Wisconsin is seeing linear--not exponential--increase in virus cases, suggesting that efforts to 'flatten the curve' may be working.
April 3, 2020
Breaking: Evers Calls Coronavirus Special Session
The legislation put forward by Gov. Tony Evers would make the spring election largely mail-only and push back the timeline to send absentee ballots to clerks into May.
April 3, 2020
Research currently underway at the University of Wisconsin-Madison could lead to a unique vaccine that provides protection against both the novel coronavirus and influenza, with human trials potentially on the horizon as early as fall 2020. The possibility of a vaccine that offers dual protection against two very different viruses ...
April 2, 2020
Update: Federal Court Judge Rules on April Election
The federal judge in Madison extended the deadline to apply for absentee ballots, as well as the deadline for those ballots to be received.
April 2, 2020
Evers Releases Second Bill to Combat COVID-19 Outbreak
The bill includes housing aid and a tax credit increase. Meanwhile, Republicans said Wednesday they support the governor's proposal to eliminate the one-week waiting period for unemployment benefits and expect legislation to come soon.
April 1, 2020
Update: Elections Commission Prepares Municipalities for Voting During COVID Outbreak
Wisconsin Elections Commission votes to clarify rules on indefinitely confined voters, and to supply municipal clerks with cleaning materials and other supplies ahead of the April 7 election. In a meeting Sunday, the commission deadlocked on chastising the Milwaukee and Dane county clerks.
March 31, 2020
Update: Polling Locations Consolidate Amid Poll Worker Shortage
During a meeting discussing preparations for the election now one week away, the Wisconsin Elections Commission discussed the shortage of poll workers, the record number of absentee ballots that have been requested, and the special health considerations necessary to conduct in-person voting while minimizing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
March 31, 2020
Evers Discusses Federal and State Action on COVID-19
Wisconsin is headed "into the worst of it," Gov. Tony Evers said in a Monday briefing as the state's number of COVID-19 cases climbs to 1,221.
March 30, 2020
COVID-19 Threatens Black Communities on Milwaukee’s North Side
"It's been tough to see such a concentration of the virus focusing on [the] African-American community," said state Rep. David Bowen. Milwaukee's African-American community faces the brunt of the COVID-19 disease.
March 30, 2020 • Southeast Region
Evers Introduces Broad COVID-19 Response Bill
The bill would send millions to local public health offices and make changes to the upcoming election, including eliminating the photo ID requirement.
March 29, 2020
Gundersen Health System Develops In-House COVID-19 Test
When testing started for COVID-19, patients waited days to get their test results back from a lab, which increased the risk of the virus spreading. Tonight, positive news on that health front as Trevor Keller shows us how one Wisconsin health care system has shortened the turnaround time.
March 27, 2020
DHS Secretary-designee on Wisconsin’s COVID-19 Pandemic
Today, there are more COVID-19 positive cases in the United States than anywhere else in the world. Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm paints a clear picture of the COVID-19 crisis, as the number of cases in the state continues to surge.
March 27, 2020
Lack of Protective Equipment May Threaten Healthcare Workers
Wisconsin is beginning to see an urgent need for personal protective equipment, including masks, gloves and gowns to prevent exposure to COVID-19. The lack of supplies creates a stark reality for healthcare workers and first responders on the frontline of the growing pandemic.
March 27, 2020
Update: Evers Calls for Widespread Absentee Ballot Legislation
Gov. Tony Evers asks the Legislature to send all registered voters absentee ballots ahead of April 7 amid election concerns during the COVID-19 outbreak. Later Friday, Evers also loosen licensing requirements for certain healthcare workers.
March 27, 2020
Update: Congress Passes Third COVID-19 Aid Package
The House of Representatives passed the bill Friday, which the U.S. Senate unanimously approved Wednesday. The bill would send $1,200 checks to Americans, among other provisions.
March 27, 2020
In-House Test Shows Promise to Increase Capacity
Gundersen Health System in La Crosse has developed their own in-house test for COVID-19. They say patients no longer need to wait days to get results, which might be the case if tests were sent to an outside lab. “If a test is required from the health system, we can ...
March 27, 2020 • West Central Region
Noon Wednesday: Flattening the Curve
New measures announced by Gov. Tony Evers and top state health officials to close non-essential businesses and remain at home are part of sweeping efforts to keep the health care system from becoming overwhelmed. Will Cushman of WisContext joins us to talk about new their latest report, "The Urgent Battle To Flatten Wisconsin's COVID-19 Curve."
March 25, 2020
Legislative Leaders Want April Election to Move Forward
On a call with reporters, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said municipalities should be prepared for April 7, but they are not considering altering the date at this time.
March 25, 2020
Industry Steps Up But Far from Scale Needed
Necessity being the mother of invention, Justin Webb, CEO of Franzen Graphics in Sheboygan, saw a need and with his colleagues invented a simple solution. The company specializes in printing on plastic for items like in-store displays and saw a new application for the material they usually print on. Now ...
March 25, 2020 • Southeast Region
Wisconsinites Stuck in Peru During Coronavirus Lockdown
With Peru on a coronavirus lockdown, Wisconsinites struggle to return home.
March 24, 2020 • South Central Region
Update: Evers Issues ‘Safer at Home’ Order
Gov. Tony Evers issued an order Tuesday mandating that Wisconsinites stay at home, effective Wednesday morning at 8. Certain exemptions are allowed for residents to leave their homes to receive healthcare and to get necessary supplies such as groceries. According to a release from the governor’s office, Wisconsinites do not ...
March 24, 2020
Update: PSC Halts Disconnections for Public Health Emergency
On Sunday, March 22, Gov. Tony Evers suspended additional utility rules and laid out more consumer protections for Wisconsin residents and businesses. Evers directed the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to extend the orders released earlier this month to include more protective provisions. The announcement included six actions intended to ...
March 23, 2020
Update: Evers Calls for ‘Safer at Home’ Order
The governor said details of the order would be finalized before Tuesday, when the order goes into effect.
March 23, 2020
Fond du Lac Man One of State’s First COVID-19 Deaths
Dale Witkowski of Fond du Lac County developed the disease after an Egyptian River Cruise.
March 21, 2020 • Northeast Region
Rising Stakes, New Rules: Gov. Evers on COVID-19 Response
Gov. Tony Evers discusses the latest developments concerning the COVID-19 outbreak in Wisconsin. This week, he and health officials confirmed three deaths in Fond du Lac, Milwaukee and Ozaukee Counties. Most recently, Evers ordered all nail, hair salons, and tattoo parlors to close due to the outbreak. Evers speaks to the growing caseload, efforts to keep health care workers safe from the disease.
March 20, 2020
State Epidemiologist Answers Questions about COVID-19 Crisis
Wisconsin Epidemiologist Dr. Ryan Westergaard gives an update on the growing number of COVID-19 cases statewide. Westergaard answers medical questions for Wisconsin residents as they brace for the full impact of the virus. So far, the state has had 206 positive cases of COVID-19--with Dane and Milwaukee counties most at risk for community spread.
March 20, 2020
Workers Feel Pressure from Coronavirus
It’s something you’d never expect to find in a city, the sound of silence. A surreal scene that played out across Wisconsin this week: bars, museums, performance venues, all closed. Savannah Bierma works part-time for the Pabst Theater Group in Milwaukee. They have cancelled all events through May 15. That ...
March 20, 2020 • South Central Region
Evers: State Has ‘Adequate Response’ to COVID-19
Gov. Tony Evers does not think Wisconsin is ready for a shelter in place order, while health officials say the state's testing and equipment supply could face shortfalls.
March 20, 2020
Update: Three Dead from COVID-19 in Wisconsin
Two men in Fond du Lac and Ozaukee Counties both died from the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to a release from Gov. Tony Evers late Thursday. A third death was announced by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner Friday.
March 19, 2020
Absentee Requests Rise Amid Coronavirus Concerns
The covid-19 emergency has Republican and Democratic leaders asking for election rules to be changed. Here & Now's Zac Schultz reports on how the clerks are doing their best to make it all work.
March 19, 2020 • South Central Region
Community Spread Continues as Wisconsin Faces Testing Bottleneck
Wisconsin now has 155 cases, with community spread in Brown, Dane, Kenosha and Milwaukee Counties.
March 19, 2020
Senate Approves Coronavirus Aid
The U.S. Senate voted to provide paid sick leave for those suffering from COVID-19 and free testing. Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson was among the eight senators voting against the package.
March 18, 2020
Noon Wednesday: Hospitals Gear Up for COVID-19
As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases increase in the state, hospitals are preparing for a surge of patients. Kate Walton, an emergency room nurse at the University of Wisconsin Hospital, joins us remotely to discuss how health care workers are gearing up.
March 18, 2020
Personal Protective Equipment Could Face Shortage in Hospital Surge
Hospitals are monitoring inventories as they prepare for an influx of COVID cases.
March 18, 2020
Evers Imposes Limits on Child Care
COVID cases in Wisconsin increase to 106 as Gov. Tony Evers imposes limits on child care.
March 18, 2020
Learn More About the Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19 and Wisconsin
10 Things to Know About the Outbreak and Public Health in the State
March 18, 2020
COVID Reaches Community Spread Phase in Wisconsin Counties
Dane, Milwaukee and Kenosha Counties all have community spread of the novel coronavirus, as the number of Wisconsin cases increases to 72. Gov. Tony Evers issued a statewide ban of gatherings of more than 10 people and closed schools "until further notice" amid concerns of the spread of the virus.
March 17, 2020
‘It’s Going to Be Difficult’ Parents Say as Schools Close
Parents and districts troubleshoot how to continue education while schools are closed due to coronavirus.
March 16, 2020
State on Heightened Alert For Coronavirus
The state's Emergency Operations Center upgraded to its highest level of readiness as the governor and health secretary ban gatherings of more than 50 people.
March 16, 2020
Wisconsinites Return Home from Cruise
The Wisconsin National Guard brought home 29 passengers from a Princess Cruise line.
March 16, 2020
New Dane County Restrictions, Fond du Lac Numbers, Voting in Milwaukee
With new state numbers, Wisconsin has 33 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus. In response, Dane County announces new restrictions on public gatherings.
March 15, 2020 • South Central Region
Update: Evers Closes K-12 Schools in Wisconsin
New cases of novel coronavirus are announced Saturday in Wisconsin, bringing the number of positive active cases to 26. Gov. Tony Evers announced Friday that schools would be closed starting March 18, through at least April 6.
March 14, 2020
Evers Declares State of Emergency
The governor declared a state of emergency, called for school cancellation, and universities canceled in-person classes through mid-April. Here & Now’s Zac Schultz provides an overview of a state on overdrive coping with the coronavirus.
March 14, 2020
Nursing Homes Limit Visitors to Protect Against Coronavirus
Nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the state are clamping down on outside visitors in order to prevent coronavirus from entering its doors. John Vander Meer, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Health Association and the Wisconsin Center for Assisted Living discusses new guidelines including screening all individuals before they would be allowed to enter facilities.
March 14, 2020
Dr. Nasia Safdar, medical director of infection control at UW Hospital, discusses how the medical community is handling at-risk communities amid coronavirus fears.
March 14, 2020
Baldwin’s Response to Coronavirus
Even as the president declared a national emergency, a congressional bi-partisan agreement was reached to provide tens-of-billions of dollars on coronavirus relief efforts like sick leave. Here & Now caught up with Sen. Tammy Baldwin in Washington this week just before coronavirus closed the Capitol and congressional offices to visitors. She told us why she's in favor of paid sick leave.
March 14, 2020
Universities Turn to Online Classes
University of Wisconsin campuses announced they would shift to online classes or extending their spring break to keep campuses relatively empty during coronavirus concerns. Executive Director of University Health Services at UW-Madison Jake Baggott discusses what that means for the state's flagship campus.
March 14, 2020
Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm discusses the state's response to the novel coronavirus and what a declaration of public health emergency means for the state.
March 14, 2020
Wisconsin K-12 Schools Largely Remain Open Thursday in Wake of Public Health Emergency
UPDATE: Gov. Tony Evers directs the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm to mandate all K-12 schools close statewide. The doors of Wisconsin’s K-12 schools will remain open, even with Gov. Tony Evers declaring a public health emergency Thursday due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As ...
March 12, 2020
Evers Declares Public Health State of Emergency
Gov. Tony Evers declared a public health emergency in response to the spread of novel coronavirus.
March 12, 2020
Three More Cases of Novel Coronavirus in Wisconsin
Two cases in Fond du Lac County and one in Waukesha County were confirmed today by the Department of Health Services. Two cases are still active in Pierce and Dane Counties. Universities around the state cancelled events and prepared to hold classes online in the wake of the spread of the disease.
March 11, 2020
Update: Wisconsin Receives Third Case of Coronavirus
Patients in Dane County and Pierce County contracted the virus while traveling within the United States.
March 10, 2020
Wisconsin Coach in Quarantine in Beijing
Kewaukee native James Malechek is currently the Strength and Performance Coach for the Chinese Olympic Swim Team. Malechek has been in quarantine in Beijing with his team of swimmers since January 27. The swimmers and coaching staff were preparing for the Tokyo Olympic Games when the Coronavirus outbreak began.
March 6, 2020
Dept. of Health Services Update on COVID-19
Influenza Surveillance Coordinator at the state Department of Health Services, Tom Haupt, gives an update on Wisconsin's COVID-19 status. Haupt assures that there are currently enough test kits and support services. So far, the state has had one positive case of the Coronavirus. Currently, there are 12 pending cases under investigation.
March 6, 2020
COVID-19 Preparedness in UW-Hospital and Clinics
Medical Director of Infection Control at UW Hospital and Clinics Dr. Nasia Safdar talks about hospital preparedness and plans for outbreak escalation. Safdar also introduced the UW-Health hotline for people who need to evaluate their symptoms or have other major concerns related to the virus.
March 6, 2020
Gallagher-Pocan Bill Aims to Streamline Medical Supplies
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread, a new bill aims to address the issue of medical supply shortages. U.S. Reps. Mike Gallagher (R) and Mark Pocan (D) discuss their proposal that would streamline medical supplies to areas most in need. The measure gives the Food and Drug Administration the ability to more quickly bring necessary products to the market in the case of a supply shortage.
March 6, 2020
Coronavirus: Wisconsin Man Quarantined in Beijing
A Wisconsin native shares his story of what it is like living under a coronavirus quarantine.
March 5, 2020
Legislators, DHS Staff Discuss State Response to Coronavirus
Update: 14 cases are now pending in Wisconsin to determine whether those patients have novel coronavirus. There are however, no new confirmed cases of novel corona virus.
March 4, 2020
State Prepares Testing, Response for Coronavirus
Wisconsin can now conduct in-state coronavirus tests according to a state health department briefing Monday. Laboratories in Milwaukee and Madison can test upwards of hundreds of samples.
March 2, 2020
How to Prepare for COVID-19 in Wisconsin
Deputy Administrator of the State Department of Health Services Chuck Warzecha breaks down how Wisconsinites can prepare for a potential spread of COVID-19, formerly known as the Novel Coronavirus. This week the Centers for Disease Control declared that the virus has the potential to spread even more widely in the U.S.
February 28, 2020
UW Researchers Work to Understand Novel Coronavirus
Scientists at the university have been working to get ahead of the virus and recently received a sample from Wisconsin's first confirmed case last week. Tom Friedrich, a researcher with the UW School of Vet Science, talks about his lab’s approach to virus studies as related to the Coronavirus outbreak.
February 15, 2020 • South Central Region
WisContext: The Novel Coronavirus, Face Masks and When to Use Them
The novel coronavirus sweeping through China and rippling across the globe is invisible to the naked eye, but one of its effects is increasingly conspicuous on sidewalks, public transit and doctors' offices around the world: the widespread use of face masks.
February 10, 2020
DHS Monitors 14 people for Coronavirus in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Epidemiologist Ryan Westergaard discusses the first case of the novel coronavirus in Dane County. Westergaard also talks about new pending investigations and if the virus could potentially spread in the region.
February 10, 2020 • South Central Region
WisContext: The Novel Coronavirus and How Isolation and Quarantine Authority Works in Wisconsin
In the arsenal of weapons available to public health officials for combating outbreaks of infectious disease, quarantines are among their most serious options. As a result, quarantines are usually reserved for the most serious — or potentially serious — public health threats.
February 5, 2020 • South Central Region
Health Officials Confirm First Case of Novel Coronavirus in Wisconsin
The first Wisconsin case of novel coronavirus was confirmed by health officials Wednesday, while two cases remain pending. Local officials confirmed that the infected person was a resident of Dane County but that risk of contracting the virus remained low for the general population. “The overall risk is low,” Dane ...
February 5, 2020 • South Central Region
State Updates on Novel Coronavirus
The widespread Novel Coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China but as anxieties rise around the world, communities are working to prevent local outbreaks. Wisconsin’s state epidemiologist Ryan Westergaard breaks down the status of the virus here in Wisconsin. Westergaard elaborates on pending cases that involve Wisconsin residents who met the requirements for coronavirus testing.
January 31, 2020
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