Here & Now

Grim COVID Milestone in Wisconsin

Frederica Freyberg:

As the pandemic continues to put pressure on health care systems, reporter Trevor Keller spoke with frontline workers about how they’re holding up.

Trevor Keller:

Last week, video of a Marshfield Clinic nurse talking about her struggles went viral.

Theresa Weiler:

At the end of the day I would go home and go straight to the shower. Part of this was to protect myself and my family. But the other part was so I could go cry in the shower and finally release for the day. I’m now in a more numb state, but I wonder how long we can maintain at this pace before we crumble. And who will want to be in health care after this is all done? And what kind of PTSD will we all suffer? I worry about us as a whole.

Trevor Keller:

It’s a scene playing out in hospitals across Wisconsin. Case numbers and hospitalizations rising. Health care workers pushed to the limit. I spoke with three doctors from different parts of the state about what they’re seeing and feeling nine months into a pandemic.

Paul Casey:

We’re tired and frustrated because I personally have been preaching for nine months for people to wear masks. I go around and I see people not following the guidelines and then I see on the news these big events where people get together for whatever purpose and don’t wear a mask. And then when I go to work, I see the direct result of that.

Trevor Keller:

All three doctors say that many days their COVID units are full. At UW Hospital, there’s worry that they’re teetering toward a tipping point.

Hillary Faust:

For a long time, that felt like something that was really far away and that it wouldn’t come to that here. But it doesn’t feel like that anymore. We are really reaching our capacity limits soon. And we don’t want to have to cut corners or make tough decisions about who needs to be treated or not.

Trevor Keller:

But it’s not just about hospital beds.

Paul Horvath:

I think what’s really making it hard, though, is the number of staff that we have that are out either ill or exposed or on quarantine. So all of us are not only working harder, but we’re working more, more days than we’re typically used to. So that’s a challenge. That’s a real challenge.

Trevor Keller:

All three doctors worry holiday gatherings will only make things worse.

Paul Casey:

And so if you get ten people in a room, there’s a 20% to 30% chance somebody will have it, transmit it to others. So it’s kind of like playing Russian roulette with your vulnerable family members.

Trevor Keller:

2020 has been a hard year for health care workers.

Hillary Faust:

I think that everybody has those moments where you kind of catch your breath and just kind of feel the emotional impact of it.

Trevor Keller:

On Sunday, UW Health took out a two-page ad in the Wisconsin State Journal urging people to take COVID precautions more seriously. It’s a message frontline workers around the state hope Wisconsinites hear and heed to avoid a holiday hospital visit.

Paul Horvath:

Wear masks, wash your hands, stay away from people. It’s just that simple.

Trevor Keller:

Reporting for “Here & Now,” I’m Trevor Keller.