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Researchers expect Wisconsin hospitals to hit peak demands within the next few weeks of the pandemic. Today we highlight Parker Schorr’s deep dive inside a Madison COVID-19 ward. Schorr, a Cap Times fellow embedded in the Wisconsin Watch newsroom, interviewed three ICU nurses who described being overwhelmed by anxiety while running short on protective gear. But they also saw reasons for hope.
Top stories
Madison nurses experience desperation and ‘bright spots of light’ in COVID-19 hospital ward — The Cap Times/Wisconsin Watch
Some hospitals are hit hard by coronavirus patients, others are not. But officials won’t share data, leaving residents in the dark. — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Through the photographer’s eye: A journey from countryside to cityscape during Wisconsin’s pandemic election — Wisconsin Watch
Many absentee ballots were not postmarked, putting votes at risk of not being counted — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
COVID-19 testing capacity growing in Wisconsin, but some patients still can’t get tested — Wisconsin State Journal
Police shutdown of West Bend church service a ‘misunderstanding’ — WPR
ACLU files lawsuit calling for release of elderly and vulnerable prisoners in Wisconsin — Wisconsin State Journal
State officials developing guidelines for scarce medical equipment — WPR
Appleton elementary students to continue relying on pencil and paper, with some new virtual components — Appleton Post-Crescent
What are we missing? And how are you coping? Help us provide critical information and accountability by filling out this form or emailing us at tips@wisconsinwatch.org.
Government updates
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
U.S. Centers and Disease Control and Prevention
Live updates
Live blog from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and USA Today-Wisconsin reporters
Live blog from Wisconsin Public Radio reporters.
Quotable
“To be honest, I was hurting…It seemed like every step I took I just didn’t want to do it anymore. I know it’s very important to vote and thought, I’m not going to go home. I’ve been through a lot just to get where I was.”
Liz Gordon, a Green Bay voter with a bad back and bad legs who waited three hours at the polls Tuesday. Quoted by the Green Bay Press-Citizen in a story about the struggles of older voters and those with disabilities.
Stats to note
A significant portion of Wisconsin hospitals — more than half in some cases — have no more than a week’s worth of certain types of protective gear for staff, according to the Wisconsin Hospital Association Information Center. The center produced this dashboard in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Wisconsin Hospital Association Information Center
Resilient Wisconsin
People helping others and showing resilience during this time of anxiety. Send suggestions by tagging us on social media — @wisconsinwatch — or emailing us: tips@wisconsinwatch.org.
Here’s how to volunteer with the state to help COVID-19 patients — Journal Times
Coburn Dukehart, Wisconsin Watch the digital and multimedia director, captured this image Thursday in Madison.
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The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (wisconsinwatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.
