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Today we highlight a story by Dean Mosiman of the Wisconsin State Journal. He reports that homeless people in Madison are increasingly living in tents on public property in an apparent effort to avoid the potential spread of coronavirus at shelters.
“The choice offers more freedom and makes social distancing easier, but it’s also less hygienic, with a lack of access to soap, water and other sanitation supplies — a primary means of preventing infection, said city community development director Jim O’Keefe, who estimates that more than 60 people are camping and receiving services,” Mosiman reports. “Dozens more — perhaps another 40 to 50 — are believed to be camping in out-of-the-way places unknown to those who work with the homeless.”
Top Stories
More homeless people ditching shelters for camp sites amid COVID-19 pandemic — Wisconsin State Journal
‘It’s terrifying’: Families worry about inmates as some Wisconsin prison staff not required to wear masks even as COVID-19 on rise — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Appeals court puts Safer Racine ordinance back in effect, 48 hours after local judge overturned it — Racine Journal Times
As COVID-19 cases increase, UW-Madison employee concerns about fall semester grow — Wisconsin State Journal
Vos company received $150K-$350K in coronavirus loans — Associated Press
Agonizing lag in coronavirus research puts pregnant women and babies at risk — ProPublica
The big factor holding back the U.S. economic recovery: Child care — Washington Post
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Government updates
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
U.S. Centers and Disease Control and Prevention
Housing trouble?
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Quotable
“It’s not just about emptying trash cans and cleaning toilets … It’s about protecting the health and welfare of the occupants of a facility.”
KleenMark CEO Scott Stevenson, speaking to the Wisconsin State Journal about the vital role of commercial cleaning companies in slowing the spread of the coronavirus
Data to note
The New York Times offers “the fullest look yet at the racial inequity of coronavirus” in this county-by-county breakdown of how the virus disproportionately affects people of color. Hover over Racine County, for instance, to see that the per capita rate of cases for Black and Hispanic residents is roughly seven times higher than that of whites.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services on Monday reported 484 new cases of COVID-19, with 9.2% of tests returning positive. The department reported zero new deaths in a pandemic that has reportedly killed 796.
Here’s the latest visualization of the trajectory of new cases from our partners at WisContext.
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‘Madison Street Market’: Neighborhood kids set up stand to support community during tough times — La Crosse Tribune
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