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A national debate that largely began during Wisconsin’s April 7 presidential primary is still raging: Is in-person voting safe? On Friday, NPR reported on the latest study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, which examined Wisconsin’s experience with in-person voting during the pandemic. Their conclusion: “There is no evidence to date that there was a surge of infections attributable to the April 7, 2020 election in Wisconsin, which has a low level of (COVID-19) transmission relative to the United States.” The researchers say their conclusions that in-person voting is a “low risk” activity do not contradict the findings by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services that 71 people who contracted the virus also had worked at the polls or voted in person on April 7. DHS has consistently stated that many of those people had other potential exposures in addition to being at the polls.
Top Stories
New research suggests in-person voting may be less risky than previously thought — NPR
Tourists from farther away than ever are heading to northern Wisconsin. One problem: Coronavirus is spiking — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Iowa becomes first from Big Ten to cut sports amid pandemic; Wisconsin Badgers not planning to follow — Wisconsin State Journal
In year of COVID-19, health care professionals put extra emphasis on flu shots — Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Anti-mask Helbachs Coffee loses its Middleton lease, set to close at end of August — Wisconsin State Journal
Swab, spit, stay home: College coronavirus testing plans are all over the map — Kaiser Health News
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.
Quotable
“You wear a mask so you can be a college student again. It’s a choice a lot of people are fine with.”
Saad Ahsan, Beloit College student government co-president, commenting in a Beloit Daily News story about how the college is including students in its pandemic reopening planning.
Data to note
Here are the latest visualizations of COVID-19 cases and deaths from our partners at WisContext.
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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.
Drive-in DNC watch party organized in Milwaukee in lieu of in-person event — Wisconsin State Journal
Beloit College students spread word on safety guidelines — Beloit Daily News
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