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Today we highlight a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story voicing frustrations from public health officials as Wisconsinites continue to shrug off calls to physically distance, wear a mask and take other steps to avoid infecting their neighbors with COVID-19.
“Now, many people — particularly those who are younger or without medical conditions that make them more susceptible to severe complications — expect to experience only mild symptoms if they become infected,” Guy Boulton reports. “The result has been a certain amount of acceptance, even fatalism, about the pandemic — and that, too, has made it harder to change people’s behavior.”
Also muddling public health messaging, as Wisconsin Watch has reported: Wisconsin’s polarized politics and rampant misinformation spreading on social media.
The Department of Health Services on Friday reported 7,777 additional COVID-19 infections, yet another daily record. DHS also reported 58 new deaths linked to the virus, pushing the state’s pandemic death toll to 2,573.
Just 11% of the state’s intensive care beds were unfilled Friday, according to the Wisconsin Hospital Association.
Top Stories
‘People in the community don’t seem to care’: Wisconsin hospitals’ struggles with COVID surge isn’t getting people to change behavior — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
‘Catastrophic’ lack of hospital beds in Upper Midwest as coronavirus cases surge — The Washington Post
Fox Cities nursing homes demand state leaders come up with plan to control COVID-19 in Wisconsin — Appleton Post-Crescent
Catholic schools head, teachers union president respond to order to close all school buildings in Racine — The Journal Times
Should your child participate in the winter sports season? The data is limited, and mixed. — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
As COVID-19 surge sets records, Gov. Tony Evers says relief package should be completed next week — Wisconsin State Journal
Local hospitals say staffing a concern as COVID-19 surges — Janesville Gazette
Virus surge: Schools abandon classes, states retreat — Associated Press
Labs sound alarm on coronavirus testing capacity, supplies — POLITICO
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 watch patients who are young and who should have had good lives die without their families by them, and their families being distraught, and then you go out through your community and you see people partying and going to bars. We can do anything for two months … But surge after surge, it’s hard for everybody.”
— Dr. Gregory Schmidt, associate chief medical officer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, speaking to ProPublica
“If you look at the number of cases based on the size of the population, Wisconsin is the third highest in the country … These are much more than just numbers. They’re big numbers, they’re staggering numbers, but these are people. These are people from your community, these are your family members, these are your friends.”
— Rear Admiral Nancy Knight, director of the CDC’s Division of Global Health Protection, as quoted by WPR
“The largest amount of spread comes from small family gatherings. People think, ‘Well, I’m not sick, I’m fine, it’s OK to have dinner with six or seven close family members.’… But inevitably, one in three people has the virus, and they may not have any symptoms.”
— Dr. Paul Casey, emergency department medical director at Bellin hospital in Green Bay, speaking to CNBC
Data to note
WisContext offers these visualizations of Wisconsin’s startling trends in COVID-19 infections, deaths and hospitalizations.
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.
Outdoor learning space starts to take shape at Baraboo elementary school — Baraboo News Republic
Gov. Evers Announces “Hope” Theme for 2020 Student Crafted Holiday Ornaments — Office of Gov. Tony Evers
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.
