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Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on Friday criticized the Trump administration for shrinking the state’s next shipment of the new Pfizer coronavirus vaccine — urging the federal government to expedite shipments to Wisconsin and improve communication.
The state learned it would receive just 35,100 doses of the vaccine next week, fewer than expected after this week’s 49,725 doses. States so far have not learned of their next allocations until days before shipping, Evers said, creating logistical headaches.
“This is unacceptable. Wisconsin citizens deserve the vaccine the federal government promised,” Evers said in a statement. “Our healthcare workers and long-term care residents need this vaccine that is ready and available. We call on the federal government to send us more vaccine without delay.”
Mitchell Schmidt has the full story for the Wisconsin State Journal.
The Department of Health Services on Friday reported 60 new deaths linked to the virus, pushing Wisconsin’s pandemic death toll to 4,315.
Top Stories
Gov. Tony Evers calls smaller shipment of COVID-19 vaccines next week ‘unacceptable’ — Wisconsin State Journal
8 nuns die of COVID-19 in last week at Wisconsin convent — Associated Press
Charles Sheppard, who helped hundreds of homeless vets in Milwaukee, dies of COVID-19 at 61 — WPR
Wisconsin health care officials urge patience as COVID-19 vaccine rollout slow — Wisconsin State Journal
Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson blocks proposal to provide $1,200 coronavirus relief checks — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The pace of a pandemic meets the speed of science as Wisconsin takes on COVID-19 — PBS Wisconsin
Appleton resident in their 30s dies of COVID-19 — Appleton Post-Crescent
Many rural hospitals in the dark, waiting for approval to start receiving COVID vaccines — WKOW
U.S. awaits word on 2nd vaccine as COVID-19 outbreak worsens — Associated Press
State to introduce phone app to assist with COVID-19 contact tracing — WXPR
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
“There is nothing to do, we have nowhere to go. …I’ve just been waiting for answers that I’m never going to get.”
Gina Mahnke of Greendale, who expects to be evicted after a U.S. Centers for Disease Control moratorium expires on Dec. 31, as quoted by WPR
Data to note
WisContext offers these visualizations of Wisconsin COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths. New documented COVID-19 infections have continued to decline from a pre-Thanksgiving peak. The state is also seeing fewer COVID-19 patients hospitalized since mid-November, although daily totals are still hovering above levels from before November’s surge.
Calculate your exposure risk
In Wisconsin, even small gatherings can carry a big risk of exposure to the coronavirus, according to a nationwide tool that estimates the danger by the size of gathering and county in which it is held. Data scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Stanford University developed the tool, which you can find here.
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.
Kids and COVID-19: Milwaukee youth shares her experience in book about pandemic — Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Nursing student partners with local agency to support seniors during pandemic — University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
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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.
