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Signals were mixed Friday on whether Wisconsin is emerging from the pandemic — or at risk of sliding into a dangerous new phase. While Dane County loosened some of its masking requirements — and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was safe for the quickly growing number of vaccinated people to travel — the Milwaukee County coroner announced that a 14-year-old boy had died of complications of COVID-19. The Hispanic teen-ager had leukemia and had undergone a bone marrow transplant, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. It marked just the third pandemic-related death in Wisconsin of a person under the age of 19. Meanwhile, state officials on Friday reported 875 new cases of COVID-19 compared to the previous weekly average of 531 new cases a day.
Top Stories
Green Bay City Council passes another mask mandate in wake of state Supreme Court decision — Green Bay Press-Gazette
Fully vaccinated against COVID-19? CDC says it’s safe to travel but still recommends staying home — USA TODAY
A 14-year-old Hispanic Milwaukee boy died from ‘complications’ with COVID-19 — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Dane Co. health officials issue new order removing mask requirement outdoors — Channel3000
Wisconsin DHS awards $6.2 million in grants to 100 organizations in effort to promote vaccine equity — Wisconsin State Journal
Could we need a ‘vaccine passport’ to attend a ball game or concert? Wisconsin GOP lawmakers want to make sure that doesn’t happen — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Man accused of coughing on people at Racine County Walmart, yelling ‘I am COVID!’ arrested twice in a week — Journal Times
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Quotable
“In the Upper Midwest, we’re starting to see lots of younger adults getting sick and going to the hospital from Covid because of the B.1.1.7 variant. So remember that the B.1.1.7 variant is different from past types of Covid infections that we’ve seen — more serious and possibly more severe disease among younger people.”
Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, speaking to CNN.
Data to note
Here’s a look at the Department of Health Services’ vaccine dashboard, which showed Friday that 76.1% of Wisconsinites ages 65 and older have gotten at least one dose — as have 31.9% of the state’s overall population. Racial disparities persist in distributing vaccines. The shares of Black, Hispanic and Native American residents to receive a dose remain below that of white residents.
Public health officials continue to urge Wisconsinites to wear masks and practice physical distancing until vaccinations are more widely distributed. On Friday, the state DHS reported 875 new cases and eight new deaths. The statewide death toll is now 6,633.
WisContext offers this visualization.
Find a vaccine site near you
DHS has this interactive map of vaccine providers across Wisconsin. Vaccinations are generally by appointment only and it may take time to schedule appointments with providers due to limited supplies of vaccines. Curious about how well your county is doing on vaccinations? The Washington Post created this searchable map.
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.
UW announces second round of $500 tuition credits for student vaccination volunteers — Cap Times
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