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Today we highlight a story by WPR’s Rob Mentzer, who interviewed so-called long haulers who continue to experience symptoms of COVID-19 long after they were infected. Mentzer found many of them report fewer and less severe symptoms after receiving a vaccination. But, cautions Mentzer: “Researchers say it’s too soon to draw any firm conclusions, and early surveys suggest only some people with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome see improvement after vaccination.”
Top Stories
‘Mom, I can smell your coffee’: After vaccinations, some COVID-19 long-haulers see improvements — WPR
GOP leaders request meeting with Tony Evers over use of federal COVID-19 funds — Wisconsin State Journal
MPS closes five schools and 51 classrooms due to COVID in first weeks of in-person learning — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A pandemic reality: State tourism spending drops 28.3%; Dane County down 42.5% in 2020 — Wisconsin State Journal
State begins local targeting of COVID-19 vaccinations — WisBusiness
Rock County updates mask order — Janesville Gazette
Health officials and elected officials turn more attention towards fighting vaccine hesitancy — TMJ4 News
New vaccinations stagnant across western Wisconsin — Eau Claire Leader-Telegram
College graduates experience a new job search during the pandemic — Channel 3000
Post-pandemic retail: What’s in, what’s out — Wisconsin State Journal
Reaching ‘herd immunity’ is unlikely in the U.S., experts now believe — The New York Times
Quotable
“My smell has been 100 percent better. I can smell it when my husband puts his cologne on.”
Jalaine Britton of Wisconsin Rapids, who told WPR that her long-haul symptoms of COVID-19 have improved since she got vaccinated.
Data to note
Here’s a look at the Department of Health Services’ vaccine dashboard, which showed Monday that 43.4% of Wisconsinites have received at least once vaccine dose, including 81% of those ages 65 and older. Meanwhile, 34.5% of Wisconsinites are fully vaccinated, including 75.4% of those older than 65. 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 indoors and practice physical distancing until vaccinations are more widely distributed — particularly as more contagious virus variants spread. On Monday, the state DHS reported a seven-day average of 646 new daily cases. The state also reported no new COVID-19 deaths since Saturday, leaving the full toll at 6,839.
WisContext offers this visualization:
Find a vaccine site near you
DHS has partnered with Vaccine Finder to help Wisconsinites find vaccinations. Vaccinations are generally by appointment only and it may take time to schedule appointments with providers due to limited supplies of vaccines.
COVID-19 fact-checking
Not sure if something you heard about COVID-19 is true? FactCheck.org offers this page full of explainers — and debunking of common distortions — about the disease to help you sort out fact from fiction.
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.
Nonprofits face long road to recovery, but organizers optimistic community will step up — Wisconsin State Journal
Peshtigo held its first school dance in more than a year — Marinette Eagle-Herald
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