Tag: Coronavirus

Election day is fast approaching in Wisconsin, and the coronavirus pandemic leaves it in complete disarray. Today we highlight a story by The Guardian’s Sam Levin, reported in collaboration with Wisconsin Watch, about the electoral chaos — from fearful and overwhelmed election workers to changing deadlines that could lead to widespread confusion.

A key refrain from government officials and public health experts has not changed: Defeat COVID-19 by staying away from each other (and wash your hands, of course). So sparsely populated Door County, with its state parks and wide-open spaces, might seem like an ideal place for a city dweller to weather the viral storm.

Life in Wisconsin has been transformed since March 12, when Gov. Tony Evers declared a Public Health Emergency to combat coronavirus. Businesses have shuttered, while public officials urge residents to stay at home. Today we highlight a story about one practice that has not completely stopped in recent weeks: Some hospitals continue to sue patients over medical debt, reports Bram Sable-Smith, a Wisconsin Public Radio fellow embedded in the Wisconsin Watch newsroom.

As COVID-19 cases continue to spike across Wisconsin, we are getting a glimpse of how many systems this pandemic can overwhelm. It is not just health care. Today we highlight a story by Rob Mentzer of Wisconsin Public Radio about the state’s unemployment insurance system. Some are calling its helpline only to hear a recording that says too many are on hold, and they will be disconnected.

The COVID-19 pandemic resembles a war in many respects. Wisconsinites, like others, speak of battling the virus, and we are watching casualties pile up; At least 1,221 people have tested positive in Wisconsin as of Monday afternoon, and at least 14 have died. Today we highlight a cartoon by Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Steve Benson of Creators Syndicate. It captures the spirit of a nation at war against a virus, with health care workers fighting on the front lines.