% >> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.
% >> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% THIS WEEK ON "HERE AND NOW,"
% PROTESTS AGAINST EXTENDING THE
% "STAY AT HOME" ORDER IN
% WISCONSIN.
% AND REACTION FROM GOVERNOR TONY
% EVERS IN MY WEEKLY ONE-ON-ONE
% INTERVIEW.
% ALSO STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST
% DR. RYAN WESTERGAARD.
% PLUS THE BADGER BOUNCE BACK PLAN
% TO REOPEN WISCONSIN.
% MISSY HUGHES, WEDC, JOINS US.
% THAT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
% APRIL 24.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS
% OF PBS WISCONSIN.
% [horns honking, cheering]
% >> DESPITE THE COVID-19
% PANDEMIC, PROTESTS GATHER AT THE
% STATE CAPITOL IN MADISON FRIDAY
% AFTERNOON, A WEEK AFTER GOVERNOR
% TONY EVERS EXTENDED WISCONSIN'S
% SAVER AT HOME ORDER UNTIL
% MAY 26.
% HE REFUSED TO GRANT A PROTEST
% PERMIT.
% PROTESTERS STILL GATHERED AND
% CARRIED SIGNS REJECTING THE
% "SAFER AT HOME" ORDER ENACTED TO
% STOP THE SPREAD OF THE DEADLY
% VIRUS.
% DEMONSTRATORS INDICATE THEY ARE
% WILLING TO TAKE THE RISK IN
% ORDER TO PROTECT BUSINESSES AND
% PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE
% ECONOMY.
% ALSO, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TOOK
% THEIR CASE TO THE WISCONSIN
% STATE SUPREME COURT, CHALLENGING
% THE GOVERNOR'S EXTENSION.
% AT THE SAME TIME, THE WISCONSIN
% TAVERN LEAGUE AND THE WISCONSIN
% MANUFACTURERS AND COMMERCE, THE
% STATE'S LARGEST BUSINESS TRADE
% ASSOCIATION, PRESENTED THEIR
% PLANS TO GET WISCONSIN WORKING
% AGAIN.
% "HERE AND NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL
% REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ EXPLAINS
% WHY SO MANY ARE WILLING TO RISK
% LIVES TO REOPEN THE ECONOMY.
% >> WE'VE BEEN HERE 55 YEARS.
% >> CHRIS MARSICANO IS CO-OWNER
% OF THE VILLAGE SUPPER CLUB IN
% DELAVAN AND HE'S BEEN TRYING TO
% KEEP HIS SENSE OF HUMOR THROUGH
% THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
% >> HELL MUST HAVE FROZEN OVER
% BECAUSE THE BARS IN WISCONSIN
% ARE CLOSED.
% >> HE REPRESENTS 5,000 BARS
% ACROSS THE STATE, THE FACE OF A
% MOVEMENT TO REOPEN WISCONSIN'S
% BARS, A MONTH BEFORE THE "SAFER
% AT HOME" ORDER EXPIRES.
% >> OUR GOAL IS TO GET OUR PEOPLE
% OPEN AND TO GET IT OPEN SAFELY.
% >> THE TAVERN LEAGUE SAYS THEY
% HAVE A PLAN TO OPEN SAFELY,
% FOLLOWING SIMILAR SOCIAL
% DISTANCING GUIDELINES AND SAFETY
% PROTOCOLS THAT GROCERY STORES
% AND OTHER ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES
% ARE FOLLOWING.
% >> I HAVE OVER SIX FAMILY
% MEMBERS ON MY STAFF HERE, SO I
% WANT TO MAKE SURE MY FAMILY IS
% SAFE TOO.
% WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING
% TO ENDANGER THE PUBLIC, OUR
% EMPLOYEES, OUR FAMILIES.
% BUT WE CAN'T SURVIVE MUCH
% LONGER.
% >> WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY
% TO GET PEOPLE SAFELY BACK TO
% WORK.
% OTHERWISE WE WILL HAVE AN
% ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT WILL
% ACTUALLY ECLIPSE THE PUBLIC
% HEALTH CRISIS.
% >> KURT BAUER IS PRESIDENT OF
% WISCONSIN MANUFACTURERS AND
% COMMERCE, THE STATE'S BIGGEST
% BUSINESS LOBBY.
% THEY HAVE A PLAN TO ALLOW
% BUSINESSES TO REOPEN WHEN THEY
% CAN DO SO SAFELY.
% >> NOBODY IS SUGGESTING WE GO
% BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL.
% FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HAVE TO
% MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE SAFE.
% WE WANT TO PROTECT LIVES, BUT WE
% ALSO HAVE A MANDATE TO PROTECT
% LIVELIHOODS.
% >> NO ONE WANTS TO REOPEN OUR
% ECONOMY AS MUCH AS I DO, BUT IT
% HAS TO BE MORE LIKE TURNING A
% DIAL THAN FLIPPING A SWITCH.
% >> EVERS INTRODUCED THE BADGER
% BOUNCE BACK PLAN.
% THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN WOULD
% REQUIRE THE STATE TO HAVE ENOUGH
% TESTS AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
% EQUIPMENT TO DEMONSTRATE
% COVID-19 IS UNDER CONTROL FOR
% CONSECUTIVE 14-DAY PERIODS.
% >> RIGHT NOW WISCONSIN DOES NOT
% MEET THE CRITERIA THE WHITE
% HOUSE ESTABLISHED TO START
% REOPENING OUR STATE.
% >> BUSINESS LEADERS UNDERSTAND
% REOPENING WILL LEAD TO MORE
% INFECTIONS, HOT SPOTS AND LIKELY
% DEATHS.
% BAUER SAYS THE GOAL OF "SAFER AT
% HOME" WAS TO BEND THE CURVE OF
% COVID-19 CASES, NOT AVOID DEATHS
% ALTOGETHER.
% >> THAT'S UNREALISTIC.
% >> HE SAYS COVID-19 OUTBREAKS
% AREN'T DIFFERENT FROM OTHER
% HEALTH RISKS.
% >> AGRICULTURE, MANUFACTURING,
% CONSTRUCTION.
% THOSE ARE HIGH-RISK SECTORS OF
% THE ECONOMY FOR WORKPLACE
% INCIDENCES.
% NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING
% PRECAUTIONS TO KEEP PEOPLE
% HEALTHY.
% >> BOTH BAUER AND MARSICANO SAY
% THEY UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNOR IS
% IN A TOUGH POSITION, BUT THEY'RE
% WILLING TO ACCEPT THE RISK.
% >> WE'RE DEALING WITH SO MANY
% UNKNOWNS WITH THIS VIRUS.
% I MEAN, I THINK MOST OF US ARE
% FLYING IN THE DARK HERE.
% >> WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE GOING
% TO BE FLARE-UPS.
% THAT'S UNAVOIDABLE UNTIL WE HAVE
% A CURE, UNTIL WE HAVE A VACCINE.
% WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WILL
% OCCUR AND WE CAN'T WAIT.
% >> REPORTING FROM MADISON, I'M
% ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW."
% >> THE NEW "SAFER AT HOME" ORDER
% RUNS FROM APRIL 24 UNTIL MAY 26
% AND DOES ALLOW FOR CURBSIDE
% PICKUP AT LIBRARIES AND GOLF
% COURSES CAN REOPEN WITH NEW
% RESTRICTIONS.
% FOR THE FIRST TIME, GOVERNOR
% TONY EVERS THIS WEEK OUTLINED
% THE CRITERIA THAT MUST BE MET
% BEFORE SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES
% CAN REOPEN AND SHOWED HIS
% FRUSTRATION WITH REPUBLICANS WHO
% LOOK TO SETTLE THE MATTER IN
% COURT.
% GOVERNOR EVERS HAS AGREED TO
% JOIN US EACH WEEK, AND EARLIER I
% SPOKE WITH THE GOVERNOR.
% GOVERNOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
% BEING WITH US.
% >> THANK YOU MUCH.
% GOOD TO BE BACK.
% >> WELL, SO PROTESTS AND
% LAWSUITS OVER THE EXTENSION OF
% THE "SAFER AT HOME" ORDER.
% IN REPORTING ON THE REPUBLICAN
% SUIT BROUGHT TO THE SUPREME
% COURT, I DESCRIBED YOU AS BEING
% LIVID.
% WHAT MAKES YOU SO ANGRY ABOUT
% THEM SEEKING THE REMEDY TO
% BLOCKING THIS ORDER IN COURT?
% >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WHAT
% FRUSTRATES ME IS THAT WE MADE A
% DECISION TO FOLLOW THE WHITE
% HOUSE AND THE CDC'S KIND OF
% PROCESS TO DETERMINE WHEN WE'RE
% READY TO OPEN UP PARTS OF OUR
% ECONOMY.
% SO WE'RE FOLLOWING A DONALD
% TRUMP MODEL HERE.
% AND SO IF THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE
% ANNOYED ABOUT, THEN THEY NEED TO
% GO TALK TO DONALD TRUMP.
% BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IT'S A
% CONTINUED ATTACK ON THE
% EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
% THEY STARTED IT WITH THE LAME
% DUCK SESSION, AND THEY CONTINUE
% TO THIS DATE.
% AND IT WOULD BE JUST A MINOR
% IRRITANT IF -- THIS WILL DELAY
% THINGS, AND THIS WILL DELAY
% THINGS IN A WAY THAT I BELIEVE
% ACTUALLY COSTS LIVES AND ALSO
% INCREASE THE POSSIBILITY OF US,
% YOU KNOW, EVEN FURTHERING DOWN
% THE ROAD OUR OPPORTUNITY AS A
% STATE TO OPEN UP ECONOMICALLY.
% IT'S NOT NECESSARY.
% IT'S A POLITICAL POWER GRAB,
% PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
% AND, FRANKLY, WE GOT A LOT OF
% STUFF ON OUR PLATE NOW.
% WE DON'T NEED POLITICAL POWER
% GRAB TO BE INSERTED INTO THE
% MIDDLE OF IT.
% >> YOU SAID THAT YOU BELIEVE THE
% SUPREME COURT WILL LISTEN TO
% SCIENCE TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, BUT
% WHAT IF THEY AGREE WITH THE
% REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE?
% WHAT THEN?
% >> WELL, I GUESS IT GOES THROUGH
% SOME -- IT'S THEIR BALL GAME
% THEN.
% THEY HAVE -- THEY WILL HAVE THE
% ABILITY TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO
% DO.
% AND IT WILL ALL BE DONE THROUGH
% ADMINISTRATIVE RULE-MAKING AND,
% FRANKLY, IT'S BEEN MY
% OBSERVATION IN THE PAST THAT
% THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT
% HAPPENS IN A DAY.
% IT HAPPENS IN WEEKS AND
% SOMETIMES MONTHS, YOU KNOW, IN
% SOME CASES HALF A YEAR.
% SO TO DO THIS IN THAT FASHION
% JUST -- IT DOESN'T SPEED UP
% ANYTHING AND IT CREATES HAVOC
% AND I JUST -- I JUST THINK THE
% -- WE ARE ON --
% WE ARE IN A GOOD PLACE.
% WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD IN THIS
% STATE, NOT BATTLE THIS OUT
% IN THE SUPREME COURT.
% >> NOW, WISCONSIN IS NOT ALONE,
% BUT OUR ECONOMY IS CRATERING
% WITH LOST BUSINESS AND LOST
% JOBS.
% STATE COFFERS COULD BE GUTTED.
% WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE
% BELEAGUERED PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN
% AS NEW COVID-19 CASES AND DEATHS
% CONTINUE?
% >> WELL, WE HAVE A PLAN.
% THE PLAN IS QUITE SIMPLE.
% IT HAS THE THREE CRITERIA WHERE
% WE'RE GOING TO BE JUDGING
% WHETHER WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.
% WE HAVE TO DO TESTING, CONTACT
% TRACING.
% ALL THOSE THINGS HAVE TO BE IN
% PLACE.
% THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN HAVE
% SACRIFICED A BUNCH, AND I
% APPRECIATE THAT.
% WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE
% OF THIS VIRUS.
% BUT AT THE SAME TIME WHEN WE
% HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO OPEN THE
% DOOR A LITTLE BIT IN CERTAIN
% AREAS TO ALLOW BUSINESSES TO
% EXPAND AND BRING BACK WORKERS,
% WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
% IF THAT HAPPENS BEFORE MAY 26,
% LET IT HAPPEN.
% WE ARE WILLING TO DO THAT.
% BUT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE
% VIRUS.
% WE HAVE TO GET TO A POINT WHERE
% WE'RE BOXING IN THE VIRUS, NOT
% BOXING IN PEOPLE.
% >> NOW, THIS IS YOUR BADGER
% BOUNCE BACK PLAN TO SLOWLY
% REOPENING, AND IT INCLUDES
% SEEING A 14-DAY DECLINE IN
% POSITIVE CASES, BEING ABLE TO
% TEST 85,000 PEOPLE A WEEK AND
% DEPLOYING 1,000 CONTACT TRACERS.
% HOW FAR ARE WE OR HOW CLOSE ARE
% WE TO MEETING THESE METRICS?
% >> WELL, THE METRICS AROUND THE
% NUMBER OF TESTS, WE'RE GETTING
% CLOSE.
% I THINK TODAY WE HAD OVER 10,000
% TESTS.
% SO IT'S SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, WE'RE
% AT 70,000.
% WE KNOW WE CAN INCREASE THAT.
% WE'RE ASKING OUR PHYSICIANS AND
% OTHER CARE PROVIDERS TO TEST
% PEOPLE THAT ARE SHOWING
% SYMPTOMS.
% I THINK THE LAB CAPACITY IS
% OVERALL ACROSS THE STATE IN
% PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.
% PERSONAL EQUIPMENT IS NOT SO
% GOOD, ALTHOUGH WE'RE GOING TO
% RECEIVE A LARGE SHIPMENT FROM
% THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
% SO THOSE PIECES WE'RE IN A
% PRETTY GOOD PLACE.
% BUT NOW WE'VE HAD AN OUTBREAK IN
% GREEN BAY WITH A MEAT-PACKING
% PLANT.
% I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS, BUT
% I GUESS IT HAS TO DO WITH NOT
% HAVING THE APPROPRIATE THINGS IN
% PLACE THERE.
% THAT WILL SET BACK THAT PART OF
% THE STATE, SIMPLE AS THAT.
% >> WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE AND
% REACTION TO THAT, IF IN FACT
% THOSE PLANTS HAVE NOT BEEN
% PRACTICING SAFETY MEASURES?
% >> WELL, SHAME ON THEM.
% AND SHAME ON THEIR INSURERS FOR
% INSURING THEM.
% WE HAVE A PANDEMIC.
% AND ONE OF THE CORE PIECES OF
% THAT PANDEMIC IS TO HAVE
% PHYSICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN
% PEOPLE.
% AND IF -- I DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT
% AND IF THAT IN DISTANCES HAS
% CAUSED THIS, THEN THAT'S A
% PROBLEM AND WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK
% AT IT.
% CLEARLY WE'RE WORKING WITH THE
% LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS TO SEE
% WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING NEXT.
% WE'RE SPENDING MOST OF OUR TIME,
% FRANKLY, TESTING AND TRACING THE
% FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN INFECTED SO
% THAT WE CAN KEEP THINGS TO A
% MINIMUM.
% >> ASIDE FROM THAT CLUSTER OF
% POSITIVE CASES IN THAT AREA,
% WHAT ABOUT THE ARGUMENT THAT NOT
% ALL PLACES ARE HIT AS HARD AS
% CITIES AND THAT THOSE LOCALITIES
% SHOULD BE ABLE TO REOPEN, EVEN
% NOW?
% >> YEAH.
% AND WE LOOK AT THAT REGULARLY.
% AND THERE'S A SWATH OF COUNTIES
% IN THE NORTHERN PART OF OUR
% STATE THAT HAVE VERY SMALL
% NUMBERS.
% ACTUALLY, A COUPLE HAVE ZERO.
% BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S NO
% VIRUS IN THAT COUNTY.
% CLEARLY, ONLY -- IT TAKES A TEST
% TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND TAKES
% SYMPTOMS TO MAKE A TEST HAPPEN,
% AND MANY PEOPLE ARE
% ASYMPTOMATIC, SO THEY'RE NEVER
% GOING TO BE TESTED.
% THERE'S VIRUS ALL ACROSS THE
% STATE.
% BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IF
% THERE'S THINGS WE CAN DO
% INDIVIDUALLY OR REGIONALLY,
% WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, THANKS VERY
% MUCH.
% THANKS FOR JOINING US.
% >> THANKS, FREDERICA.
% TAKE CARE.
% >> AS OF THIS WEEK, THE NUMBER
% OF COVID-19 CASES IN WISCONSIN
% EXCEEDED 5,000, WITH MORE THAN
% 250 DEATHS.
% IS THE "SAFER AT HOME" ORDER
% WORKING?
% ARE WE FLATTENING THE CURVE?
% IS THERE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE
% TUNNEL?
% THOSE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS
% WE POSED TO STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST
% RYAN WESTERGAARD THIS WEEK AND,
% DOCTOR, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
% JOINING US.
% >> THANKS FOR INVITING ME BACK.
% >> WHAT ABOUT THOSE QUESTIONS?
% MIDWEEK WISCONSIN SAW THE
% LARGEST ONE-DAY INCREASE IN
% CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES TO
% DATE.
% WHY IS THIS HAPPENING NOW?
% >> YEAH.
% IT'S DIFFICULT TO TELL.
% THE TWO REASONS THAT COULD BE AN
% EXPLANATION, ONE IS THAT WE'RE
% TESTING MORE PEOPLE.
% AND THE SECOND IS THAT THERE'S
% MORE TRANSMISSION IN THE
% COMMUNITY.
% AND I THINK BOTH ARE PARTLY
% TRUE.
% WE'RE UNFORTUNATELY SEEING
% ADDITIONAL OUTBREAKS OF COVID-19
% IN CONGREGATE LIVING SETTINGS
% AND SOME WORKPLACES.
% SO I THINK AT LEAST PART OF THE
% NUMBERS ARE BEING DRIVEN BY
% OUTBREAKS THAT WE'RE SEEING.
% AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE TRYING
% TO INCREASE TESTING AND GETTING
% THE WORD OUT TO PROVIDERS TO
% TEST A LARGER NUMBER OF PEOPLE,
% SO THAT MIGHT ALSO BE PLAYING A
% ROLE.
% >> SO IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO SAY
% GIVEN ALL OF THAT, BUT HOW FAR
% DO YOU THINK WE ARE FROM HITTING
% THE SO-CALLED PEAK?
% >> IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY.
% YOU NEVER KNOW UNTIL YOU'RE PAST
% IT.
% BUT WHAT OUR EPIDEMIC CURVE
% LOOKS LIKE SO FAR IS RELATIVELY
% FLAT.
% SO WE'VE HAD AN AVERAGE OF 150
% AND WE'VE HAD OVER 200 CASES
% THIS WEEK, BUT FOR THE PAST WEEK
% TO TWO WEEKS, WE'VE BEEN AT A
% PRETTY CONSISTENT NUMBER OF NEW
% CASES.
% THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT FLATTENING
% THE CURVE LOOKS LIKE.
% SO I THINK THAT'S EVIDENCE OF
% OUR SUCCESS, THAT WE'RE NOT
% SEEING A PEAK NECESSARILY, BUT
% WE'RE SEEING A PLATEAU.
% THAT'S WHAT WE SEE WHEN A
% DISEASE EPIDEMIC IS SPREAD OUT
% OVER TIME.
% SO IT COULD BE, ALTHOUGH, LIKE I
% SAID, WE DON'T KNOW AND WE'RE
% NOT OUT OF THE WOODS TO CONTINUE
% TO SEE MORE CASES, BUT WE MIGHT
% BE IN THE MIDDLE OF A WEAK AND
% IT'S JUST TAKING LONGER THAN IT
% WOULD OTHERWISE
% >> AND SO THAT WOULD SUGGEST
% THAT THE "SAFER AT HOME" ORDERS
% HAVE BEEN WORKING?
% >> I THINK GIVEN WHAT WE KNOW
% ABOUT HOW THIS VIRUS EPIDEMIC
% HAS WORKED IN A LARGE NUMBER OF
% COMMUNITIES WHERE SOCIAL
% DISTANCING WASN'T IMPLEMENTED
% EARLY, IS THAT THERE'S NO
% QUESTION THAT IT'S WORKING.
% IF WE PROJECTED THE NUMBER OF
% CASES WE HAD IN EARLY MARCH AND
% FOLLOWED THAT EXPONENTIAL GROWTH
% MODEL TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAVE
% BEEN EXPECTED IF WE CONTINUED IN
% OUR NORMAL SET OF INTERACTIONS,
% WE WOULD HAVE HAD MANY MORE
% THOUSANDS OF CASES.
% SO I THINK THE DATA ARE PRETTY
% CLEAR THAT WE'VE SAVED PROBABLY
% WELL OVER 1,000 LIVES BY DOING
% THE "SAFE AT HOME" ORDER THAT
% WE'VE DONE.
% IT'S REALLY -- IT'S REALLY
% WITHOUT QUESTION.
% >> AS YOU MENTIONED, WE CONTINUE
% TO SEE THESE HOT SPOTS POPPING
% UP, LIKE IN GREEN BAY, WHERE SO
% FAR MORE THAN 250 CASES ARE
% LINKED TO MEAT PROCESSING
% PLANTS.
% HOW CONCERNING ARE THOSE KINDS
% OF CLUSTERS?
% >> YEAH.
% IT'S TERRIBLY CONCERNING BECAUSE
% IT REINFORCES WHAT WAS LEARNED
% ABOUT THE VIRUS, THAT ABSENT
% REALLY STRICT PRECAUTIONS ON
% PHYSICAL DISTANCING OR INFECTION
% CONTROL PRECAUTIONS LIKE WE DO
% IN HOSPITALS WITH MASKS AND
% OTHER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
% EQUIPMENT, THE VIRUS IS SO
% HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS THAT WHEN
% PEOPLE ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY IN
% THE WORKPLACE, A SINGLE CASE OR
% A SMALL NUMBER OF CASES CAN
% QUICKLY SPREAD THROUGH A
% COMMUNITY.
% SO IT'S VERY CONCERNING.
% AND I THINK IT CALLS FOR THE
% TYPE OF CONTAINMENT EFFORTS THAT
% WE NEED TO REALLY SCALE UP IN
% THE COMING MONTHS, BECAUSE UNTIL
% WE HAVE A VACCINE, THE RISK FOR
% THESE LOCALIZED OUTBREAKS AND
% THE POTENTIAL FOR THOSE TURNING
% INTO LARGER COMMUNITY SPREAD IS
% GOING TO BE THERE.
% SO WE HAVE TO REALLY FOCUS ON
% CONTAINING CASES AT THE
% INDIVIDUAL LEVEL BY DOING THESE
% PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES LIKE
% QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION.
% >> NOW, THERE'S NEW GUIDANCE
% FROM THE STATE ABOUT WHO SHOULD
% GET TESTED?
% WHO SHOULD GET TESTED NOW?
% >> IN A PERFECT WORLD, EVERYONE
% WHO HAS SYMPTOMS, SHORTNESS OF
% BREATH, COUGH, BODY ACHES LIKE
% THE FLU, SHOULD BE TESTED FOR
% COVID-19.
% EVERYONE KNOWS WE'RE NOT IN A
% PERFECT WORLD.
% THE REASON IT'S IMPERFECT IS
% THAT HEALTH SYSTEMS AROUND THE
% STATE DON'T HAVE SIMILAR ACCESS
% TO THE TESTING MATERIALS.
% A LOT OF HEALTH CARE IS BEING
% DONE REMOTELY VIA TELEHEALTH, SO
% PEOPLE ARE BEING ENCOURAGED NOT
% TO COME INTO THEIR PROVIDERS.
% SO RIGHT NOW THERE'S SORT OF A
% MODEL WE HAVE IN MIND, WHICH IS
% THAT TO REALLY GET THE BEST
% INFORMATION ABOUT THE EPIDEMIC
% WE NEED TO TEST MOST PEOPLE WITH
% SYMPTOMS AND PROBABLY A SUBSET
% OF PEOPLE WITHOUT SYMPTOMS IF
% THEY'RE CONNECTED TO AN OUTBREAK
% INVESTIGATION.
% THE REALITY IS THAT THE HEALTH
% CARE SYSTEM IS NOT RUNNING AT
% ITS NORMAL STATE RIGHT NOW
% BECAUSE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
% EQUIPMENT SHORTAGES AND CHANGES
% IN OPERATIONS TO PRESERVE THE
% HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE FOR AN
% EXPECTED SURGE.
% SO IT'S TURNING OUT THAT MOST
% HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH
% SYMPTOMS ARE BEING TESTED RIGHT
% NOW, BUT THERE'S CERTAINLY
% CAPACITY AT THE LABORATORY AND
% OUR GOAL IS TO TEST A LARGE
% NUMBER OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING MOST
% PEOPLE WITH SYMPTOMS.
% >> IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT AT
% LEAST 19 PEOPLE EITHER VOTING OR
% POLL WORKERS HAVE TESTED
% POSITIVE SINCE ELECTION DAY.
% ARE YOU ABLE TO TIE THOSE CASES
% TO IN-PERSON VOTING?
% >> WE CAN'T PROVE THAT WITHOUT
% SOME PRETTY SOPHISTICATED
% MOLECULAR TESTING THAT'S NOT
% AVAILABLE ROUTINELY.
% WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AND WHAT'S
% COMMON AMONG ALL CASES THAT GET
% REPORTED TO PUBLIC HEALTH IS
% THROUGH AN INTERVIEW PROCESS
% THERE'S A SUBSET OF PEOPLE WHO
% MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED BECAUSE
% THEY WERE IN THE COMMUNITY
% ASSOCIATED WITH VOTING.
% SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE REPORTED
% OTHER POTENTIAL EXPOSURES AS
% WELL.
% AND SO AT THIS POINT, IT'S A
% POSSIBILITY.
% WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
% POSSIBILITY FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS
% THAT WE NEED TO HAVE REALLY
% ROBUST INFECTION CONTROL
% PRECAUTIONS.
% AND SO IT'S INFORMED OUR
% THINKING.
% BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO
% PROVE IT CONCLUSIVELY THAT
% THEY'RE OBTAINED THROUGH THE
% VOTING PROCESS.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% WITH JUST ABOUT A HALF A MINUTE
% LEFT, OVERALL WHAT IS YOUR BEST
% ADVICE FOR PEOPLE RIGHT NOW?
% >> I THINK THE ADVICE IS HANG IN
% THERE.
% EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW THAT WE'VE
% DONE TREMENDOUS GOOD.
% MANY LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED BY
% ALL THE SACRIFICES WE'VE MADE BY
% STAYING AT HOME AND CHANGING THE
% WAY THAT WE LIVE AND WORK.
% IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG HAUL,
% THOUGH.
% WE'RE HOPING THAT THINGS ARE
% GOING TO BE CLOSER TO NORMAL IN
% THE COMING MONTHS AS WE RAMP UP
% OUR PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE
% AND GET CLOSER TO A VACCINE.
% BUT UNTIL WE HAVE A VACCINE,
% THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF
% CHANGES WE NEED TO LIVE WITH TO
% PREVENT SPREAD.
% >> DR. RYAN WESTERGAARD.
% WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING
% WITH US.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> THE GRADUAL REOPENING OF THE
% WISCONSIN ECONOMY IS BASED ON
% SEVERAL KEY TRACKING FACTORS IN
% THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
% AS THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID, IT'S
% MORE THAN JUST FLIPPING A
% SWITCH.
% THE NEW NORMAL ISN'T ANYTHING
% LIKE WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.
% THE WISCONSIN ECONOMIC
% DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WILL
% OFFER ADVICE AND GUIDANCE TO
% BUSINESS OWNERS ON HOW TO
% PREPARE WITH SAFETY IN MIND.
% SECRETARY AND CEO OF THE WEDC,
% MISSY HUGHES, JOINED US EARLIER
% FROM VIROQUA.
% AND, SECRETARY HUGHES, THANKS
% VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO.
% >> GOOD MORNING.
% >> SO YOU DESCRIBED THIS WEEK
% THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 ON
% WISCONSIN BUSINESSES AS
% INCREDIBLY DEVASTATING AND NOW
% WE SEE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY OUT
% OF UW-OSHKOSH RELEASED THIS WEEK
% THAT SHOWED 35% OF BUSINESSES
% POLLED IN WISCONSIN SAY THEY
% WILL BE FORCED TO CLOSE IN THE
% COMING MONTHS, AND THAT'S JUST
% FROM THE IMPACT SO FAR.
% WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT
% SURVEY?
% >> YOU KNOW, THAT SURVEY IS PART
% OF THE DATA COLLECTION THAT
% WE'RE DOING TO UNDERSTAND THE
% IMPACT.
% WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THREE LEVELS
% FOR THAT.
% ONE IS WE'RE LOOKING AT BIG
% DATA, WHAT ARE THE CONSUMER
% TRANSACTIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING
% AROUND THE STATE AND TRYING TO
% UNDERSTAND WHY ARE WE SEEING
% THINGS, STEADY AS SHE GOES AND
% REAL DROPS IN ACTIVITY.
% WE'RE ALSO USING OUR NETWORK OF
% ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS TO TELL US
% WHAT THEY'RE SEEING.
% IT IS IN LINE WITH WHAT WE ARE
% ANTICIPATING AND SEEING, AND IT
% IS DEVASTATING TO SEE THE DROP
% IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND KNOW
% THAT THAT'S REALLY HITTING SMALL
% BUSINESSES IN PARTICULAR.
% >> HOW HAVE FEDERAL FUNDS COMING
% INTO WISCONSIN HELPED SMALL
% BUSINESSES?
% >> SO WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE WELL
% IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND
% THE APPROVAL PROCESS FOR THE
% SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
% LOANS.
% WE HAVE ABOUT $8 BILLION WORTH
% OF FEDERAL FUNDING HEADED OUR
% WAY TO 43,000 BUSINESSES, ABOUT
% $190,000 PER BUSINESS.
% AS WE SEE THE NEXT TRANCHE OF
% FEDERAL DOLLARS COMING THROUGH,
% WE HOPE TO COMPLETE THE APPROVAL
% PROCESS.
% OUR SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE GOOD
% RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR
% COMMUNITY BANKS AND CREDIT
% UNIONS.
% THEY'VE BEEN WORKING EXTRA HARD
% TO GET THOSE APPLICATIONS IN AND
% WE'LL KEEP SEEING THAT COME
% THROUGH.
% >> IS IT POSSIBLY ENOUGH,
% THOUGH?
% WHAT KIND OF HELP WOULD YOU LIKE
% TO SEE AT THE STATE LEVEL IN
% TERMS OF GRANT PROGRAMS?
% >> YEAH.
% I THINK MORE IS GOING TO BE
% NEEDED ACROSS THE BOARD.
% AND WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS AN
% OPPORTUNITY TO TARGET GRANT
% FUNDING SPECIFICALLY TO HELP
% BUSINESSES IN THAT MOMENT WHEN
% THEY'RE REOPENING THEIR DOORS.
% SO IF WE HAD AN ABILITY TO GIVE
% A $2500 GRANT TO A BUSINESS,
% THEY COULD USE THAT TO BUY THEIR
% PERISHABLE SUPPLIES, MAYBE TO
% HELP FLOAT PAYROLL, DO SOME
% MARKETING TO LET PEOPLE KNOW
% THAT THEY'RE OPEN.
% I'M JUST LOOKING FOR THAT LITTLE
% BIT OF GREASE THAT WILL HELP
% THAT ECONOMIC ENGINE RESTART.
% WE'RE LOOKING UNDER THE
% MATTRESS, WHEREVER WE CAN TO TRY
% AND FIND RESOURCES TO HELP THE
% BUSINESSES OF WISCONSIN.
% >> THIS GREASING THE ENGINE TO
% GET THE ECONOMY STARTED AGAIN IS
% SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE CALLING
% "WISCONSIN READY."
% AND WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL?
% >> SO THERE'S THREE PARTS TO
% "WISCONSIN READY."
% ONE IS WE TALKED ABOUT THE DATA
% AND GETTING OUR INFORMATION
% ABOUT THE IMPACT AND WHAT'S
% HAPPENING.
% AND THEN BEING THERE WITH THE
% BUSINESSES TO STAND OPEN, TO
% REOPEN THEIR DOORS.
% SO IF YOU'RE A SMALL RESTAURANT
% OR A SMALL RETAIL BUSINESS, YOU
% NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS YOUR
% CONSUMER EXPECTING WHEN THEY
% COME IN YOUR DOORS.
% YOU KNOW, WHEN WILL I BE
% CLEANING?
% WHAT DO I DO IN A DRESSING ROOM
% AT A RETAIL STORE TO MAKE SURE
% THAT MY CUSTOMERS ARE
% COMFORTABLE?
% SO WE ARE REACHING OUT TO
% BUSINESSES TO GET THEIR THOUGHTS
% ON WHAT ARE THEY THINKING ABOUT,
% BECAUSE THE BUSINESSES ARE BEING
% VERY PROACTIVE ABOUT THIS.
% THEN WE'RE COLLECTING THAT
% INFORMATION SO WE CAN KEEP
% SHARING IT OUT THROUGHOUT
% WISCONSIN.
% THE NEXT PIECE IS WE TALKED
% ABOUT HELPING BUSINESSES FIND
% RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S FEDERAL
% OR STATE LEVEL.
% AND THEN THE THIRD PART IS
% GETTING THE WORD OUT THAT WE'RE
% ALL DOING THIS TOGETHER.
% WE ALL NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT
% SOCIAL DISTANCING TOGETHER.
% IF YOU'RE A CUSTOMER WALKING
% INTO A CAFE OR RETAIL STORE, YOU
% NEED TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THAT
% EMPLOYEE, THINK ABOUT THEIR
% SAFETY, THINK ABOUT OTHER FOLKS
% IN THE STORE.
% THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET
% THIS ECONOMY ROLLING AGAIN IF
% WE'RE ALL CONSCIOUS OF WHAT
% WE'RE DOING.
% THEN WE WON'T FIND OURSELVES IN
% A PLACE WHERE WE'RE STEPPING
% BACK.
% >> AHEAD OF THAT, THOUGH, FOR
% THE BUSINESSES THAT REMAINED
% OPEN AS ESSENTIAL, WE HAVE SEEN
% CLUSTERS OF CASES IN GREEN BAY
% AND ELSEWHERE WITH COVID-19
% SPREADING THROUGH PLANT FLOORS.
% I'VE READ REPORTS OF SOME
% EMPLOYEES, NOT NECESSARILY IN
% THESE PLANTS, BUT OTHERS, SAYING
% THAT THEY ARE WORKING ELBOW TO
% ELBOW ON THE LINE, SOME OF THEM
% SAYING THEY DON'T HAVE
% PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
% SO WHAT IS WEDC DOING ABOUT
% THOSE KINDS OF CONDITIONS RIGHT
% NOW?
% >> WELL, WE'VE FIND OURSELVES IN
% THAT CONVERSATION A BIT BECAUSE
% AS WE WERE NAVIGATING THE
% ESSENTIAL VERSUS NONESSENTIAL
% CONVERSATION WITH BUSINESSES, WE
% RECEIVED CALLS FROM EMPLOYEES
% CONCERNED THAT THEIR BUSINESS
% ISN'T REALLY ESSENTIAL BUT THEY
% HAVE TO GO TO WORK OR THEY'RE
% CONCERNED ABOUT THE WORKPLACE
% CONDITIONS.
% AND WHAT WE'VE REALLY DONE IS
% WORK WITH EMPLOYEES AS BEST WE
% CAN, UNDERSTANDING THESE ARE
% TOUGH CONVERSATIONS, TO SAY CAN
% YOU TALK TO YOUR EMPLOYER?
% CAN YOU LET THEM KNOW THAT
% YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
% SAFETY HERE?
% YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS
% IS -- THE WORKFLOW ON THE FLOOR.
% AND I THINK EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN
% REALLY WORKING WITH EMPLOYERS TO
% DO THAT.
% I'VE SEEN EMPLOYERS SHIFTING
% THEIR PROTOCOLS, MAKING SURE
% THAT THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY CAN
% TO HAVE EMPLOYEES SAFE.
% A LOT OF EMPLOYEES ARE BEING
% VERY FLEXIBLE AND ALLOWING FOLKS
% TO -- IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE
% BEING THERE BECAUSE YOU HAVE
% SOMEONE AT HOME WHO'S
% COMPROMISED, EMPLOYERS ARE BEING
% VERY FLEXIBLE THERE, TOO.
% SO IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS AS
% THESE THINGS KIND OF DEVELOP.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% SECRETARY MISSY HUGHES, THANKS
% VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US AND
% GOOD LUCK.
% >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
% >> THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS
% WEEK.
% BE SURE TO JOIN US ONLINE
% THROUGHOUT THE WEEK FOR UPDATES
% ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AT
% pbswisconsin.org.
% THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
% ALSO, FOR ONGOING, IN-DEPTH
% COVERAGE ON THE CORONAVIRUS
% RESPONSE IN WISCONSIN, VISIT
% wiscontext.org.
% THIS WEEK A LOOK AT LESSONS
% LEARNED FROM WISCONSIN'S 1918
% PANDEMIC.
% THAT'S wiscontext.org.
% THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "HERE AND
% NOW."
% STAY WELL, WISCONSIN, AND WE
% WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS
OF PBS WISCONSIN.