%>>
FOR
MORE ON
COVID-19
IN
%WISCONSIN AND
FROM "HERE AND
%NOW,"
VISIT
PBSWHICH.ORG STLI
%NEWS.
%EVEN AS WE
TRY
TO
SLOW ITS
%SPREAD.
%WE
HAVE MEDICAL
QUESTIONS
NOW
%FOR
STATE
EPIDEMIOLOGIST
%DR. RYAN
WESTERGAARD.
%HE
ALSO
JOINS
U
S
BY
SKYPE.
%DR. WESTERGAARD, THANK YOU VERY%
MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
%>>
THANK YOU
FOR
INVITING
ME.
%>>
W
E
KNEW
THERE
WOULD
BE
%
DEATHS, AS
THE
NUMBERS
OF
PEOPLE
%TESTING
POSITIVE
FOR
COVID-19
%CONTINUE TO
RISE,
BUT
WHAT
%SHOULD
WE
STEEL
FOR
IN
TERMS
OF
%MORE?%>> I THINK
THE
PICTURE
IS
%CONCERNING RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE
I
%THINK
WHAT
WE'VE
SEEN IN
THE
%DATA
BOTH THIS
WEEK IN
WISCONSIN
%AND
NATIONALLY IS THAT WE
REALLY
%SEEM TO
BE
AT
AN
ACCELERATION
%PHASE OF
THE
EPIDEMIC.
%WHERE WE'RE
SEEING
THE
NUMBER OF
%CASES INCREASE
DAY B
Y
DAY, AND
%WITH
THAT, WE
KNOW
THERE'S
A
%SUBSET OF PEOPLE WITH
SEVERE
%DISEASE OF
ALL
THE
PEOPLE
THAT
%GET
DIAGNOSED SO
I
THINK
WE
CAN
%EXPECT
INCREASED
NUMBERS OF
%DEATHS.
%
I THINK
THE
THINGS WE'RE
DOING
%TO
MITIGATE
THE
SPREAD OF
THE
%VIRUS IN
COMMUNITY IS
GOING
TO
%DETERMINE HOW MANY, BUT
%
CERTAINLY WE'RE GOING
TO SE
E%MORE IN
THE
COMING
WEEKS.%>>
PEOPLE
ARE, OF
COURSE,
VERY
%AFRAID, AND
WE
HEAR
CONFLICTING
%INFORMATION, BUT OF THE
MOST
A
T
%RISK
POPULATION, WHAT SHOULD
THE
%ELDERLY AND THOSE
WIT
H
%UNDERLYING
CONDITIONS BE
DOING
%RIGHT
NOW
?
%>>
I
THINK
IT'S
FOR
EVERYONE
BUT
%PARTICULARLY FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE
%MEDICALLY
VULNERABLE
O
R
FRAGILE
%IS TO
STAY
HOME
AND
PREVENT
%
CONTACT WITH
OTHER
PEOPLE.
%IT'S
NOT
THE
KIND
OF
%RECOMMENDATION WE
LIKE
GIVING
%PEOPLE, BUT
AT
THIS
MOMENT,
WITH%A
VERY
CONTAGIOUS
VIRUS
%CIRCULATING IN THE
COMMUNITY,
%THE BEST
STRATEGY
WE
HAVE
T
O
%
PREVENT INFECTION IS
FOR
%EVERYONE TO
STAY
I
N
PLACE,
AND
%ALSO WHEN YOU
ARE
OUT
IN
PUBLIC,
%
FOR
DOING
ESSENTIAL
THINGS,
BE
%VERY
VIGILANT
ABOUT
HYGIENE
AND
%SANITIZING
SURFACES.
%
THINGS THAT WE
ALL
KNOW
PREVENT
%THE
SPREAD
OF
GERMS
OUT I
N
%PUBLIC.%>>
WE
NOW
HEAR
THAT
YOUNGER
%PEOPLE
ARE
ALSO VERY MUC
H
AT
%RISK.
%HAS THAT
MESSAGING
CHANGED?
%>>
WELL,
IT
HASN'T
CHANGED
I
N
%THAT WE'VE
KNOWN FROM THE
%BEGINNING OF
THE
EPIDEMIC
IN
%CHINA THAT
YOUNG
PEOPLE
HAVE
%DEVELOPED
SEVERE
ILLNESS
AND
%SOME
HAVE
DIED.
%THE
RISK,
MEANING
THE PERCENTAGE
%OF PEOPL
E
WHO
HAVE
SEVERE
%ILLNESSES
I
N
AN
UNDER 50
OR
%UNDER 40 AGE GROUP
IS
QUITE
A
%BIT
LOWER.
%HERE IN THE
U.S.,
THE
DAT
A
THAT
%WE'VE
SEEN IN
THE
PAST
WEEK
%LOOKING AT
THE FIRST
SERIES
OF
%HOSPITALIZED
PATIENTS WAS THAT
%THE
MORTALITY
RATE
FOR
PEOPLE
%UNDER
AGE 50
WAS
LOWER,
1
%
OR
%
LESS, WHERE PEOPLE
IN
THEIR
%80s, IT WAS
AS
HIGH
AS
10%.
%SO
ALL
PEOPLE
ARE
AT
RISK OF
%BECOMING INFECTED WITH
THE
%
VIRUS.
%THE RISK OF
HAVING
SEVERE
%
COMPLICATIONS WHEN SOMEONE
IS
%INFECTED
VARIES
QUITE A
BIT
BY
%AGE.
%BUT I
THINK
THE
RISK --
THE
%MESSAGE FOR
EVERYONE IS THAT
I
F
%NO ONE
IS --
NO ONE
I
S IMMUNE
T
O
%THIS
VIRUS,
EVERYONE
CAN
BE
%INFECTED
AND
EVERYONE
HAS
THE
%RISK OF
GETTING QUITE
SICK.
%>>
WITH
YOU
VIEWER
!
ONE
VIEWER
ASKS,
I
WORK AT
A
%TARGET STORE.
%SHOULD I
BE
TAKING A
SHOWER
AND
%CHANGING
MY
CLOTHES AS SOON AS
I
%GET HOME?
%>>
I
DON'T
THINK SO.
%I THINK
THE
MOST
IMPORTANT
%MESSAGE
IS
COMES
FROM
HOW WE
%KNOW THESE
RES
PRY
TRI
VIRUSES
%GET SPREAD
AND
THAT'S
THROUGH
%RESPIRATORY
DROPLETS, SO
COUGHS
%AND
SNEEZES
BUT
ALS
O
TOUCHING
%CONTAMINATED SERVICES.
%PEOPLE IN
PUBLIC,
THE
MOS
T
%IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW IS
%WHAT WE'RE
REFERRING
TO
AS
%SOCIAL
DISTANCING,
SO
KEEPING
AT
%LEAST 6 FEET
O
F
SEPARATION FROM
%OTHER
PEOPLE.
%THE OTHER
THING
THAT'S
VERY
%IMPORTANT, AND I WOULD
SAY
%PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR
%VIEWERS WHO WORK
I
N PUBLIC
%SETTINGS, IS
HAND
HYGIENE.
%SO HAND
WASHING
WITH
HOT
W
ATER,
%ALCOHOL-BASED HAND
SANITIZER,%THE MORE THE
BETTER.
%SO THOSE
ARE
THE
REALLY
HIGHEST
%IMPACT
STRATEGIES
THAT EVERYONE
%SHOULD
IMPLEMENT IF YOU HAVE
TO
%BE
OUT
I
N
PUBLIC.%>>
SO
IS
IT
SAFE
TO
GO TO
THE
%GROCERY STORE
OR PICK
U
P
%TAKEOUT?%>>
YES,
I
THINK IT'S
SAFE
T
O
DO
%THAT
IF
PEOPLE
PAY
ATTENTION
TO
%TH
E
INFECTION
PREVENTION
THINGS
%THAT WE'RE
TALKING
ABOUT AND
%WE'RE
KNOWING
ABOUT.
%OVERALL,
THE
RESTRICTIONS
ON
%GATHERING ARE
REALLY
TO
REDUCE
%THE
PROBABILITY OF
GETTING
IN
%CONTACT WITH
THE
VIRUS
TO
AS
LOW
%AS IT
POSSIBLY
CAN
TO
SLOW
THE
%SPREAD IN THE
COMMUNITIES.
%CERTAINLY PEOPLE NEED T
O
GET
%THEIR
BASIC
NEEDS
MET,
I
F
PEOPLE
%
NEED TO BE
OUT
IN
PUBLIC,
NEED
%TO
GET
FOOD.
%SO
THERE'S RISK
TO
BEING
OUT IN
%THE
COMMUNITY
OF
INFECTIOUS%DISEASE
SPREADING,
BUT
WE
STILL
%ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
MAKE SURE
%THAT THEY'RE
GETTING
ALL
OF
%THEIR NEEDS
MET
AND
DOING
THINGS
%LIKE GOING TO
THE
GROCERY
STORE.%
>>
EVEN
WITH HAND
WASHING AND
%CLEANING
AND
DISTANCING, SHOULD
%WE ALL
JUST ASSUM
E THAT
MOST OF
%US WIL
L
BE
INFECTED
WITH
THIS?%>>
WELL,
I
THINK THE
ANSWER
TO
%THAT
REALLY
DEPENDS
ON
HOW
WELL
%WE
EXECUTE THE
TYPES
O
F
THINGS
%THAT
WE'RE
RECOMMENDING.
%IT'S
CERTAINLY NOT
A
FOREGONE
%CONCLUSION THAT MOST OF
US
WILL
%BECOME
INFECTED,
BUT
THE
VIRUS
%IS
CONTAGIOUS
ENOUGH
THAT I
F
WE
%
DID
NOTHING, THE
POSSIBILITY OF
%THE
MAJORITY
O
F
PEOPLE
WOULD
%BECOME
EXPOSED
AND
INFECTED BUT
%WE
REALLY
BELIEVE
IF
WE
D
O
THESE
%RESTRICTIONS ON
GATHERING,
WE
%
FOCUS ON
HAND
HYGIENE
DURING
%THIS PERIOD OF
THE
EPIDEMIC
%WHERE IT'S
STARTING
TO
SPREAD
IN
%COMMUNITIES, WE
CAN
KEEP
THAT AS
%LOW AS
POSSIBLE.
%SO IT'S
REALLY
U
P
TO
US
ON
HOW
%WELL WE
KEEP
THESE
LESSONS
%AND --
HEED THESE
LESSONS.%>> DO
WE
HAVE
ENOUGH
ICU
BEDS
I
N
%WISCONSIN?%>> WE
DO.
%THAT'S
SOMETHING
WE'RE
ACTIVELY
%MONITORING.
%WE'RE
IN
COMMUNICATION
HERE AT%THE DIVISION
OF PUBLIC
HEALTH
%WITH
HOSPITALS
AROUND
THE
REGION
%TO KNOW
WHAT
THEIR
CAPACITY I
S
%UNDER
NORMAL
CIRCUMSTANCES AND
%WHAT THEIR
SURGE
CAPACITY
IS.
%SO
WE
HAVE
A
HANDLE
ON
THOSE
%NUMBERS AND
WE'RE
TRYING
TO
KEE
P
%IT
UPDATED IN
REALTIME.
%I WOULD
SAY
THAT
THE
BETTER
THAT
%BECOMES, WHETHER WE PUT
A
STRAIN
%ON
THOSE
RESOURCES, AGAIN,
%REALLY
DEPENDS
ON
HOW
WELL
WE
%EXECUTE
THESE PUBLIC
HEALTH
%INTERVENTIONS.%>>
ANOTHER
VIEWER
ASKS
I
F
%VENTILATORS GET TO
THE
CRITICAL
%SUPPLY
LEVEL,
HOW
WILL
I
T BE
%DETERMINED WHO
GETS
T
O
USE ONE?
%>>
AGAIN,
I'L
L
SAY
AGAIN
THE
%MOST
IMPORTANT
RESPONSE
T
O
THAT
%QUESTION IS
WHETHER
W
E
GET
TO
%THAT POINT,
REALLY
DEPENDS
ON
%
HOW WELL WE
CONTROL THE
SPREAD%OF THE
VIRUS.
%AND
THAT'S
SOMETHING
THAT'S
IN
%OUR YOAL.
% CONTROL.
%WE HAVE
A
FINITE
NUMBER
OF
%VENTILATORS IN THE
STATE.
%THERE
!
THEY
ARE
MANUFACTURING MORE
AND
%THERE'S ALSO
STRATEGIES THAT
%HEALTH
SYSTEMS ARE
DOING T
O
FREE
%UP
MORE
VENTILATORS, FOR
%EXAMPLE,
CANCELING
ELECTIVE
%SURGES
IN
OUTPATIENT
SETTINGS
SO
%WE HAVE
MORE.
%SO ALL
O
F
WHAT WE'RE
DOING
WHEN
%WE
TALK ABOUT
STOPPING
THE
%SPREAD IN THE
COMMUNITY, IT'S
%ALL
AIMED
A
T
THIS
HEALTH SYSTE
M
%CAPACITY
QUESTION, SO
WE WANT
TO
%AVOID
HAVING
TO
MAKE
THOSE
%REALLY
CHALLENGING DECISIONS
%ABOUT WHO
GETS
A
VENTILATOR AND
%WHO DOESN'T.
%NOW THAT
IS
POSSIBLE
,
THOSE
%STRATEGIES, WE
REALLY
TRY
TO
%FOCUS ON
DOING
THINGS THAT
ARE
%EQUITABLE AND
TRANSPARENT AND
%
HAVING
GUIDELINES THAT
EVERYBODY
%CAN
FOLLOW
AND
AGREE
TO,
S
O
SOME%OF THE
CONSIDERATIONS ARE SORT
%OF HOW
MUCH
BENEFIT
CAN
COME%FROM
THE
VENTILATOR
USE
,
MEANING
%PEOPLE THAT
ARE
HIGHLY
LIKELY
TO
%RECOVER WILL BE
OFFERED
%VENTILATORS.
%PEOPLE
WHO
ARE
MORE
GRAVELY ILL
%MIGHT BE
GIVEN A
SHORT-TERM
OF
A
%VENTILATOR TO SEE
I
F
THEY
%RESPOND AND
IN
SOME
CASES
WE
MAY
%
NEED TO
REALLY FOCUS
MORE
O
N
%PALLIATIVE CARE FOR
PATIENTS
%THAT DON'T SEEM TO
BE
%RESPONDING.
%SO THERE
ARE
DECISIONS
THAT
WE
%MAKE ALL
THE
TIME
IN
ICU
CARE,
%AND WE'LL JUST
HAVE
TO
BE
VERY
%DELIBERATE AND
VERY
OPEN
ABOUT
%
IF WE
GET
TO
THAT.
%BUT I
THINK
THE
MOST
IMPORTANT
%PRIORITY IS
THAT WE'RE
DOING
%EVERYTHING WE
POSSIBLY
CAN
TO
%PRESERVE OUR
HEALTH
SYSTE
M
%CAPACITY
TO
PROVIDE
ICU-LEVEL%
CARE
TO
EVERYONE
WHO
NEEDS
IT,
%AND
HOPEFULLY
WE'LL
BE
FINE IN
%THAT REGARD.%>>
WE
KNOW
WE
ALSO
HAVE A
%SHORTAGE
OF
PROTECTIVE
GEAR
LIKE
%MASKS
FOR
HEALTHCARE WORKERS.
%ONE
PARAMEDIC
SAID
I
F
I
T
COMES
%TO
THAT,
THEY
WILL
USE
SCARVES
%OR
SHEETS AND
CUT
THEM UP
AND
%MAKE
MASKS OUT
OF
THEM.
%HOW CLOSE ARE
TO
HAVING
T
O DO
%THAT?%>>
WELL,
THE
SHORTAGE OF
THE
%PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IS
%REALLY A BIG
CONCERN.
%WE'RE
APPROACHING
ALL
OF
OUR
%
HEALTH
SYSTEMS
AND
OTHER
%PARTNERS
LIKE
PRE-HOSPITAL CARE
%AND
EMS
T
O TAKE
INVENTORY
AND
%LET
US
KNOW HOW
MANY
DAY
S
OR
%WEEKS
SUPPLY THEY HAVE.
%WE JUST
RECEIVED
SHIPMENT FROM
%THE
FEDERAL
STRATEGIC
NATIONAL
%STOCKPILE AND HAVE
BEEN
ABLE
TO
SUPPLIES TO
%PLACES THAT NEED
IT.
%AND WE'RE
ACTUALLY
PRIORITIZING
%AREAS THAT ARE
REALL
Y
HIGH
%CRITICALLY
NEED,
LIKE FIRST
%RESPONDERS AND LOCAL
EMS.
%SO WE'RE
PREPARING FOR
THIS,
%WE'RE TRYING TO
MAKE
THE
BEST
%USE
OF
ALL
AVAILABLE
RESOURCES
%
WE
HAVE
AND
GIVING
PEOPLE
ADVICE
%ABOUT SORT OF
THE
BEST
%STRATEGIES
TO
CONSERVE
AND
MAKE
%
USE OF
THESE
RESOURCES
WISELY,
%BUT IT'S
SOMETHING
THAT
WE'RE
%REALLY
FOLLOWING
CLOSELY.%>> I
S THERE
MORE M
COULDING
FROM
%THAT
STRATEGIC
STOCKPILE
?
%>>
I
THINK
THAT'S STILL
TO
BE
%DETERMINED.
%THE WISCONSIN STATE ALSO
HAS
A
%STOCKPILE OF
A
LARGE
NUMBER
OF
%MASKS
THAT
WE'RE
ALLOCATING, SO
%WE'RE
TRYING TO
BE
THE
BEST
%STEWARDS OF
THOSE
RESOURCES
THAT
%WE
CAN.
%AT THE SAME
TIME,
ENCOURAGING%OTHER
AREAS OF
THE
SUPPLY CHAIN
%AND INCREASING
MANUFACTURING TO
%MAKE
SUR
E
THAT
WE
HAV
E
PERSONAL%PROTECTIVE GEAR.%>>
NOW
WISCONSIN
HAS
RAMPED
UP
%ITS
TESTING
BUT
YOU
WROTE
IN A
%MEMO THIS WEEK
THAT
ONLY
THE
%MOST CRITICAL PATIENTS
CAN
BE
%TESTED.
%
WHY?%>>
WELL, THE
WAY
THAT WE
FRAMED
%IT WAS THAT WE
NEED
T
O
%PRIORITIZE
TESTING
FOR
PATIENTS
%FOR
WHO
IT'S
MOST IMPORTANT
TO
%KNOW
QUICKLY.
%AND THAT
REALLY
COMES
TO
%HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS.
%THERE'S A
COUPLE
REASONS FOR
%THAT.
%SPREADING THE
VIRUS
INSIDE
%HOSPITALS, BOTH
TO
HEALTHCARE
%WORKERS AND
OTHER
PATIENTS,
IS
%REALLY ONE OF THE
MOST
IMPORTANT
%THINGS WE WANT
TO
TRY
TO
%PREVENT.
%
SO WE
WANT
TO
MAKE
SURE
THAT WE
%KNOW THOSE
ANSWERS
TO
THOSE
%QUESTIONS OF
WHO
HAS
COVID-19 IN
%THE HOSPITAL O
R
OTHER
HEALTHCARE
%SETTINGS AS
URGENTLY AS
%POSSIBLE.
%SO
IF
WE
HAVE
TO
MAKE
CHOICES
%ABOUT WHAT
TESTS
GET
DONE
%QUICKLY, IF WE
HAVE A
LONGER
%
TURNAROUND
TIME, W
E
NEED
TO
%PRIORITIZE THOSE.
%NOW
THE
OTHER
REASON IS
THAT A
%LOT OF
PEOPLE
WITH
MILD
SYMPTOMS
%OF
COVID-19
DON'T
REALLY
REQUIRE
%MEDICAL CARE
AT
ALL,
AND
RIGHT
%NOW
SINCE
OUR
RECOMMENDATION
FOR%EVERYONE IN THE
POPULATION,%WHETHER YOU
HAVE
A
MILD
COLD
O
R
%YOU
HAVE
INFLUENZA,
IS
TO STAY%AT
HOME,
RECOVER
AT
HOME,
AND
%PROTECT THOSE AROUND
YOU
FRO
M
%POTENTIALLY
BECOMING
INFECTED.
%KNOWING
THAT RESULT
O
F
A
%COVID-19 TEST ISN'T AS
IMPORTANT
%FOR EVERYONE.
%IN
FACT, FROM
AN
INFECTION
%CONTROL
PERSPECTIVE,
THE
%ADVANTAGE IS
BEING ABLE
TO
%SUPPORT
PEOPLE
REMOTELY,
NOT
%HAVE PEOPLE COME
IN
AND GET
%TESTED IN
A
HEALTHCARE
SETTING.
%SO IT'S
ANOTHER
STRATEGY
WE'RE
%USING TO TRY
TO
PRESERVE
%HEALTHCARE RESOURCES.
%WHEN
PEOPLE
THAT
ARE
YOUNG
HAVE
%
MILD
ILLNESS,
EVEN
IF
THEY
HAVE
%COVID-19, OUR
MESSAGE
MOST
%PEOPLE ARE
ABLE
TO
RECOVER, CALL
%
US IF YOU HAVE
CONCERNING
%SYMPTOM
B
Y ANY
MEANS BUT
YOU
%DON'T
NECESSARILY NEED A
TEST.%>>
EXCUSE
ME,
DOCTOR,
WITH
JUST
%ABOUT
A
MINUTE
LEFT,
IN
A
LETTER
%TO
THE
FDA,
WISCONSIN
%CONGRESSIONAL
DELEGATION
%DESCRIBED EXTREME
CHALLENGES
IN
%HOSPITALS
ACROSS
THE
STATE
AND
%GETTING
REAGENTS
AND
EVEN
SWABS
%TO
CONDUCT THE TEST.
%HOW
LONG
DOES
WISCONSIN
HAVE
%BEFORE IT
RUNS OUT OF
WHAT
I
T
%NEEDS TO
COMPLETE
THE
TESTING?
%>>
WE'RE
I
N
CONVERSATION
NEARLY
%DAILY WITH
OUR
LABORATORY
%PARTNERS.
%WE
HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEALTH LABS
%IN
WISCONSIN,
IN
MADISON
AND
%MILWAUKEE
-- THEY
HAVE
BEEN
VERY
%
OPEN AND
COLLABORATIVE IN
TERMS
%OF
TAKING
INVENTORY
ON
AN
%ONGOING BASIS
OF HOW
MANY
%INGREDIENTS OR
REAGENTS THEY%HAVE TO
D
TESTS
AND
ARE
%ACTUALLY
SHARING,
WHEN
%NECESSARY, TO
MAKE
SURE
THAT
%THEY
HAVE
ENOUGH
SUPPLIES.
%SO WE
ARE
NOT
I
N
A
POSITION
THAT
%WE
ARE ONE TO
RUN
OUT
AND
NOT
BE
%ABLE TO D
O
THE
TESTING
THAT
W
E
%NEED RIGHT
NOW,
BUT
WE'RE
%ACTIVELY LOOKING AT
THAT.%>> ALL
RIGHT,
DR. RYAN
%WESTERGAARD, THANK YOU, THANK%
YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME
.
%>> THANK
YOU.%>>
FOR
ADDITIONAL
REPORTING ON
%COVID-19, GO TO
OUR
PARTNER
%WEBSITE
AT WIS
CON
TEXT.ORG.