PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> I'LL BE DECLARING A NEW
STATE OF EMERGENCY THIS WEEK
AND EXTENDING OUR PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY UNTIL JANUARY OF NEXT
YEAR.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS EXTENDS
THE STATE MASK MANDATE EVEN AS
HIS ORIGINAL ORDER REMAINS IN
COURT.
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP SPEAKS TO
THE POLITICAL LOG JAM OVER
COVID RELIEF.
>> GOVERNOR EVERS IS THE
GOVERNOR.
WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE.
>> WHILE THE PANDEMIC RAGES, SO
DO THE STATES ELECTORAL
POLITICS WITH THE TRUMP
CAMPAIGN PAYING FOR A
TWO-COUNTY RECOUNT THAT STARTED
TODAY.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW."
IN A MOMENT WISCONSIN PUBLIC
RADIO'S SHAWN JOHNSON HAS THE
LATEST ON THE RECOUNT AND THE
POLITICS OF COVID AT THE STATE
CAPITOL.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATES FROM THE
STATE DEPUTY HEALTH SECRETARY
AS WELL AS THE UW SYSTEM
PRESIDENT TOMMY THOMPSON AND
ZAC SCHULZ REPORTS FROM THE
FIELD, LITERALLY, ON COVID'S
IMPACT ON THE DEER HUNT.
IT IS "HERE AND NOW" FOR
NOVEMBER 20th.
>> FOUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW"
IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND
FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF
PBS WISCONSIN.
>> PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
RECOUNTS ARE NOW UNDERWAY IN
DANE AND MILWAUKEE COUNTIES.
THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN REQUESTED
THE PARTIAL RECOUNT THIS WEEK
IN COUNTIES THAT VOTE
OVERWHELMINGLY DEMOCRATIC.
THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL RECOUNT
CHANGED RESULTS BY FEWER THAN
150 VOTES.
THIS TIME THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN IS
ALLEGING THE STAKES AND FRAUD
IN COUNTING AND RETURN OF VOTES
CAST IN THE STATE'S TWO MOST
POPULOUS COUNTIES.
WE CHECK IN NOW WITH WISCONSIN
PUBLIC RADIO CAPITOL BUREAU
CHIEF SHAWN JOHNSON.
NICE TO SEE YOU.
SO AS YOU KNOW, ALL EYES ON
WISCONSIN AND HERE IS A RUNDOWN
OF TRUMP CAMPAIGN ALLEGATIONS
IN ITS RECOUNT PETITION.
INCLUDING THAT CLERK CURED
BALLOTS.
NOT REQUESTING AN ABSENTEE
BALLOT IN WRITING CONTRAVENES
STATE LAW.
MORE THAN 200,000 PEOPLE VOTED
ABSENTEE WITHOUT VOTER I.D. AND
OBSERVERS IN MILWAUKEE COULDN'T
GET CLOSE ENOUGH.
RUNNING THE TABLE ON FRAUD IN
THE ELECTION PROCESS AND MADE
THOSE CHALLENGES TODAY AT THE
MILWAUKEE AND MADISON RECOUNT
SITES TRYING TO THROW OUT
200,000 PLUS BALLOTS.
HOW DOES THIS GET RESOLVED?
>> YOU COULD ONLY IMAGINE IT
PROBABLY GETS RESOLVED IN A
COURT SOMEWHERE, PROBABLY IN A
STATE COURT AND IN THE STATE
SUPREME COURT BECAUSE WHAT THEY
ARE DOING IS NOT LIKE A RECOUNT
LIKE YOU THINK OF WITH, YOU
KNOW, 2,000 IN FLORIDA WHERE
THEY'RE EXAMINING HANGING CHADS.
THEY'RE CHALLENGING THE ENTIRE
SYSTEM OF ABSENTEE BALLOTING
AND THE ADVICE THAT CLERKS HAVE
FOLLOWED FROM THE STATE
ELECTIONS COMMISSION ON HOW
THAT SYSTEM IS RUN.
ESSENTIALLY THEY'RE TRYING TO
UPEND THE WHOLE THING.
SO A COURT WILL PROBABLY HAVE
TO GET INVOLVED IN THAT.
>> I WOULD SAY.
COURTS COULD RULE, THEN, TO
THROW OUT THE VOTES AND FLIP
THE RESULTS AND CHANGE
WISCONSIN'S 10 ELECTORAL VOTES
TO TRUMP.
ARE WE GETTING AHEAD OF
OURSELVES BY TALKING ABOUT THAT
KIND OF THING?
>> ON THE ONE HAND YOU HEAR
WHAT YOU JUST SAID AND THINK
MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T GO THAT FAR,
RIGHT?
THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.
AND TYPICALLY RECOUNT IS KIND
OF -- WE HAD ONE FOUR YEARS AGO.
LET'S LET THE SYSTEM PLAY OUT.
ON THE OTHER HAND WHAT THE
TRUMP CAMPAIGN IS LOOKING TO DO
HERE IS THROW OUT JUST BROAD
SWATHS OF VOTES THAT WERE CAST
IN TWO COUNTIES THAT REALLY
DELIVERED WISCONSIN TO JOE
BIDEN.
AND SO IF THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL
IN COURT, THAT WOULD
NECESSARILY CHANGE THE OUTCOME
OF THE RACE DEPENDING ON HOW
MANY VOTES THEY END UP
CHALLENGING.
>> THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE
RECOUNT ARE THAT IT IS SUPPOSED
TO BE FINISHED BY DECEMBER 1st
AND CERTIFIED BY OUR ELECTIONS
COMMISSION.
THAT COULD ALL GO OUT THE
WINDOW, THOUGH, THAT KIND OF
TIMELINE.
WHAT THEN?
>> WHAT THEN IS PROBABLY
ANYBODY'S GUESS.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T
BEEN THROUGH BEFORE.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT ELECTION
EXPERTS WERE KIND OF WARNING
ABOUT AHEAD OF THIS ELECTION.
THIS IDEA THAT WHAT IF THE
STATE CAN'T AGREE ON WHAT
ELECTORS TO SEND?
AND SO THAT'S KIND OF A BRIDGE
THAT WE HAVE TO CROSS WHEN WE
GET TO IT BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T
BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD BEFORE
WHERE INSTEAD OF STATE VOTERS
DECIDING WHO REPRESENTS THEM IN
THIS PROCESS, IT GETS DECIDED
BY WASHINGTON
>> WOW.
WELL, LET'S SWITCH BACK TO
WISCONSIN BECAUSE MEANWHILE IN
THE STATE LEGISLATURE
REPUBLICANS WERE PLANNING TO
HOLD THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION
INTO THIS ELECTION THIS WEEK.
HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ON THAT.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
>> SO JUST GOT AN EMAIL FROM
REPRESENTATIVE TUSSLER LEADING
THE INVESTIGATION IN THE
ASSEMBLY.
HE SAID THEY ARE INVESTIGATING
AS HE PUT IT.
THEY HAVEN'T MET YET BUT THEY
ARE INVESTIGATING THE ELECTION
AND THAT THEY WERE GOING TO
HOLD A MEETING ON THE 24th OF
NOVEMBER BUT HELD OFF AT THE
REQUEST OF THE ELECTIONS
COMMISSION UNTIL THE RECOUNT IS
DONE.
BUT THAT IS DEFINITELY MOVING
FORWARD.
>> INTERESTING.
THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.
ALSO ON COVID AND COVID RELIEF
LEGISLATION, GOVERNOR EVERS AND
REPUBLICAN SPEAKER ROBIN VOS
MET TODAY.
WHAT DO WE KNOW WHETHER
ANYTHING MIGHT BE FORTHCOMING
FROM THAT?
>> WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THEY
BOTH SAID NICE THINGS ABOUT THE
MEETING AND KIND OF SAID IT'S A
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
BEYOND THAT WE DON'T KNOW MUCH.
I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE
GOVERNOR HAS TALKED ABOUT, WHAT
HE INTRODUCED THIS WEEK SOME OF
THE BIG PIECES OF HIS LATEST
COVID-19 BILL INCLUDE $540 PLUS
MILLION DOLLARS TO CONTINUE
TESTING CURRENTLY FUNDED BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
POTENTIAL BAN ON EVICTIONS.
SPEAKER VOSS HAS SAID THOSE ARE
NON-STARTERS WITH HIM.
WHEN IT COMES TO MITIGATION
EFFORTS, MASK MANDATE FOR
EXAMPLE GOVERNOR EVERS AND
REPUBLICANS ARE FAR APART ON
THAT, TOO.
THEY'RE MEETING BUT WE DON'T
KNOW WHAT THEY CAN AGREE TO.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD FIRST
STEP.
SHAWN JOHNSON, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> THE COVID-19 SURGE IN
WISCONSIN DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE
RELENTING.
MORE RECORDS FOR POSITIVE CASES
AND DEATHS SET AGAIN THIS WEEK
BUT HELP IS ON THE WAY.
NEW VACCINES ARE IN THE FINAL
STAGES OF APPROVAL AND
WISCONSIN IS NOW PLANNING FOR
HOW TO ACQUIRE AND DISTRIBUTE
THEM.
CHIEF TO THAT TASK DEPUTY
SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SERVICES JULIE VAN DIJK
WHO JOINS US NOW.
DEPUTY SECRETARY, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> THE GOVERNOR DECLARED
ANOTHER EMERGENCY ORDER THIS
WEEK AND EXTENDED THE MASK
MANDATE WHICH HAS BEEN IN
EFFECT SINCE SUMMER.
WHY HASN'T THE MANDATE WORKED
EFFECTIVELY TO SLOW THE SPREAD?
>> TO CLARIFY, FACEMASKS AND
FACIAL COVERINGS CAN CERTAINLY
WORK VERY WELL.
WHAT IT REQUIRES US IS TO HAVE
A VERY HIGH UPTAKE AND
COMPLIANCE WITH THAT.
ESTIMATED PROBABLY WE NEED TO
HAVE 80 TO 90% OF THE
POPULATION REGULARLY WEARING A
MASK IN ORDER FOR US TO SEE THE
DESIRED EFFECTS.
I THINK -- SO I THINK THERE IS
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO IMPROVE
IN THAT REGARD ACROSS THE STATE.
THE OTHER THING IS LAST WEEK WE
RECEIVED SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS
FROM CDC.
WE'VE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG
THAT FACIAL COVERINGS PROTECT
YOU FROM ME, BUT EMERGING
EVIDENCE ALSO SAYS THAT FACIAL
COVERINGS LIKE THE ONE I'M
WEARING NOW PROTECT ME FROM YOU
AND SO IT'S REALLY A WIN/WIN
FOR PEOPLE TO WEAR FACIAL
COVERINGS AND ALSO HAS TO BE --
THIS ISN'T A PANACEA.
IT HAS TO BE COMBINED WITH THE
OTHER PREVENTIVE MECHANISMS WE
TALK ABOUT.
STAYING SIX FEET APART FROM
EACH OTHER.
STAYING HOME IF YOU'RE SICK.
WASHING YOUR HANDS.
DON'T TOUCH YOUR FACE.
DON'T TOUCH YOUR MASK.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ANNOYS
ME THE MOST IS WATCHING PEOPLE
ON TV ADJUSTING THEIR MASK ALL
THE TIME.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO
DO IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF WEARING MASKS.
>> DESCRIBE THE SITUATION NOW
IN WISCONSIN AS IT WEATHER THIS
SURGE IN COVID CASES.
>> YEAH.
WE'RE IN A REALLY TOUGH PLACE
RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE A STILL VERY RAPID
INCREASE IN CASES.
WE'RE RUNNING SECOND BEHIND
TEXAS IN TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES,
THIRD BEHIND THE DAKOTAS IN THE
RATE OF CASES AND AS A RESULT,
WE'RE ALSO STARTING TO SEE WHAT
WE KNEW WOULD HAPPEN IF WE
CONTINUED THIS RAPID INCREASE,
HOSPITALS FILLING UP.
UNFORTUNATELY OUR RATES OF
DEATH INCREASING.
THIS WEEK ALONE WE'VE HAD
SEVERAL DAYS WITH 70, 80, 90
PEOPLE DYING EACH DAY FROM THIS
DISEASE.
SO WE'RE ALSO RIFFALING NEW
YORK CITY.
WE'RE OVER 1,000 CASES MORE A
DAY THAN NEW YORK CITY AT THE
PEAK AND WHY THESE PREVENTIVE
MEASURES ARE SO IMPORTANT NOW.
IT'S A MAJOR TOOL TO START
BRINGING THIS RATE DOWN.
>> MEANWHILE THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SERVICES IS PLANNING FOR
DISTRIBUTION OF A VACCINE THAT
COULD START ARRIVING BY THE END
OF THE YEAR.
NOW YOU HAVE DESCRIBED THIS
WORK AS EVEN MORE COMPLICATED
THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED.
HOW SO?
>> WELL, WE'LL HAVE VACCINE
COMING FROM A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER.
EACH WILL HAVE DIFFERENT
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SCHEDULE
OF THE VACCINE, THE STORAGE OF
THE VACCINE, AS MANY PEOPLE
HAVE HEARD SOME OF THE FIRST
VACCINE IN FACT THE PFIZER
VACCINE WHICH IS APPLYING TODAY
FOR THEIR EMERGENCY USE
AUTHORIZATION, HAS TO BE STORED
AT VERY COLD TEMPERATURES.
AND SO WE'LL NEED TO DO A LOT
OF REALLY GOOD LOGISTICAL
PLANNING TO MAKE SURE WE STORE
IT RIGHT AND DISTRIBUTE IT
RIGHT TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
>> SPEAKING OF THAT, WE WANT TO
KNOW WHO GETS IT FIRST AND HOW
MUCH SUPPLY OF IT WILL COME
INTO WISCONSIN?
AND HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO
ROLL OUT TO THE GENERAL
POPULATION?
>> YEAH.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE'LL
GET INITIALLY QUITE YET.
IT WILL NOT BE ENOUGH.
I DO KNOW THAT.
AND THEREFORE WE'LL BE
DISTRIBUTING THIS VACCINE IN A
PHASED MANNER.
OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS WILL BE
HELPING US WITH PRIORITIZATION.
WE ANTICIPATE HEALTHCARE
WORKERS WILL LIKELY BE FIRST.
NEXT IN LINE WILL BE PEOPLE
LIVING IN LONG-TERM CARE
FACILITIES, OUR MOST
VULNERABLE, AND THEN WE'LL
EXPAND TO OTHER POPULATIONS AS
VACCINE SUPPLY INCREASES.
IT IS LIKELY TO INCREASE OVER
THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AFTER WE
RECEIVED OUR INITIAL SUPPLIES
AND IT IS GOING TO TAKE A GOOD
AMOUNT OF 2021 TO GET THE
VACCINE INTO EVERYBODY'S ARM
WHO NEEDS IT.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO JUST KEEPING ON
WITH FACE COVERINGS, SOCIAL
DISTANCING, HAND WASHING,
TESTING, AND CONTACT TRACING
AND ALL THE THINGS WE'RE DOING
TO CONTROL THE DISEASE.
>> WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR
INFORMATION DEPUTY SECRETARY
VAN DIJK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UW SYSTEM PRESIDENT TOMMY
THOMPSON IS TAKING IT OUT ON
COVID.
>> TIME TO PUT THE HAMMER DOWN.
SMASH COVID.
>> THOMPSON IS SMASHING
PUMPKINS TO PROMOTE SURGE
TESTING ON UW CAMPUSES.
WE SAT DOWN WITH THE FORMER
SECRETARY OF THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES, FORMER GOVERNOR AND
NOW INTERIM PRESIDENT OF THE UW
TO ASK ABOUT THE SYSTEM'S
APPROACH TO MITIGATING
INFECTION, ESPECIALLY AHEAD OF
THE HOLIDAYS.
WE SHOULD NOTE PBS WISCONSIN IS
PART OF THE UW SYSTEM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING
US, GOVERNOR.
>> ALWAYS A PRIVILEGE TO BE ON
YOUR PROGRAM AND BE INTERVIEWED
BY YOU.
IT'S BEEN MANY YEARS THAT YOU
AND I HAVE HAD INTERVIEWS AND
ALWAYS A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE.
THANK YOU.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME, TRUE ENOUGH.
I WANTED TO ASK FIRST WHY DID
YOU PARTNER WITH THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES TO SET UP THESE SURGE
RAPID RESULTS TESTING SITES ON
UW CAMPUSES?
>> WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY JOIN WITH
THEM, THEY OBSERVED WHAT WE
WERE DOING.
WE WERE QUITE SUCCESSFUL IN
KNOCKING DOWN THE SPREAD OF
THIS TERRIBLE INSIDIOUS VIRUS
EPIDEMIC.
THEY ASKED WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE
TO DO THAT IN A WIDER PLAN TO
GIVE US THE TEST AND GIVE US
SOME RESOURCES TO HIRE
INDIVIDUALS.
AND THEY CAME IN AND GAVE US
208 INDIVIDUALS TO HELP
IMPLEMENT IT AND 250,000 CASES.
THEY WANTED US TO SEE IF WE
COULD KNOCK DOWN THIS TERRIBLE
SPIRAL THAT'S GOING ON IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
WE'RE JUST GETTING HIT TERRIBLY
WITH THIS VIRUS AND IT IS
AFFECTING EVERYBODY EDUCATION,
TV, COMMUNICATION, FARMERS,
BUSINESS PEOPLE, ALL OVER.
ESPECIALLY THE EDUCATORS.
SO I WANTED TO HELP THEM AND
THEY GAVE ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.
WE WERE CHOSEN BY THEM TO BE
THE BETA CASE TO TRY SOMETHING
NEW AND IF WE'RE SUCCESSFUL
HERE THEY WANT TO TURN IT OUT
ACROSS THE NATION AND THE BIDEN
PEOPLE ARE CALLING ME TOMORROW
TO TALK TO ME ABOUT IT.
SO IT'S GETTING SOME EXPOSURE
BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
>> HOW SUCCESSFUL HAS IT BEEN?
HOW MANY PEOPLE ON CAMPUSES AND
IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE AVAILED
THEMSELVES OF THOSE TESTS AT
THOSE SITES?
>> WE'VE ONLY BEEN IN OPERATION
A LITTLE -- ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND
WE'RE STILL SETTING UP SITES
BUT WE'VE ALREADY TESTED 35,000
INDIVIDUALS.
COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE STATE
WHERE WE HAVE A CAMPUS CAN COME
IN FREE OF CHARGE, GET A VERY
QUICK TEST.
WE CAN BE IN AND OUT IN ABOUT
30 MINUTES AND HAVE A TEST
EITHER NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE.
POSITIVE WE WANT YOU TO
QUARANTINE AND WE HAVE WHAT IS
CALLED THE TEST TO MAKE SURE
THAT IF YOU TEST POSITIVE, YOU
HAVE A SECOND TEST WHICH GOES
INTO A LABORATORY WHICH IS MORE
EXPENSIVE.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET 6,000
CASES SO FAR THAT ARE POSITIVE.
6,500 OUT OF THAT 35,000 THAT
WERE POSITIVE.
>> OKAY.
AND THAT 6,000 IS JUST WITHIN
THE COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT YOU'VE
BEEN TESTING OR SINCE THE
BEGINNING KIND OF OF THE
PANDEMIC?
>> SINCE THE BEGINNING AND
240,000 TESTS.
AND THE 640,000 TESTS WE
HAVE 6,591.
>> BACK TO THE RAPID TEST, HOW
RELIABLE ARE THOSE?
>> I WOULD SAY THEY ARE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF 80 TO 85%.
THERE WILL BE SOME FALSE
NEGATIVES AND SOME FALSE
POSITIVE BUT THE TRUTH OF THE
MATTER IS -- YOU WANT THE LOOK
AT HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE
POSITIVE.
IF YOU'RE POSITIVE AND IT IS
CONFIRMED POSITIVE THE
QUARANTINE THEM SO THEY DON'T
SPREAD IT.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THIS
PANDEMIC IS THE FACT THAT YOU
HAVE -- [INAUDIBLE] HE OR SHE
IS ASYMPTOMATIC, NO SIGNS BUT
STILL SPEWING THE VIRUS OUT
WHEN HE OR SHE IS OUT AND
AROUND IN THE PUBLIC.
FOR THE FIRST 72 HOURS THERE
ARE USUALLY NO SYMPTOMS.
WE WANT TO SAY TO THAT YOUNG
MAN, YOUNG LADY OR WHOEVER IT
IS, ELDERLY PERSON, SAY STAY
HOME, QUARANTINE.
YOU MAY HAVE IT.
GET READY, GET RESTED AND GET
SOME THERAPIES READY TO TAKE.
>> SO WISCONSIN COVID CASES ARE
SURGING AS WE'VE DESCRIBED IT
CRISIS NUMBERS ACCORDING TO
STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS, DANE
COUNTY'S NEW EMERGENCY ORDER
BANS INDOOR GATHERINGS OF
PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT
HOUSEHOLDS.
AS STUDENTS FROM WISCONSIN
PREPARE FOR THANKSGIVING BREAK
WHAT IS UW GUIDANCE TO THEM?
>> WE'RE TELLING THOSE STUDENTS
WE WOULD RATHER HAVE YOU STAY
ON CAMPUS.
WE WOULD RATHER HAVE YOU STAY
IN YOUR DORM.
THAT'S OUR PREFERENCE.
BUT WE KNOW STUDENTS ARE GOING
TO GO HOME OVER THANKSGIVING.
I DID AND YOU DID.
THAT'S THE RITE OF PASSAGE.
YOU GO HOME FOR THANKSGIVING
AND CHRISTMAS.
WE KNOW THAT.
SINCE WE DON'T WANT THEM TO GO
HOME AND INFECT THEIR FAMILIES,
WE WANT THEM TESTED BEFORE THEY
GO HOME.
THAT YOUNG MAN OR WOMAN THAT'S
A STUDENT, GET TESTED AND IF
THEY WANT TO COME BACK AFTER
THANKSGIVING THEY HAVE TO GET
TESTED TWICE.
ONCE BEFORE THEY CAN MOVE BACK
INTO THE DORMS OR BACK INTO
SCHOOL, THEY HAVE TO BE TESTED
AND THEN THEY HAVE TO BE TESTED
AGAIN THAT FIRST WEEK.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T
BRING THE EPIDEMIC, THE VIRUS
BACK HOME FROM HOME BACK TO THE
CAMPUS.
SO WE'RE BEING EXTRA CAREFUL.
BUT THIS IS HOW WE'VE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL.
WE'VE BEEN DILIGENT, TAKEN A
LEADERSHIP POSITION, AND WE'RE
DRIVING DOWN THOSE INDIVIDUALS
THAT ARE SPREADING IT AND
QUARANTINING THEM.
IF THEY TEST POSITIVE ISOLATE
THEM.
>> GOVERNOR TOMMY THOMPSON,
PRESIDENT OF THE UW SYSTEM WE
NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WONDERFUL.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
THANK YOU.
>> THOMPSON SAYS CLASSES ON
MOST UW CAMPUSES WILL BE FULLY
ONLINE AFTER THANKSGIVING
EXCEPT FOR GREEN BAY AND
OSHKOSH WHERE STUDENTS WILL
RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION
AND NOW THIS.
TOMORROW MARKS THE START OF THE
ANNUAL GUN DEER HUNTING SEASON
AND THERE IS CONCERN AMONG
HEALTH EXPERTS THAT HUNTERS
TRAVELING ACROSS THE STATE
COULD LEAD TO MULTIPLE COVID-19
SUPER SPREADER EVENTS.
SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER ZAC
SCHULZ TALKED WITH HUNTER AND
BAR OWNERS HOW THE PANDEMIC IS
ALTERING SOME OLD TRADITIONS.
>> SAME SWEATSHIRT, DID I TELL
YOU?
>> LAIR' SMITH AND MARTY WIMMER
HAVE BEEN HUNTING TOGETHER FOR
A COUPLE DECADES ON LARRY'S OLD
FAMILY FARM.
>> WE ALL GET TOGETHER AND HAVE
A GOOD, RELAXING TIME.
>> AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
CONTINUED TO SPIRAL OUT OF
CONTROL, THEY REALIZED THIS
YEAR'S HUNT WOULD HAVE TO
CHANGE.
>> THE LAST MONTH OR SO WE'VE
BEEN TALKING TO THE GROUP AND,
YOU KNOW, THINGS WILL BE
DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.
>> ALTHOUGH THE OLD FARMHOUSE
IS BIG ENOUGH TO SLEEP 10, THIS
YEAR IT WILL JUST BE LARRY WHO
SLEEPS OVERNIGHT.
>> THE REST OF THE GUYS WILL
DRIVE BACK AND FORTH.
>> MARTI WILL BE DRIVING 80
MILES EACH WAY.
HE SAYS IT'S STILL WORTH IT.
>> IT IS NOT THE HUNT THAT'S
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME.
REALLY THE GUYS AND BEING
TOGETHER WITH THEM.
THAT'S WHAT'S CRITICAL.
>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE
CAMARADERIE IN THE EVENINGS BUT
WE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET
TOGETHER OUT IN THE PASTURES.
>> THE WISCONSIN DNR IS
ADVICEING HUNTERS TO AVOID
DRIVING ACROSS THE STATE TO
HUNT.
>> WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT
HUNTERS KEEP HUNTING LOCAL AND
THEY DO IT WITH MEMBERS OF
THEIR HOUSEHOLD TO BEST AVOID
SPREADING COVID-19.
>> KEITH WARNKE IS THE
ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE PARKS
DIVISION AND HE SAYS DESPITE
THE CHANGES TO TRADITIONAL
HUNTING CAMP SALES FOR OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES LIKE FISHING AND
HUNTING ARE UP THIS YEAR.
>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LICENSE
FIGURES IS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
WOULD PREVIOUSLY HAD HUNTED OR
HAD GONE FISHING AND THEY ARE
GETTING BACK TO IT NOW.
>> HUNTING IS MORE THAN JUST
TRADITION.
IT IS A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR
INDUSTRY.
IF HUNTERS STAY CLOSE TO HOME
IT WILL HAVE A DRAMATIC IMPACT
ON BARS AND RESTAURANTS.
>> IF IT WASN'T FOR MY
CUSTOMERS, I WOULD HAVE BEEN
SHUT DOWN.
>> DINE AND MARVIN WULFF OWN
DIANNE'S BACK 40 IN TAYLOR
COUNTY.
DEER SEASON USUALLY MEANS A
PACKED HOUSE.
>> WE SERVE BREAKFAST IN THE
MORNING AND THE WEEKENDS ARE
THE BIGGEST.
>> THEY'VE BEEN STRUGGLING TO
STAY OPEN DURING THE PANDEMIC
AND THEY ARE AFRAID THE DEER
HUNTER CROWDS WILL BE ONE MORE
CASUALTY OF COVID-19.
>> IT PAYS YOUR TAXES FOR THE
YEAR.
AND IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
THIS YEAR, I KNOW IT ALREADY.
I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE AND THEY
ARE STAYING CLOSE TO HOME AND
THE WIFE DOESN'T FEEL
COMFORTABLE WITH THEM GOING OUT
OR -- I THINK IT WILL BE A
BOMB, JUST A COMPLETE FAILURE.
>> IT WILL BE DIFFERENT.
IT WILL BE ANOTHER EXPERIENCE.
>> LARRY AND MARTI WON'T BE
VISITING THEIR TRADITIONAL
RESTAURANT ON THE NIGHT BEFORE
OPENER.
>> EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT FOR
PROBABLY 20 YEARS WE WENT TO
THE SAME PLACE FOR DINNER.
>> MARTI KNOWS WHAT HE WILL
THINK WHEN HE DRIVES BY A BAR
WITH A FULL PARKING LOT.
>> I'M GLAD I'M NOT IN THERE.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S THEIR
CHOICE.
>> CHOICE IS THE KEY WORD IN
ALL OF THIS.
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ADVISE
AGAINST CROWDING INTO BARS AND
RESTAURANTS.
EVEN IF MASK MANDATES AND
SMALLER CAPACITY LIMITS ARE IN
PLACE, IT IS STILL UP TO THE
INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED TO ENFORCE
IT.
>> A LOT OF IT WE LEAVE TO THE
CUSTOMERS IF THEY CHOOSE TO
WEAR A MASK OR SOCIAL DISTANCE
OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
THAT'S HOW WE READ IT.
>> DIANNE AND MARVIN SAY THEY
WEAR MASKS WHEN THEY GO OUT IN
PUBLIC BUT DON'T REQUIRE IT OF
THEIR CUSTOMERS AND TRY NOT TO
THINK ABOUT WHETHER A CUSTOMER
MAY BE BRINGING COVID IN THE
DOOR WITH THEM.
>> YOU HAVE TO, OTHERWISE YOU
WILL BE PARANOID.
>> YOU HAVE TO PUT THAT ON THE
BACK BURNER.
IT IS PART OF DOING BUSINESS.
>> JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE
BACK 40 IS ANOTHER BAR.
THIS ONE CLOSED AND FOR SALE.
A COLD REMINDER OF WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN THERE AREN'T ENOUGH
CUSTOMERS TO PAY THE BILLS.
>> I DON'T WANT TO GET SOMEONE
SICK.
>> FOR LARRY SMITH EAST GROUP
THE PANDEMIC REQUIRES A CHANGE
IN TRADITION IN THE NAME OF
SAFETY.
>> WE'RE GOING TO BE CAREFUL
AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BRING
ANYTHING BACK TO OUR FAMILY AND
I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN DO
THAT.
>> DIANNE AND MARVIN WULFF WILL
SACRIFICE SAFETY IN THE HOPES
SOME HUNTERS WILL MAINTAIN
TRADITION.
>> THE ONES THAT COME OUT TO
HUNT, THEY WILL COME OUT, I
BELIEVE.
THAT'S PART OF THE HUNTING CAMP
TYPE TRADITION THING.
BUT THE ONES THAT AREN'T GOING
TO WANT TO GO TO THE BARS OR
RESTAURANTS AND STUFF LIKE
THAT, THEY'LL JUST STAY HOME.
>> I'M ZAC SCHULZ FOR "HERE AND
NOW."
>> AS ZAC REPORTED DEER HUNTING
LIKE ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE IN
WISCONSIN WILL BE ALTERED DUE
TO COVID.
THE EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTOR
OF BELLIN HOSPITAL IN GREEN BAY
TOLD US HE BELIEVES TRADITIONAL
LARGE GATHERINGS AT DEER CAMPS
HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME
SPREADER EVENTS.
DR. PAUL CASEY SAID PRECAUTIONS
AND CHANGES IN TRADITION ARE
THE BEST ROUTE TO TAKE.
>> I WOULD SAY TRY TO LIMIT
YOUR CONGREGATION AND YOUR DEER
HUNT OR WHATEVER PLACE YOU STAY
WHEN YOU GO DEER HUNTING TO
PEOPLE WITHIN YOUR IMMEDIATE
FAMILY.
IF NOT, TRY TO WEAR MASKS AND
PROPERLY SOCIAL DISTANCE.
>> A SURVEY SAYS 2 OUT OF 5
AMERICANS WILL ATTEND LARGE
HOLIDAY GATHERINGS AS PUBLIC
HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE BRACING
THEMSELVES FOR AN ADDITIONAL
SURGE OF POSITIVE COVID CASES.
SARA LOMSON IN DE PERE SAYS
THEY ALREADY CAN'T KEEP UP WITH
THE CURRENT WORKLOAD AND GIVES
THIS ADVICE AHEAD OF THE
HOLIDAY SEASON.
>> IF YOU HAVE MINOR SYMPTOMS,
A COLD-LIKE SYMPTOMS OR
ALLERGY-LIKE SYMPTOMS YOU COULD
HAVE COVID.
RIGHT NOW IT IS COMMUNITY
SPREAD.
SUCH A SURGE IN CASES.
WITH THE HOLIDAY SEASON AMONG
US YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF
YOURSELF AND WHERE YOU'VE BEEN
AND HAVE YOU BEEN TAKING THOSE
PRECAUTIONS OR ARE YOU PUTTING
YOURSELF, OTHER PEOPLE AT RISK
FOR BEING EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS?
>> FOR CONTINUED COVERAGE ON
THE COVID CRISIS AS WELL AS THE
LATEST ON THE WISCONSIN RECOUNT
STORY GO TO PBS WISCONSIN.ORG
AND FOR COVERAGE OF THE COVID
VISIT OUR PARTNER NEWS SITE.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.