>> 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.