FOR CORONAVIRUS IN WISCONSIN.
BUT AT WEEKS' END THERE ARE NO
NEW POSITIVE CASES.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
SERVICES REPORTS A TOTAL OF 44
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TESTED AND A
DOZEN RESULTS ARE STILL PENDING.
ONE PERSON WHO TESTED POSITIVE
EARLIER HAS RECOVERED.
HEALTH OFFICIALS ALSO REPORT
THERE IS NO INDICATION OF
COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION IN
WISCONSIN.
TODAY THE PRESIDENT SIGNED ON
TO $8 BILLION IN EMERGENCY
FUNDING FOR STATES TO HELP
MANAGE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE.
TOM HAUPT IS HERE.
>> THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE BEING
TESTED HAS JUMPED IN RECENT
DAYS.
DOES WISCONSIN HAVE ADEQUATE
TEST KITS TO DO THE
SURVEILLANCE WE NEED?
>> AT THIS TIME WE DO HAVE
ENOUGH TEST KITS AVAILABLE.
WE HAVE TO APPROVE THE TESTING.
WE WANT TO BE SURE WE'RE USING
THE TEST KITS APPROPRIATELY AND
BEING SMART WITH OUR DECISIONS.
WE DON'T WANT TO RUN OUT OF
KITS DURING A CRITICAL TIME.
>> YOU HAVE THE SCIENTISTS WHO
NEED TO DO THE TESTING?
>> AT THIS TIME WE HAVE THE
CAPACITY AND SURGE CAPACITY
SHOULD IT GET WORSE.
>> WHAT ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES
OF THE LATEST PEOPLE BEING
TESTED
>> IS MAJORITY OF THEM ARE
TRAVELERS AND VACATIONERS
COMING BACK FROM COUNTRIES THAT
HAVE A LEVEL THREE OR TWO
TRAVEL ALERT CHINA, ITALY,
SOUTH KOREA.
WE'RE ALSO GETTING STUDENTS
COMING BACK AS WELL.
SO WE'VE HAD PEOPLE WHO ARE PUT
UNDER INVESTIGATIONS WHO ARE
BOTH VACATIONERS AND RETURNING
TO WISCONSIN.
>> ON STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS.
>> YES.
>> THERE SEEMS TO BE SUPER
HEIGHTENED CONCERN ABOUT THE
PUBLIC.
WHAT SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT THE
RISK AND WHAT TO EXPECT?
>> AGAIN, THIS IS AN EVOLVING
SITUATION AND RELATIVELY EARLY
IN THE INVESTIGATION.
WE ARE COUNTING ON OUR
COLLEAGUES FROM THE WORLD
HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND CENTERS
FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND
PREVENTION TO GUIDE US WITH
MORE INFORMATION.
WE WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
EXACT INCUBATION PERIOD.
HOW LONG PEOPLE ARE INFECTIOUS.
AT THIS POINT WE'RE SAYING THE
RISK IS STILL LOW BUT WE'RE
PREPARED IN CASE IT DOES BECOME
MORE WIDESPREAD WE FEEL WE HAVE
THE PLANS AND CAPABILITIES TO
MAKE A RESPONSE TO PROTECT THE
CITIZENS OF WISCONSIN.
>>
>> WHAT'S THE GUIDANCE FOR
NURSING HOMES IN WISCONSIN?
>> IT JUST CAME OUT.
WE'RE ANALYZING THAT AS WE THEY
NEED TO SCREEN VISITORS COMING
IN AND ASK THEM IF THEY'VE DONE
ANY TRAVEL.
AT THIS POINT THAT IS NOT
RECOMMENDED.
BUT WE REALLY WANT THEM TO BE
AWARE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE
COMING IN IF THEY DO HAVE ANY
KIND OF RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS.
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF FLU
SEASON AND HIGH INFLUENZA
ACTIVITY.
>> DO YOU EXPECT THE NUMBER OF
TESTS BEING CONDUCTED WILL JUMP
AS THE DAYS PROGRESS HERE?
>> I BELIEVE THE NUMBER OF TEST
EFS WILL DEFINITELY JUMP
ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAVE
COMMERCIAL LABS COMING ONLINE
AS WELL.
AND AGAIN, WE HAVE A LITTLE
MORE LENIENCY FOR TESTING SINCE
THE GUIDANCE WAS CHANGED IN
PAST WEEK.
>> HOW IMPORTANT IS THE MONEY
NEWLY COMING IN TO STATES
?FRJTS I BELIEVE THE MONEY IS
VERY IMPORTANT AND IS NOT
DECIDED HOW TO USE IT.
IT CAN HELP WITH PERSONNEL
COSTS.
FOR PURCHASING MAYBE SOME
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
THERE IS A LOT OF RUMORS OUT
THERE THERE ARE SHORTAGES OF
MASKS, GOWNS, HAND SANITIZERS.
THE PEOPLE IN OUR
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE ARE
WORKING HARD TO TRY TO COME UP
WITH A PLAN HOW TO BEST USE
THAT MONEY.
>> TOM