>> A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART
OF OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2020
ELECTION COVERAGE.
>> I'M FREYBERG.
A WISCONSIN COVID-19 AND
REPRESENTATIVES GALLAGHER POCAN
DISCUSS SHORTAGES ON MARCH 6th.
>> MORE PEOPLE ARE BEING TESTED
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 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
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 HAUPT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR TALKING TO YOUR VIEWERS.
>> NOW TO COVID-19 AND HOW
FEDERAL LAWMAKERS ARE
RESPONDING TO CERTAIN ASPECTS
OF IT INCLUDING THE
INTRODUCTION OF A BILL CALLED
THE MEDICAL SUPPLY CHAIN
SECURITY ACT DESIGNED TO
STRENGTHEN THE FLOW OF MEDICAL
SUPPLIES BY GIVING NEW
AUTHORIZATIONS TO THE FOOD AND
DRUG ADMINISTRATION.
AMONG OTHER THINGS THE BILL
GIVES THE FDA MORE POWER TO
LOCATE AND DIRECT THE FLOW OF
MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND REQUIRES
MEDICAL MANUFACTURERS TO NOTIFY
THE GOVERNMENT WHEN SUPPLIES
ARE RUNNING LOW.
THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED THIS
WEEK BY REPUBLICAN U.S.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE GALLAGHER
WHO JOINS US FROM GREEN BAY AND
DEMOCRATIC U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
MARK POCAN WHO IS IN MADISON.
WELCOME TO YOU BOTH.
FIRST, REPRESENTATIVE POCAN,
WHY DID YOU INTRODUCE THE BILL?
>> MIKE REACHED OUT TO US AND
SENATOR HAWLEY INTRODUCED THE
BILL.
I'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH OUR
COMMITTEE ALL THINGS
CORONAVIRUS.
THERE IS A PROBLEM AROUND
SUPPLY CHAINS PERIOD.
WE KEEP TRACK OF DRUGS PRODUCED
IN CHINA BUT NOT THINGS LIKE
THE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS FOR
DRUGS THAT ARE MADE IN OTHER
PLACES.
AND WE DON'T KEEP TRACK OF
THINGS FOR MEDICAL DEVICES.
WHEN THIS BILL CAME OVER FROM
MIKE'S OFFICE WE WERE HAPPY TO
DO IT WITH HIM.
IT IS AN IMPORTANT INFORMATION
THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE WHETHER IT
BE ON DRUGS OR MEDICAL DEVICES.
IF WE DON'T KNOW A TIME LIKE
THIS OR ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE
YOU NEED TO KNOW WHERE THINGS
ARE PRODUCED SO YOU DON'T HAVE
SHORTAGES.
>> WHY DID YOU SPEARHEAD THIS?
>> COVID-19 PROVIDES AN ACUTE
ILLUSTRATION OF SOMETHING WE'VE
BEEN LEARNING OVER THE LAST
THREE YEARS OR WAKING UP TO,
WHICH IS THE FACT THAT A LOT OF
OUR SUPPLY CHAINS RUN THROUGH
BEIJING AND THEREFORE ARE
INHERENTLY FRAGILE.
AS WE ATTEMPT TO INCENTIVIZE
MORE DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING WE
SHOULD START WITH KEY NATIONAL
SECURITY TECHNOLOGY BUT MEDICAL
MANUFACTURING.
WE'RE LEARNING NOW THAT SO MANY
OF THE DRUGS WE RELY UPON, SO
MANY OF THE SIMPLE DEVICES THAT
WE NEED IN TIMES LIKE THIS,
WHETHER IT'S MASKS, REST PIR
ATEORS ARE OFTEN MASS PRODUCED
IN CHAIN.
YEAH UNACCEPTABLE WHEN YOU'RE
DEALING WITH SOMETHING LIKE
COVID-19.
A SMALL WAY WE CAN BEGIN TO
SHORE UP AND STRENGTHEN OUR
DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING
CAPABILITY AND KEEP CITIZENS
HEALTHY.
>> WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT
SHORTAGES IN PLACE NOW AS A
RESULT OF CORONAVIRUS OR
POTENTIALLY THREATENING OUR
RESPONSE TO IT?
>> A WEEK AGO FRIDAY I ASKED
THIS VERY QUESTION AT ONE OF
THE PANELS WE HAD.
WE KNOW THERE IS AT LEAST 20
DRUGS THAT ARE PROBABLY SOLELY
SOURCED IN CHINA.
THERE COULD BE SHORTAGES
BECAUSE OF PRODUCTION OVERALL
LIST OF 146 DRUGS AS OF A WEEK
AGO FRIDAY ON THAT LIST.
BUT WHAT WE DON'T KEEP TRACK OF
ARE THINGS LIKE MEDICAL DEVICES
WHICH IS WHY MIKE AND I HAVE
THIS BILL.
WE DON'T KEEP TRACK OF ACTIVE
INGREDIENTS.
A DRUG MAY BE PRODUCED IN INDIA
OR ANOTHER COUNTRY BUT THE
ACTIVE INGREDIENT IS STILL
PRODUCED IN CHINA.
WE DON'T KEEP TRACK OF THAT AT
ALL.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE
HAVE TO KNOW OR ELSE YOU COULD
HAVE SHORTAGES HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES OR YOU COULD EVEN
HAVE CHINA SAY THAT ANY
PRODUCTION IN CHINA THE
PRIORITY WILL STAY IN CHINA.
>> THIS LEGISLATION WOULD BE
FOR NEXT TIME THOUGH, RIGHT?
WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE
CIRCUMSTANCE WE HAVE THE OVER
RELIANCE OF PRODUCTS MADE IN
CHINA.
>> WHY IT'S GOOD WE CAME
TOGETHER YESTERDAY BEFORE MARK
AND I LEFT D.C. TO PASS $8
BILLION IN EMERGENCY
SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING TO GET AT
THIS CRISIS.
$4 BILLION OF WHICH WOULD BE
GEARED TOWARDS RAPID PRODUCTION
OF TESTING.
IF YOU TALK TO OFFICIALS IN
HONG KONG AND IN KOREA, THEY
WILL SWEAR THAT FAST, RAPID
DEPLOYMENT OF TESTING IS THE
PATH TO GETTING A HANDLE ON
THIS.
THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE
DOING MORE.
I'M GLAD MOST OF OUR COLLEAGUES
CAME TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN
FASHION TO PROVIDE THE CDC AND
OTHER HEALTH OFFICIALS AT HHS
THE RESOURCES THEY NEED IN
ORDER TO DEVOLVE RESOURCES TO
THE STATES, COUNTY GOVERNMENTS
TO DO AS MUCH TESTING AS
POSSIBLE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE POCAN HOW
MUCH OF THAT $8 BILLION MIGHT
BE COMING WISCONSIN'S WAY?
>> NOT EXACTLY.
HOWEVER, AGAIN EVEN THAT MONEY
SOME OF IT IS GOING FOR
FIGHTING THE VIERS AND HELPING
LOCAL AND STATE HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS.
THE ISSUE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW
THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO FOCUS
THE MOST ON IS THE TESTING.
AND AS OF THIS WEEK THE NUMBERS
OF TESTS STILL AREN'T THAT MANY.
BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK IT'S AT
A LEVEL MORE USEFUL.
MY REAL CONCERN IS WE'RE NOT
PROACTIVELY TESTING MORE PEOPLE
ESPECIALLY PEOPLE IN MONTHS
HOSPITALS WHO HAVE
PNEUMONIA-LIKE SYMPTOMS.
THERE HAS BEEN BAD PRESS.
PEOPLE GONE TO GET A TEST,
TESTED NEGATIVE AND WOUND UP
WITH A $3200 BILL IS SPOOKING
PEOPLE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANSWERS FOR HOW
TO MAKE SURE NO ONE WOULD BE
TURNED AWAY BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE THE RESOURCES.
IT IS DEFINITELY IN PROGRESS
AND WE FIGURE IT OUT.
MISSTEPS EARLY ON ESPECIALLY
AROUND TESTING.
BUT I AND A LOT OF MEDICAL
PEOPLE INCLUDING THE PERSON WHO
RAN THE EBOLA CRISIS, THE CZAR
DURING PRESIDENT OBAMA THINK WE
HAVE TO CHANGE FOCUS AND START
TESTING THESE PEOPLE AND WE'RE
NOT DOING THAT RIGHT NOW.
>> REPRESENTATIVE GALLAGHER DO
YOU AGREE TESTING IS THE KEY
RIGHT NOW?
>> WELL, I DO THINK TESTING IS
THE KEY.
WE HAVE I UNDERSTAND IT CDC
HAS LOOSENED SOME OF THE
REGULATIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT
FACILITIES ARE ALLOWED TO TEST.
I THINK ONE THING WE SHOULD
ALSO LOOK AT IN THIS SPACE IS
HOW DO WE WAIVE IF NOT LOWER
THE COST OF TELE HEALTH
PROCEDURES AS WE TRY TO PREVENT
COMMUNITY SPRAE.D I'M HEARING
FROM HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ARE
WORRIED ABOUT BEING IN
VIOLATION OF STARK LAW AND
TRYING TO DO MORE TELE HEALTH
SERVICES NOW.
WE'RE LEARNING A LOT OF THINGS
ABOUT THE SYSTEM NOT ALWAYS
OPERATING EFFICIENTLY BUT I'M
GLAD MARK AND I FAIR TO SAY
DISAGREE ON A LOT OF HEALTHCARE
RELATED ISSUES WERE ABLE TO
COME TOGETHER ON AN AREA WE
AGREE IN THE FACE OF SOMETHING
LIKE THIS.
PUT ASIDE PARTISAN DIFFERENCES
AND TRY TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR
WISCONSIN.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OVERALL
THIS OUTBREAK HAS BEEN MANAGED
BY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION?
>> IT'S IN PROGRESS.
CLEARLY THERE HAVE BEEN SOME
MISSTEPS EARLY ON.
I WOULD BE MUCH HAPPIER IF THE
ONLY PEOPLE WHO WERE THE
SPOKESPERSONS TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WERE DOCTORS.
DR. FAUCI HAS RESPECT FROM
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.
HAVING POLITICIAN BE THE
SPOKESPERSON IS NOT THE SAME
THING.
YOU SHOULDN'T GO TO WORK WITH
THE CORONAVIRUS.
THAT WOULD BE AN AWFUL IDEA.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR
EVERYONE TO KNOW IS WASH YOUR
HANDS, COUGH INTO YOUR ELBOW
AND DON'T TOUCH YOUR FACE.
IT IS MUCH HARDER.
AS THEY TOLD US THAT I WAS
HOLDING MY FACE IN MY HAND AT
THE BRIEFING.
IF WE FOLLOW THAT FOR MOST
PEOPLE WE ARE OEF GOOD SHAPE.
THE PROBLEM IS BY NOT KEEPING
TRACK EARLIER THIS WEEK WE QUIT
KEEPING TRACK OF HOW MANY
PEOPLE WE TESTED.
THEY'RE DOING THAT AGAIN.
CERTAIN POPULATIONS, OVER 60 OR
HEALTH AILMENTS.
15 TO 20% EVER PEOPLE WILL WIND
UP BEING HOSPITALIZED FOR THIS.
WE HAVE TO BE FOLLOWING THIS
VERY CLOSELY SO THAT THE
APPROPRIATE POPULATIONS ARE
PROTECTED.
>> REPRESENTATIVE GALLAGHER
THERE SEEM TO HAVE BEEN SOME
MIXED MESSAGES OUT OF THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION FROM THE
PRESIDENT HIMSELF THAT CONTRARY
TO WHAT SOME OF THE SCIENTIFIC
OR MEDICAL OFFICIALS ARE SAYING.
WHAT ABOUT THAT AND HOW SHOULD
CITIZENS KIND OF UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S GOING ON?
>> WELL, I THINK THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION WAS RIGHT TO
BEFORE LEANING ON THE TARGETED
TRAVEL BAN IN CHINA.
WE NOW HAVE THE SAME IN PLACE
FOR IRAN AND CERTAIN PARTS OF
THE ITALY AND SOUTH KOREA.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO MONITOR.
BUT IN A GLOBALIZED ECONOMY
MARK AND I KNOW WE FLY ON
AIRPLANES TWICE A WEEK IT IS
HARD WHERE PEOPLE ARE FLYING
ALL THE TIME TO FULLY CONTAIN
THE SPREAD EVEN WITH A TAR
G*ETED TRAVEL BAN IN PLACE.
WHERE I THINK WE SHOULD BE MORE
FORWARD LEANING AS WE TRY TO
THINK ABOUT THE NEXT TIME
SHOULD THERE BE A NEXT TIME IS
LET US RECOGNIZE THAT THE
CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY OUT OF
FEAR OF ITS OWN CITIZENS'
KNOWLEDGE HAS -- HAD REFUSED
THE HELP OF OUR EXPERTS AND EN
GAINING ERD GLOBAL HEALTH.
IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T BEEN
FORCEFUL ENOUGH SENDING THAT
MESSAGE TO EVERYONE AROUND THE
WORLD.
THE CCP IS A CORRUPT
ORGANIZATION THAT IS
ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
REPRESENTATIVE GALLAGHER IN
GREEN BAY AND REPRESENTATIVE
POCAN IN MADISON.
THANKS TO YOU BOTH.
WORK IS ONGOING TO WASHINGTON
TO HELP MEDICAL SUPPLY
SHORTAGES DOCTORS ON THE FRONT
LINE OF THE CORONAVIRUS
OUTBREAK ARE LIVING IT
INCLUDING DR. NASIA SAFDAR FROM
MADISON.
SHE IS A PROFESSOR OF
INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND JOINS US
NOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
WE KNOW YOUR HOSPITAL TREATED
THE FIRST AND TODAY THE ONLY
PERSON WITH CORONAVIRUS WHO HAS
NOW RECOVERED.
BUT INCREASING NUMBER OF TESTS
ARE BEING DONE RIGHT NOW.
WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION AS TO
THE PROGRESSION OR HOW THIS
DEVELOPS?
>> I THINK WE'RE SEEING GLOBAL
SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.
EVERY DAY THERE IS INCREASING
NUMBER OF CASES BEING REPORTED.
IT SEEMS INEVITABLE IT WILL
ARRIVE HERE AS WELL.
>> YOUR HOSPITAL HAS INSTITUTED
ITS PREPAREDNESS PLAN INCLUDING
A HOTLINE NUMBER WHICH WE WANT
TO JUST PUT UP ON THE SCREEN
THAT IS 608-720-5300.
WHO SHOULD USE THAT HOTLINE?
WHAT IS IT FOR?
>> GENERALLY IT'S FOR THE
PUBLIC UW HEALTH PATIENTS AND
THOSE THAT HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHETHER THEIR SYMPTOMS NEED TO
BE EVALUATED OR IF THEY HAVE
PARTICULAR CONCERNS ABOUT
TRAVEL AND SYMPTOMS.
>> AND HOW DOES THAT WORK?
IF SOMEONE FEELS THEY NEED TO
BE SEEN THE EXPECTATION IS THAT
THEY WOULDN'T JUST WALK INTO
THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
>> WE WANT TO PROVIDE THE BEST
CARE POSSIBLE IN ALL SETTINGS.
WE RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE CALL
FOR TWO REASONS.
ONE IS TO EVALUATE WHETHER ONE
REALLY NEEDS TO BE SEEN, ARE
THE SYMPTOMS MILD THEY WOULD
RECOVER ON THEIR OWN.
THE OTHER IS TO PREPARE THE
HEALTH SYSTEM AND HEALTHCARE
WORKERS TO RECEIVE THEM AND
PROVIDE THE SAFEST CARE
POSSIBLE.
>> YOU MUST HAVE HAD THROUGH
YOUR HOSPITAL AND EMERGENCY
ROOM SOME OF THESE PEOPLE
COMING IN SUSPECTING THAT THEY
HAD THIS VIRUS.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> AND WHAT DO YOU DO?
HOW DOES THAT PROTOCOL WORK IN
TERMS OF BEING PREPARED FOR
THAT?
>> I THINK THE PROTOCOL WORKS
IS THAT WE FIRST SCREEN TO SEE
WHAT THE RISK IS OF COVID-19.
SINCE WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY
ADDITIONAL CASES IN WISCONSIN
WE'RE FOCUSING ON TRAVEL AND
EXPOSURE TO KNOWN CASES TO THE
EXTENT THE PATIENT MAY BE AWARE
OF.
IF THERE IS SUCH A RISK, THEN
WE PLACE THEM IN THESE PRIVATE
ROOMS THAT ARE NEGATIVE
PRESSURE ROOMS AS RECOMMENDED
BY THE CDC, HEALTHCARE WORKERS
WITH GOWN AND GLOVE AND PUT ON
A RESPIRATOR AND ASSESS THEM.
EVEN THOUGH WE'RE FOCUSING ON
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING FOR COVID-19
OTHER VIRUSES NEED TO BE TESTED
FOR.
>> YOUR PLAN CONCERNS
CONSERVING MASS,, GLOVES, HAND
SANITIZER.
WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE STOCKS
IN YOUR HOSPITAL OF THESE
THINGS AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING
TO CONSERVE?
>> I THINK FROM THE
PREPAREDNESS STANDPOINT.
THERE ARE A FEW PATIENTS AND A
FEW MORE THAN THAT AND A TRUE
SURGE.
THE WAY WE CONSERVE THE
EQUIPMENT IS THAT ORDINARILY IF
THERE IS NO PROSPECT OF A
SHORTAGE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT
YOU WOULD USE A MASK, A
RESPIRATOR FOR HEALTHCARE
WORKERS, USE IT FOR ONE
ENCOUNTER AND DISPOSE OF IT.
THE CDC HAS GUIDANCE HOW TO
EXTEND THE LIFE OF THEM BY
REUSING THEM FOR THE SAME
PATIENT IN MULTIPLE ENCOUNTERS.
WE HAVE INSTITUTED THAT.
WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT ONLY
ESSENTIAL PEOPLE ENTER THE ROOM
TO PRESERVE THINGS THAT SK
INSTITUTED AS WELL.
KEEPING AN EYE ON INVENTORY AND
AUDITING TO MAKE SURE USAGE IS
GOING AS PLANNED.
>> DO YOU HAVE SHORTAGES OF
I.V. BAGS AND MEDICINE?
>> AT THE MOMENT IT DOESN'T
SEEM TO BE THE KAI.S AS THINGS
PROGRESS AND ESCALATE WE'LL
KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE THINGS AS
WELL.
>> TERMS OF ESCALATION AND
PROGRESSION WHAT CONCERNS DO
YOU HAVE OF STAFF SHORTAGES IN
THE EVENT OF A WIDESPREAD
OUTBREAK?
>> OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE
EXPERIENCED IT STAFF SHORTAGES
ARE LIKELY TO OCCUR IF THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF CASES IN THE
HEALTH SYSTEM AND TO BE ABLE TO
PLAN FOR THAT.
IT MEANS BEING FLEXIBLE AND
CREATIVE IN THINKING HOW BEST
CAN THE WORKFORCE BE PUT TO USE.
IF A HEALTHCARE WORKER NEEDS TO
BE OUT OF WORK BECAUSE THEY
WERE EXPOSED TO SOMEBODY WITH
COVID-19 AND TELE MEDICINE CAN
CONTINUE.
INDIVIDUALS MAY WILL THINK
ABOUT BEING FLEXIBLE AND DO
DIFFERENT WORK.
MD TRAINED PHYSICIANS WE CAN BE
FLEXIBLE IN WORK.
ASK OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
WORKFORCE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DOCTOR,
FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW TO THE STORY OF A
WISCONSIN MAN WHO HAS A VERY
BIG PERSONAL STAKE IN THE
FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF
CORONAVIRUS.
IT'S THE STORY OF JAMES
MALECHEK.
HE HAS BEEN QUARANTINED IN
BEIJING, CHINA.
HE IS THE COACH FOR THE CHINESE
OLYMPIC SWIM TEAM.
HE AND COACHING STAFF WERE IN
THE MIDST OF A TRAINING CAMP
PREPARING FOR THE TOKYO OLYMPIC
GAMES WHEN THE CORONAVIRUS
OUTBREAK BEGAN.
HE JOINS US FROM HIS BEIJING
APARTMENT IN A COMPLEX WHERE HE
AND HIS ATHLETES ARE GATED FROM
THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
JAMES, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> WE UNDERSTAND AGAIN THAT IT
HAS BEEN SIX WEEKS THAT YOU
HAVE BEEN IN ISOLATION.
WHAT HAS THAT BEEN LIKE?
>> IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING
EXPERIENCE.
MANY OF THE ATHLETES AND
COACHING STAFFS HAVE -- WE'VE
BUILT KIND OF A BOND OF
UNDERSTANDING EVEN THOUGH WE'RE
FROM COMPLETELY OPPOSITE SIDES
OF THE WORLD THAT HAVE A LOT
MORE IN COMMON.
IT'S BEEN A VERY UNIQUE
EXPERIENCE TO SAY THE LEAST.
>> HAVE YOU AND YOUR FOLLOW
COACHES AND ATHLETES BEEN
TESTED FOR CORONAVIRUS?
>> YES.
WE INITIALLY WHEN WE GOT
QUARANTINED ON THE 27th WE HAD
BEEN SCHEDULED REGULARLY FOR
ROUTINE CHECKS.
SINCE THEN IT'S BEEN MOSTLY
TEMPERATURE CHECKS AND
OCCASIONALLY SOME BLOOD WORK TO
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS
STILL FREE FROM THE CORONAVIRUS.
>> AND TO DATE THAT IS TRUE,
THAT EVERYONE IS NEGATIVE.
>> SO FAR I'VE HEARD ZERO
PEOPLE WITHIN THIS COMPLEX HAVE
HAD IT.
>> SO STILL HOW FRIGHTENING HAS
IT BEEN TO BE IN CHINA DURING
THIS DEADLY OUTBREAK THERE?
>> IT'S BEEN FAIRLY CONTROLLED
ON OUR END.
EVEN BEFORE WE WERE PUT INTO
ISOLATION, MAKE SURE YOU AREN'T
GOING INTO HEAVILY CROWDED
AREAS, CERTAIN PARTS OF THE
CITY ARE KNOWN FOR LARGER
TRAFFIC AREAS.
THEY SLOWLY STARTED TO WEAN US
AWAY FROM THOSE AREAS AND SINCE
THE QUARANTINE WE HAVEN'T HAD
ANY CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE
SOURCES.
SO TO ME IT'S -- NOT BAD.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK WHAT
ABOUT YOUR CHINESE SWIMMERS OR
STAFF?
DO THEY HAVE FAMILIES THAT THEY
CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT
OUTSIDE THE ISOLATION THAT YOU
ARE NOW LIVING IN?
>> SEVERAL OF THE COACHES ARE
ACTUALLY FROM WUHAN ORIGINALLY
AND WHEN THE OUTBREAK HAPPENED,
WE WERE ALREADY AT TRAINING
CAMP SO THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO
GO HOME FOR SPRING FESTIVAL AND
SEE THEIR FAMILIES, WHICH THEIR
FAMILIES ARE STILL IN WUHAN AND
STILL IN ISOLATION.
SO SOME OF THE COACHES ARE A
LITTLE WORRIED STILL AND HAVE
OBVIOUSLY CONCERN FOR THEIR
LOVED ONE, THEIR FAMILIES STILL
TRAPPED IN WUHAN.
>> WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS RIGHT
NOW?
>> MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS JUST
THAT EVERYONE'S SAFETY IS STILL
KEPT TO A HIGH STANDARD.
WE'VE BEEN IN THIS QUARANTINE
FOR SO LONG ALREADY THAT TO ME
THE SAFETY HAS TO BE TOP
PRIORITY STILL.
AS MUCH AS WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO
GET OUT AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO
GO GET DIFFERENT FOOD OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE STILL
HAVE TO REMEMBER FIRST AND
FOREMOST THAT WE'RE PREPARING
FOR TOKYO.
THAT'S GOT TO BE THE END GOAL.
THAT MEANS SPENDING MORE TIME
IN QUARANTINE, SO BE IT.
>> ARE YOU TRYING TO GET
EVACUATED BACK TO THE UNITED
STATES?
>> I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT
SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE
QUARANTINE STARTED.
INITIALLY MY CONCERN WAS FAIRLY
HIGH ABOUT GETTING BACK TO THE
U.S.
BUT SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN HERE SO
LONG I'VE SEEN THE PRECAUTIONS
AND THE CLEANING ROUTINES AND
THE CONSISTENT CHECKUPS ON THIS
END.
I'M INDIFFERENT BECAUSE PART OF
ME WANTS TO GO HOME BUT THE
OTHER PART OF ME LOOKS AT THIS
AND GOES WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR
SIX WEEKS, YOU HAVE ZERO CASES,
THAT'S A HARD NUMBER TO GO
AGAINST IN MY BOOK.
SO PART OF ME DOES.
>> PART OF YOU DOES AND PART OF
YOU WANTS TO STAY PUT AND SEE
IT THROUGH.
HOW CONCERNED ARE YOUR FAMILY
AND FRIENDS BACK HERE IN
WISCONSIN?
>> NOT AS CONCERNED AS THEY
ORIGINALLY WERE.
ONCE I HAVE CONTACTED THEM AND
JUST TALKING THEM THROUGH AND
HELPING THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE
WAY THAT THE SITUATION IS, THEY
STEPPED UP ALL THE NECESSARY
PRECAUTIONS FROM THIS END.
TO ME IT'S PRETTY SAFE ON MY
SIDE FOR THE TIME BEING.
NOW, I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED
THAT IF WE WERE TO BE LET OUT
OF QUARANTINE THAT WE'RE
OBVIOUSLY EXPOSED TO THE RISK.
BUT THE RISK IS WORTH BEING ON
QUARANTINE.
>> JAMES MALECHEK, WE
APPRECIATE YOU CHECKING IN AND
TELLING US ABOUT THE
CIRCUMSTANCE AND WE HOPE TO
CHECK IN WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE
AND GOOD LUCK ON YOUR COACHING
DUTIES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> BECAUSE OF HIS ROLE
COORDINATING THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE
CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK, VICE
PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE CANCELED A
SCHEDULED CAMPAIGN STOP IN
ONALASKA THURSDAY.
POST SUPER TUESDAY THE STOP IN
WISCONSIN WAS EXPECTED TO RALLY
SUPPORT FOR DONALD TRUMP EVEN
AS THE DYNAMICS FOR THE
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES SHIFTED.
THE SURPRISING RISE OF JOE
BIDEN THIS WEEK AND THE
DEPARTURE OF MAJOR CANDIDATES
SAVE BERNIE SANDERS LEAVE IT A
TWO-MAN RACE FOR THE NOMINATION.
WE CHECKED WITH IN UW PROFESSOR
OF POLITICAL SCIENCE DAVID
CANNON SAYS BIDEN IS IN FOR AN
INFUSION NOT IMAGINED DAYS AGO.
>> BLOOMBERG WILL CONTINUE
SPENDING AND GIVE BIDEN HIS
WHOLE OPERATION OF ALL OF THE
STUFF THAT HE HAS ON THE GROUND
RIGHT NOW IN THESE STATES AND
CONTINUE SPENDING.
HE HAS INDICATED HE WILL SPEND
ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE GENERAL
ELECTRIC SHUN.
COULD BE A BILLION DOLLARS.
IT'S AMAZING.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR
BERNIE SANDERS WHO WON
WISCONSIN IN 2016?
>> SANDERS I THINK NOW IS A
LONG SHOT TO WIN CERTAINLY A
MAJORITY.
RIGHT NOW I THINK 538 ONE OF
THE LEADING PROGNOSTICATORS HAS
SANDERS AT 8% CHANCE WINNING
THE MAJORITY OF THE DELEGATES.
HE COULD COME IN CLOSE TO BIDEN
AND NEITHER OF THEM HAVING A
MAJORITY.
AND SO THAT IS STILL A
POSSIBILITY.
BUT EVEN THAT SEEMS LESS LIKELY
NOW.
>> WISCONSIN WILL NOT ONLY MAKE
A DEMOCRATIC PICK FOR PRESIDENT
ON APRIL 7th, VOTERS WILL ALSO
CHOOSE THE NEXT STATE SUPREME
COURT JUSTICE.
FRIDAY NIGHT MARCH 27th THE
CANDIDATES INCUMBENT JUSTICE
KELLY AND CHALLENGER WILL BE
HERE FOR A LIVE ONE-HOUR DEBATE.
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO SHAWN
JOHNSON AND I WILL MODERATE THE
EVENT.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FOR MORE "HERE AND NOW" 2020
ELECTION COVERAGE GO TO PBS.ORG
AND CLICK ON NEWS.
>> FUNDING FOR HERE AND NOW IS
PROVIDED FOR THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.