>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," ON
THE FRONT LINES, GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS IS HERE WITH THE LATEST
ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
WISCONSIN, AS COVID-19 CASES
CONTINUE TO RISE.
THEN WE'LL GET MEDICAL ANSWERS
FROM STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST
DR. RYAN WESTERGAARD.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
MARCH 20.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
?
>> TONIGHT, THE LATEST COVID-19
NUMBERS.
206 CASES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IN
THE STATE WITH THREE DEATHS.
THERE IS COMMUNITY SPREAD IN THE
COUNTIES OF MILWAUKEE, DANE,
BROWN, KENOSHA, AND COLUMBIA.
MANY OF YOU HAD QUESTIONS YOU
WANTED TO ASK OUR GUESTS TONIGHT
AND WE INCORPORATE THEM.
IN A REDUCED STUDIO FOOTPRINT TO
LIMIT STAFF AND ALSO NOT BRING
GUESTS INTO OUR SPACE, WE ARE
JOINED NOW, VIA SKYPE, BY
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS.
GOVERNOR, WE WANT TO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
>> FIRST, WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU
LIKE TO GIVE THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN TONIGHT?
>> GREAT QUESTION.
FIRST OF ALL, AS I'M SURE MOST
OF YOUR VIEWERS KNOW, WE'VE LOST
THREE WISCONSINITES TO THE
COVID-19 VIRUS.
AND OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE
OBVIOUSLY WITH THAT FAMILY, AND
THEIR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES.
IT'S A TRAGEDY, AND IT'S A
PUBLIC HEALTH TRAGEDY, TRAGEDY
NONETHELESS, AND THE OTHER THING
I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IS THAT
OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS, WHETHER
IT'S EMERGENCY RESPONDERS,
PEOPLE THAT WORK IN HOSPITALS
AND THE CLINICS AND SO ON REALLY
NEED OUR SUPPORT NOW.
THEY ARE WORKING 24/7, AND UNDER
REALLY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND WHAT WE CAN DO AS
WISCONSINITES IS OBVIOUSLY PULL
TOGETHER, AND I FEEL CONFIDENT
ABOUT THE RESILIENCE OF
WISCONSINITES, BUT WE'RE
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO STAY AT
HOME.
THE WAY WE WILL CONQUER THIS
VIRUS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE NOT INFECTING EACH OTHER,
AND ONE OF THE WAYS WE CAN DO
THAT IS OBVIOUSLY AROUND SOCIAL
DISTANCING, BUT THERE'S ENOUGH
REQUIREMENTS AROUND THAT WE'VE
DONE THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER,
FRANKLY THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE
PEOPLE CAN DO THAN STAY AT HOME,
SO STAY AT HOME, BE SAFE, KEEP
THAT DISTANCE, AND WE CAN BEAT
THIS, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE --
THIS IS SOMETHING THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN CAN SOLVE.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE TRYING TO
SUPPORT OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT IF WE
DO THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW WE
HAVE TO DO, HYGIENE, MAKING SURE
THAT WE DON'T INTERACT WITH
PEOPLE THAT ARE SICK, THAT IF
WE'RE SICK, WE CONNECT WITH OUR
DOCTORS, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE
COMMON SENSE THINGS THAT IF WE
DO THIS, WE CAN SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM.
>> OTHER PLACES AS YOU KNOW HAVE
GONE TO MORE KIND OF EXTREME
SHELTER IN PLACE ORDERS WHERE
EVERYONE STAYS INSIDE, ALTHOUGH
YOU SAY THAT MOSTLY WE'RE
STAYING INSIDE, BUT WHAT WOULD
BE THE TIPPING POINT FOR YOU TO
DECLARE THAT KIND OF SOCIAL
DISTANCING?
>> IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR ME
TO GET TO THAT POINT.
I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH
CONSTRAINTS ON PEOPLE'S LIVES
ALREADY THAT I THINK -- I
BELIEVE WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE
WILL WORK.
I UNDERSTAND OTHER PLACES HAVE
DIFFERENT NEEDS, BUT
WISCONSINITES ARE PEOPLE THAT
CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER, WE'RE
GOOD NEIGHBORS, WE UNDERSTAND
THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO
EACH OTHER, SO IT WOULD BE -- I
HAVE GREAT -- I WOULD HAVE GREAT
PROBLEMS DOING THE SHELTER IN
PLACE.
OBVIOUSLY IF WE'RE DIRECTED TO
DO IT, I'LL FOLLOW THOSE
DIRECTIONS, BUT FOR ME, I THINK
WE HAVE THE ADEQUATE PIECES IN
PLACE.
>> YOU ADDED SOME KIND OF NEW
CLARIFYING RULES AROUND
CLOSURES, AND RELEASED THEM
TODAY.
WHAT ARE THOSE?
>> PRIMARILY THEY'RE AROUND
BEAUTY SALONS, BARBERS, TATTOO
TATTOO -- PLACES WHERE YOU GET
TATTOOS.
WE BELIEVE THAT THOSE CANNOT
REMAIN OPEN, AND SO WE'VE BANNED
THOSE PLACES WILL BE CLOSING AS
OF THIS AFTERNOON.
>> HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU THAT
PEOPLE STILL ON THE JOB CAN
MAINTAIN SERVICES FOR THE REST
OF US, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, OF
COURSE, BUT GROCERY CLERKS OR
PHARMACISTS?
>> YEAH, IT'S ALL GOING TO BE
DIFFICULT.
AGAIN, WE'VE LOOKED AT EVERY
POSSIBLE SUPPLY CHAIN THAT
EXISTS, WE'RE LEAVING IT OPEN
FOR MANUFACTURERS TO CONTINUE
DOING THEIR GOOD WORK AND WE'RE
BEING AS SUPPORTIVE AS WE CAN TO
MAKE SURE THOSE SUPPLY CHAINS BE
IN PLACE.
BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE OPERATING
UNDER 3.5 OR 3% UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE, SO THERE'S NOT MANY SPARE
PEOPLE AROUND.
AND SO WE ALWAYS HAVE CONCERN
ABOUT THAT.
BUT I THINK PIECES ARE IN PLACE
THAT OUR FOOD CHAIN IS GREAT IN
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, WE KNOW
THAT FOR A FACT, SO WE'RE
CONTINUECONTINUALLY INTERACTING WITH ALL
THOSE FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE CAN LIVE.
>> YOU SAID TODAY THAT THE STATE
NEEDS TO TAKE LEGISLATIVE ACTION
AND THAT YOU ARE WORKING WITH
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO DEVELOP A
PACKAGE.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE IN THAT,
AND WHEN MIGHT IT COME?
>> WELL, I CAN ADDRESS THE
SECOND ONE MOST SPECIFICALLY.
THE MEETINGS WE'VE HAD THUS FAR
JUST DISCUSSING GENERAL PLACES
WHERE WE HAVE AGREEMENT.
THIS IS CLEARLY, CLEARLY, I
THINK EVERYBODY THAT WE'VE BEEN
TALKING TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS
IS A BIPARTISAN TIME, ACTUALLY
NON-PARTISAN TIME.
SO I'M NOT AT LIBERTY TO TALK
ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT, BUT THERE ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT ISSUES TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE STATE HAS THE
FLEXIBILITY TO REACT TO THIS
CRISIS.
I BELIEVE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
WE'LL FIND SOME COMMON GROUND
AND WE'LL BE BRINGING
LEGISLATION FORWARD FOR THE
LEGISLATURE TO CONSIDER.
>> WHAT'S BEING DONE NOW FOR
HOURLY WORKERS WHO UNDER CURRENT
ORDERS HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS AND
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE SHUT DOWN?
>> YEAH, EXACTLY.
OUR DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT HAS RAMPED UP THEIR
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ISSUE.
WE'VE HAD OBVIOUSLY A BIG SPIKE
IN THAT.
THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDERS, WE'VE
RELIEVED SOME OF THE CONSTRAINTS
WE HAVE AROUND THAT, SO WE HAVE
NOW THAT 99% OF THE PEOPLE CAN
ACTUALLY APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT
COMPENSATION INSURANCE ONLINE,
WE'VE BEEFED UP THE FOLKS THAT
ARE ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS,
SO I THINK THAT'S IN A GOOD
PLACE.
ON THE BUSINESS SIDE, WE'VE
TASKED OUR WISCONSIN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO FOCUS
ON SMALL BUSINESSES, FOCUS ON
FINDING RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE
THAT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, OUR
MAIN STREET MERCHANTS ARE NOT
HARMED EAR REB IRREPARABLY, SO THAT'S
MISSY HUGHES, UNDER SECRETARY IN
THAT AREA, THAT IS HER TASK AND
SHE'S ALREADY REACHED OUT TO
THOSE COMMUNITIES.
I PERSONALLY HAVE MET WITH
BUSINESS OWNERS AND OTHERS
ACROSS THE STATE TO FIND OUT
WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE, BUT
CLEARLY IT'S FINANCIAL, YOU
KNOW, OUR RESTAURANTS AND BARS,
AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WE
HAVE A STRONG MANUFACTURING
CLIMATE IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, BUT MOST OF OUR
EMPLOYEES IN THE STATE ARE --
WORK IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY,
WHICH IS REALLY STRUGGLING NOW.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON
THEM.
>> WE GOT WORD THAT A PRISON
EMPLOYEE TESTED POSITIVE FOR
COVID-19 AT WAUPUN.
SEVERAL VIEWERS WANTED TO KNOW
WHAT ACTIONS THE STATE IS TAKING
TO PREVENT THE SPREAD INSIDE
THESE KIND OF ALREADY
OVERCROWDED INSTITUTIONS.
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
AND WE'VE HAD THINGS IN PLACE
NOW FOR SOME WEEKS IN
PREPARATION OF THIS, TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE
INSTITUTIONS ARE SAFE AND THINGS
ARE WORKING WELL AND WE'RE
CONTINUING TO PROVIDE FOOD AND
FREE PHONE CALLS AND THINGS LIKE
THAT, BUT YES, THERE WAS AN
INDIVIDUAL IN ONE OF OUR
CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS WHO
TESTED POSITIVE, WE'RE NOW IN
THE PROCESS OF WORKING THROUGH
THAT TO SEE WHICH EMPLOYEES WERE
EXPOSED TO THAT AND GETTING THEM
THE CARE THEY NEED AND TO FIND
OUT HOW CLOSE IT IS TO THE
PRISON POPULATION.
WE DON'T -- I DON'T HAVE THAT
INFORMATION AT THIS TIME, BUT WE
FEEL IT'S A GOOD PLACE WHERE
IT'S CONTAINED.
>> A VIEWER ASKED THIS QUESTION
AS WELL: IF HOSPITALS GET
OVERWHELMED, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED
RETROFITTING LARGE SPACES LIKE
COUNTY EXPO CENTERS AS KIND OF
FIELD HOSPITALS?
>> WE'RE RUNNING THROUGH EVERY
POSSIBLE SCENARIO.
LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE WORKING AT
IT, LOTS OF GOOD PEOPLE FROM OUR
UNIVERSITIES AND OTHERS THAT ARE
HELPING US OUT IN EACH TYPE OF
SCENARIO, ABSOLUTELY.
DORMITORIES MIGHT BE USED FOR
QUARANTINES, AND WE HAVE THE
ABILITY THROUGH VARIOUS
MECHANISMS TO ACTUALLY CREATE
MORE BEDS IF WE NEED TO, SO DO
WE FEEL THAT WE'RE ON TOP OF
THIS?
NO, BUT WE'RE IN A POSITION THAT
WE FEEL COMFORTABLE IF WE HAVE
THIS SURGE, MORE PEOPLE BEING
HOSPITALIZED AND MORE PEOPLE
THAT NEED QUARANTINES, THAT
WE'LL BE IN A GOOD PLACE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE ALSO
CONCERNED ABOUT OUR HOMELESS
POPULATIONS ACROSS THE STATE
BECAUSE THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO
BEGIN WITH, AND SO I'VE BEEN
WORKING WITH MAYORS TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY UNDERSTAND AND
OBVIOUSLY THEY DO OR THEY
WOULDN'T BE -- THAT WE'RE
LOOKING FOR PLACES FOR HOMELESS
PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT
ARE STRUGGLING WITH HEALTHCARE
ISSUES.
>> AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE GREAT
CONCERNS ABOUT WISCONSIN'S
UPCOMING ELECTION ON APRIL 7.
ELECTION CLERKS THAT WE HAVE
TALKED TO ARE ALREADY
OVERWHELMED WITH THESE ABSENTEE
BALLOTS AND WORRY ABOUT ELECTION
DAY ITSELF.
WHAT IF THEY GET SICK OR THEIR
STAFF.
, WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN.
WOULD YOU FAVOR DELAYING THIS
ELECTION?
>> NO, I WOULDN'T.
AND FIRST OF ALL, I'M NOT IN THE
POSITION TO DELAY IT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE
TO HAVE THE -- HAPPEN
LEGISLATIVELY.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS,
THIS PRIMARY ELECTION IS
PRIMARILY A GENERAL ELECTION,
GENERAL ELECTION, THE ONLY
PRIMARY IS THE PRESIDENTIAL ONE.
THE REST ARE LOCAL AND COUNTY
RACES THAT NEED TO BE DECIDED OR
POSITIONS THAT ARE MAKING
IMPORTANT DECISIONS AROUND WHAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THERE WON'T
BE PEOPLE IN THEM.
SO, A, IT MAKES NO SENSE TO
CANCEL IT.
I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY BUT
DEMOCRACY HAS TO GO ON.
AND THEN THE SECOND PIECE IS,
FRANKLY, IF WE MOVED IT A MONTH,
IF WE MOVED IT TWO MONTHS, THERE
IS ABSOLUTELY NO GUARANTEE THAT
IT WOULDN'T BE AS COMPLEX AS IT
IS NOW.
SO OUR MESSAGE IS QUITE SIMPLE,
IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS, YOU'RE
NOT WILLING TO GO TO THE POLLS,
MYVOTE.WISCONSIN.GOV, YOU CAN
HAVE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT SENT TO
YOU, YOU CAN PUT IT IN THE MAIL
AND SEND IT IN.
WE HOPE THAT THE VAST MAJORITY
OF PEOPLE WILL DO THAT.
I'M WORKING WITH THE MAYORS
ACROSS THE STATE TO MAKE SURE GET THE POLL WORKERS IN
PLACE AND IT WON'T BE EASY, I'M
NOT SAYING THAT AT ALL, BUT WE
NEED TO GET THIS ELECTION IN IN
ORDER TO LET DEMOCRACY CONTINUE,
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND COUNTY
GOVERNMENTS, AND WE'RE IN A GOOD
WAY.
>> WHAT DO YOU NEED MOST NOW
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
>> WE NEED -- WELL, THE GOOD
NEWS IS THAT ONE OF THE BEST
THINGS I THINK THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION DID IS THEY'VE
KIND OF PASSED THE BATON FOR WE NEED TO THE
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PEOPLE AT
THE FEDERAL AREA, SO INSTEAD OF
EVERY DAY WONDERING WHAT'S GOING
TO BE DONE AT A PRESS CONFERENCE
IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND
RESPONDING TO THAT, WE ACTUALLY
HAVE PEOPLE IN THEIR REGIONAL
AND LOCAL AREAS THAT WE CAN GET
HELP.
WE'VE ALREADY GOT SOME -- VERY
GOOD NEWS, WE'RE GETTING SOME
MORE RESPIRATORS, WE'RE GETTING
SOME MORE MASKS, IN THE HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF MASKS.
ALL THOSE THINGS ARE GOOD.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH, WE NEED MORE,
AND WE'RE WORKING WITH LOCAL
PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
TO GET THAT TO HAPPEN LOCALLY,
BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
REALLY NEEDS TO STEP UP IN THE
AREA OF PROTECTION EQUIPMENT AND
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL THE
TESTING MATERIALS THAT WE NEED.
>> AND LASTLY, YOU'RE A FORMER
TEACHER, GOVERNOR.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO OUR CHILDREN?
>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS A
MULTIFACETED CRISIS THAT WE'RE
HAVING HERE, SO WE HAVE TO MAKE
SURE OUR KIDS ARE SAFE, THAT
THEY'RE IN A GOOD PLACE AND
WE'RE ANSWERING THEIR QUESTIONS
DIRECTLY.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, THANKS VERY
MUCH, AND GOOD LUCK.
>> THANKS A LOT, FREDERICA.
>> 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 US BY SKYPE.
DR. WESTERGAARD, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.
>> WE 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 BY 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 SEE
MORE IN THE COMING WEEKS.
>> PEOPLE ARE, OF COURSE, VERY
AFRAID, AND WE HEAR CONFLICTING
INFORMATION, BUT OF THE MOST AT
RISK POPULATION, WHAT SHOULD THE
ELDERLY AND THOSE WITH
UNDERLYING CONDITIONS BE DOING
RIGHT NOW?
>> I THINK IT'S FOR EVERYONE BUT
PARTICULARLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
MEDICALLY VULNERABLE OR 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 TO FOR
EVERYONE TO STAY IN 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 IN
PUBLIC.
>> WE NOW HEAR THAT YOUNGER
PEOPLE ARE ALSO VERY MUCH AT
RISK.
HAS THAT MESSAGING CHANGED?
>> WELL, IT HASN'T CHANGED IN
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 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEVERE
ILLNESSES IN AN UNDER 50 OR
UNDER 40 AGE GROUP IS QUITE A
BIT LOWER.
HERE IN THE U.S., THE DATA 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, 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 IF
NO ONE IS -- NO ONE IS IMMUNE TO
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 ALSO TOUCHING
CONTAMINATED SERVICES.
PEOPLE IN PUBLIC, THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW IS
WHAT WE'RE REFERRING TO AS
SOCIAL DISTANCING, SO KEEPING AT
LEAST 6 FEET OF SEPARATION FROM
OTHER PEOPLE.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S VERY
IMPORTANT, AND I WOULD SAY
PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR
VIEWERS WHO WORK IN PUBLIC
SETTINGS, IS HAND HYGIENE.
SO HAND WASHING WITH HOT WATER,
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 IN PUBLIC.
>> SO IS IT SAFE TO GO TO THE
GROCERY STORE OR PICK UP
TAKEOUT?
>> YES, I THINK IT'S SAFE TO DO
THAT IF PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION TO
THE 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 TO GET
THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET, IF 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 ASSUME THAT MOST OF
US WILL BE INFECTED WITH THIS?
>> WELL, I THINK THE ANSWER TO
THAT REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW WELL
WE EXECUTE THE TYPES OF 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 IF WE
DID NOTHING, THE POSSIBILITY OF
THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WOULD
BECOME EXPOSED AND INFECTED BUT
WE REALLY BELIEVE IF WE DO 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 UP TO US ON HOW
WELL WE KEEP THESE LESSONS
AND -- HEED THESE LESSONS.
>> DO WE HAVE ENOUGH ICU BEDS IN
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 IS
UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND
WHAT THEIR SURGE CAPACITY IS.
SO WE HAVE A HANDLE ON THOSE
NUMBERS AND WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP
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 IF
VENTILATORS GET TO THE CRITICAL
SUPPLY LEVEL, HOW WILL IT BE
DETERMINED WHO GETS TO USE ONE?
>> AGAIN, I'LL SAY AGAIN THE
MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSE TO THAT
QUESTION IS WHETHER WE 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.
THERETHEY ARE MANUFACTURING MORE AND
THERE'S ALSO STRATEGIES THAT
HEALTH SYSTEMS ARE DOING TO FREE
UP MORE VENTILATORS, FOR
EXAMPLE, CANCELING ELECTIVE
SURGES IN OUTPATIENT SETTINGS SO
WE HAVE MORE.
SO ALL OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT STOPPING THE
SPREAD IN THE COMMUNITY, IT'S
ALL AIMED AT THIS HEALTH SYSTEM
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, SO 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 IF THEY
RESPOND AND IN SOME CASES WE MAY
NEED TO REALLY FOCUS MORE ON
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 SYSTEM
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 IF IT COMES
TO THAT, THEY WILL USE SCARVES
OR SHEETS AND CUT THEM UP AND
MAKE MASKS OUT OF THEM.
HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO HAVING TO 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 TO TAKE INVENTORY AND
LET US KNOW HOW MANY DAYS OR
WEEKS SUPPLY THEY HAVE.
WE JUST RECEIVED SHIPMENT FROM
THE FEDERAL STRATEGIC NATIONAL
STOCKPILE AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES TO
PLACES THAT NEED IT.
AND WE'RE ACTUALLY PRIORITIZING
AREAS THAT ARE REALLY 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.
>> IS 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 SURE THAT WE HAVE 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 TO
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 OR 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, WE 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 OR
YOU HAVE INFLUENZA, IS TO STAY
AT HOME, RECOVER AT HOME, AND
PROTECT THOSE AROUND YOU FROM
POTENTIALLY BECOMING INFECTED.
KNOWING THAT RESULT OF 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 IS MOST
PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO RECOVER, CALL
US IF YOU HAVE CONCERNING
SYMPTOM BY 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 IT
NEEDS TO COMPLETE THE TESTING?
>> WE'RE IN 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 DO THE TESTS AND ARE
ACTUALLY SHARING, WHEN
NECESSARY, TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLIES.
SO WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION THAT
WE ARE ONE TO RUN OUT AND NOT BE
ABLE TO DO THE TESTING THAT WE
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.
YOU'LL ALSO FIND ANSWERS TO
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE VIRUS.
FINALLY, WISCONSIN'S
APRIL 7 ELECTION DAY AS OF
TONIGHT IS UNCHANGED.
NEXT FRIDAY AT 7:00 P.M., "HERE
AND NOW" JOURNALIST ZAC SCHULTZ
WILL CONDUCT ONE ON ONE
INTERVIEWS WITH THE CANDIDATES
FOR STATE SUPREME COURT.
INCUMBENT JUSTICE DANIEL KELLY
AND CHALLENGER DANE COUNTY
CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE JILL
KAROFSKY.
THAT IS NEXT FRIDAY, MARCH 27 AT
7:00 P.M.
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO WILL
SIMULCAST THAT PROGRAM.
"HERE AND NOW" WILL FOLLOW AT
7:30.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
GOODNIGHT.
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[MUSIC]
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>> FOR MORE "HERE AND NOW," 2020
ELECTION COVERAGE, GO TO PBS.ORG
AND CLICK ON NEWS.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS