>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> TONIGHT, TEAM COVERAGE ON THE
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IN
WISCONSIN.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
NEXT ON "HERE AND NOW," NEW
INFORMATION FROM HEALTH SERVICES
SECRETARY-DESIGNEE ANDREA PALM.
PLUS THE LATEST ON THE SHORTAGE
OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
ACROSS OUR STATE.
THEN, A LOOK AHEAD AT THE
POLITICAL BATTLE OVER THE
APRIL 7 ELECTION IN WISCONSIN.
AND IN OUR CLOSER LOOK, A NEW
RAPID CORONAVIRUS TEST DEVELOPED
RIGHT HERE IN WISCONSIN.
IT'S ALL NEXT ON "HERE AND NOW"
FOR MARCH 27, 2020.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> IF WE CONTINUE ON OUR CURRENT
PATH WITHOUT IMPLEMENTING "SAFER
AT HOME" TO PLATEN FLATTEN THE CURVE,
WE WOULD LIKELY HAVE 22,000
WISCONSINITES WHO ARE POSITIVE
FOR CORONAVIRUS BY APRIL 8 AND
AN ESTIMATED 40 TO 500 DEATHS.
>> THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS
PROVIDED BY THE WISCONSIN
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES IN
DEFENSE OF THE "SAFER AT HOME"
ORDER.
THE GOAL IS TO KEEP PEOPLE OFF
THE STREETS AND AT HOME ACROSS
WISCONSIN IN THE WAKE OF THE
OUTBREAK.
IT CLOSES ALL NONESSENTIAL
BUSINESSES ONE WEEK AFTER
GOVERNOR EVERS SAID HE DIDN'T
BELIEVE A SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER
WOULD BE NECESSARY.
AFTER CONSULTING WITH HEALTH
PROSTLES
PROFESSIONALS AND SCIENTISTS,
THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WAS
NECESSARY.
>> HERE'S A SNAPSHOT OF HOW THE
VIRUS HAS SPREAD ACROSS OUR
STATE.
IN THE PAST WEEK, THE NUMBER OF
POSITIVE CASES HAS MORE THAN
QUADRUPLED TO 842.
THIS WEEK, STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST
DR. RYAN WESTERGAARD SAYS BASED
ON THE MODELS, THE INFECTION
RATE IN WISCONSIN IS LIKELY TWO
TO THREE TIMES WORSE THAN WHAT
THE NUMBERS SHOW.
IN THAT SAME ONE-WEEK TIME
PERIOD, DEATHS IN THE STATE HAVE
INCREASED FROM THREE TO 13.
>> THERE ARE NOW MORE COVID-19
POSITIVE CASES IN THE UNITED
STATES THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE
WORLD.
WORKING OVERTIME AND ON THE
FRONT LINES WISCONSIN FIGHT
AGAINST THE VIRUS IS ANDREA
PALM.
SHE JOINS US TONIGHT VIA SKYPE
WITH THE VERY LATEST INFORMATION
AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
DANE COUNTY PUT OUT AN EMERGENCY
ALERT TODAY SAYING IF YOU LEAVE
YOUR HOME, YOU SHOULD ASSUME YOU
HAVE BEEN EXPOSED.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT
ACTION ON THE COUNTY'S PART?
>> SO WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY
WITH OUR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH
PARTNERS AROUND THE STATE.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE HOME RULE HERE
IN WISCONSIN.
SO OUR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING WHAT THEY
NEED AND WANT AND HAVE TO DO
BASED ON THE OUTBREAK, THE
NUMBER OF CASES IN THEIR OWN
COMMUNITIES.
AND SO HERE IN DANE COUNTY OUR
LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH FOLKS
DECIDED THAT BASED ON WHAT THEY
ARE AREA SEEING IN THEIR OWN
DATA THEY NEEDED TO MAKE THIS
ALERT.
WE OBVIOUSLY CONTINUE TO WORK
VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM TO MAKE
SURE THEY HAVE THE ASSETS AND
RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO
CONTINUE TO DO THE NECESSARY
CONTACTS TRACING TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE STOPPING THE SPREAD
OF THIS DISEASE.
BUT I THINK IT SPEAKS TO THE
LARGER ORDER THAT WAS SIGNED
EARLIER THIS WEEK.
FOLKS NEED TO TAKE THIS
SERIOUSLY.
THEY NEED TO PITCH IN.
WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO BREAK THE SPREAD OF THIS
TRANSMISSION AND STAYING HOME
AND REMAINING PHYSICALLY DISTANT
FROM OTHER PEOPLE IS THE WAY WE
HAVE TO DO THAT.
>> THE GOVERNOR TODAY CALLED
CASES AND DEATHS IN THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN
MILWAUKEE A CRISIS WITHIN A
CRISIS.
WHY IS THAT HAPPENING?
>> SO I THINK THE SCIENCE, LIKE
ALL THE SCIENCE IN THIS
OUTBREAK, IS CONTINUING TO
DEVELOP AND EMERGE AND WE ARE --
OUR SCIENTISTS AND SCIENTISTS
AROUND THE GLOBE ARE WORKING
CAREFULLY AND CLOSELY TO HELP US
UNDERSTAND DATA EMERGES
WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOW WE USE
THAT TO INFORM OUR RESPONSE AND
THE CLINICAL CARE THAT IS
PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO ARE MORE
SEVERELY ILL.
I THINK IF DR. WESTERGAARD WERE
HERE, HE WOULD SAY THAT IT'S TOO
EARLY TO KNOW THAT WE -- IT'S
TOO EARLY TO KNOW ANYTHING
SPECIFIC ABOUT THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AS IT
- RELATES TO THIS OUTBREAK, BUT IT
IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING WHEN IT
COMES TO HEALTH EQUITY, WHEN IT
COMES TO MAKING SURE WE KNOW
WHAT TO DO TO TREAT FOLKS
APPROPRIATELY, THAT WE
ABSOLUTELY WANT TO LEARN AND
UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT.
>> I BELIEVE IT'S TRUE THAT THE
STATE IS STILL IN SHORT SUPPLY
OF THOSE REAGENTS TO COMPLETE
THE TESTS.
WHO ARE YOU CALLING ON TO GET
THOSE TO US?
>> SO WE ARE TALKING CLOSELY THE
DIFFERENT INGREDIENTS THAT ARE
NECESSARY TO RUN THESE TESTS.
AND I SHOULD SAY THAT AS AN
ADDITIONAL TYPES OF TESTS ARE
COMING ONLINE, IT DOES EXPAND
THE TYPES OF INGREDIENTS THAT
CAN BE USED.
AND SO THEY TALK ABOUT PLATFORM,
WHAT PLATFORM ARE YOU RUNNING
THE TEST ON, AND THOSE TAKE
DIFFERENT KINDS OF INGREDIENTS.
AND SO THAT WILL HELP US RELIEVE
SOME OF THAT PRESSURE.
BUT THERE ABSOLUTELY ARE AND
CONTINUE TO BE NEAR FUTURE
SHORTAGES OF SOME OF THE PIECES
OF THESE TESTS THAT WE NEED.
>> IT SEEMS THAT OTHER STATES
LIKE NEW YORK IN PARTICULAR ARE
TESTING AT VERY HIGH VOLUMES.
ARE WE LOSING CRITICAL SUPPLIES
TO STATES LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY
ARE BEING DIVERTED?
>> SO WE ARE HEARING REPORTS
FROM OUR PARTNERS AROUND THE
STATES THAT THERE IS SOME
DIVERSION HAPPENING SHES, THAT THEY
ARE HEARING FROM THEIR
SUPPLIERS, THAT THEY ARE MOVING
PRODUCT TO OTHER STATES.
AND SO WE HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN
TO OUR PARTNERS AT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ABOUT THAT DIVERSION.
AND SO WE -- I THINK IT'S
GENERALLY ONE OF THE ISSUES IN
THIS RESPONSE NATIONALLY, WE ARE
COMPETING WITH OUR FELLOW STATES
FOR LIMITED RESOURCES, RIGHT?
THERE ARE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN
ISSUES, WHETHER IT'S PPE OR
WHETHER IT'S SOME OF THESE
REAGENTS, AND THE IDEA THAT IT
IS AN EFFICIENT WAY TO BE
RESPONDING TO THIS EPIDEMIC BY
ALL OF US CHASING THE SAME
SUPPLIES WHEN IT WOULD BE
REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL
COORDINATION FUNCTION FOR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP US
NOT BE COMPETING AGAINST EACH
OTHER AND DOING SOME EXTRA WORK
WITH US TO HELP US GET THE
SUPPLIES THAT WE NEED.
>> ARE YOU BEING HEARD ON THAT?
ARE STATES BEING HEARD ON THAT
BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
>> SO WE CONTINUE TO PRESS.
I MEAN, I RECOGNIZE WE HERE IN
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN ARE A FEW
WEEKS BEHIND SOME OF THE HOT
SPOTS AROUND THE NATION.
BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT
DON'T HAVE CRITICAL NEEDS THAT
NEED TO BE FULFILLED AND THAT WE
NEED THIS CAPACITY TO TEST HERE
IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
AND SO I THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS
BEEN PARTICIPATING ON THESE --
IN THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
WHITE HOUSE.
HE CONTINUES TO PRESS THE NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT STATES ARE ARE
RECEIVING THE KINDS OF RESOURCES
THAT THEY NEED, WHETHER IT'S
PPE, WHETHER IT'S REAGENTS AND
OTHER CRITICAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES.
AND WE WILL JUST CONTINUE TO
PRESS ON THAT.
>> GIVEN YOUR MODELS, DO WE HAVE
ENOUGH ICU BEDS AND VENTILATORS
IN WISCONSIN AND, IF NOT, WHAT
WILL WE DO?
>> SO THAT IS -- THAT GETS TO
THE HEART OF WHY FLATTEN THE
CURVE AND "SAFER AT HOME," THIS
IS LIKE A CRITICAL MOMENT FOR
THAT, RIGHT?
SO OUR GOAL, AS WE DISCUSSED, IS
FOR THE PEAK TO BE LOWER AND
SOONER.
THAT IS ABOUT WHERE -- THAT IS
ABOUT HITTING A NUMBER THAT IS
BELOW THAT CAPACITY AND OUR
MANPOWER CAPACITY.
AND SO WHILE WE ARE ALL
DILIGENTLY WORKING TO FLATTEN
THE CURVE AND LOWER OUR PEAK TO
BE UNDER THAT CAPACITY, WE ARE
DOING ALL THE OTHER THINGS WE
NEED TO DO IN CASE.
AND THOSE ARE THE STRIKE TEAMS
THAT ARE WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR
STATEWIDE RESOURCES TO DO SURGE
PLANNING SO THAT WE ARE -- WE
KNOW WHERE OUR POTENTIAL
ADDITIONAL FACILITIES ARE TO
BUILD HOSPITAL BED CAPACITY SO
THAT WE KNOW HOW HOSPITALS ARE
GOING TO SHARE RESOURCES AND
BEDS AND TRIAGE AND DO THE KINDS
OF MOVEMENT AND THINGS THAT THEY
CAN DO TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE
THAT OUR CAPACITY IS NEXTABLE
AND AS ADAPTABLE TO SERVE THOSE
WHO NEED TO BE SERVED.
BUT ALL OF THOSE ACTIVITIES ARE
GOING ON IN REAL EARNEST RIGHT
NOW.
AND STAYING AT HOME AND THE
ORDER ARE PART OF ALSO GIVING US
THE LEAD TIME TO DO THAT KIND OF
WORK, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IF THE
PEAKING IS ABOVE WHERE IT SHOULD
BE, IF WE'RE ALL DOING STAY AT
HOME WELL, WE WILL HAVE LESS
TIME AND LESS RESOURCES TO BE
READY FOR THE SURGE THAT WILL
COME.
>> MEANWHILE, IN THE MIDST OF
ALL OF THIS, THERE'S SUCH A
SHORTAGE OF PERSONAL
PROBABILITYTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR
DOCTORS AND FRONTLINE WORKERS
THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS ASKING
FOR DONATIONS OR THAT THE STATE
WILL BUY LARGE QUANTITIES OF
THESE, EVERYTHING FROM MASKS TO
THERMOMETERS.
HOW DIRE IS THIS?
>> IT'S NOT ENOUGH, AND WE
CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM THE FRONT
LINES THAT THEY NEED MORE
SUPPLIES.
AND SO WE ARE TRACKING CLOSELY
WITH THOSE PARTNERS, OUR COUNTY
AND LOCAL PARTNERS, ABOUT THEIR
NEEDS AND CONTINUE TO PRESS BOTH
ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND
PRIVATE SUPPLY CHAINS SO THAT
WE'RE ABLE TO MEET THESE NEEDS.
BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO
SUGARCOAT IT.
THIS IS AN ISSUE AND IT IS WHY
IT IS ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES.
AND WE'RE NOT ALONE.
STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE
EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME
THINGS.
>> SECRETARY-DESIGNEE ANDREA
PALM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AS YOU JUST HEARD, THERE IS
AN URGENT NEED FOR PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND FIRST
RESPONDERS NEED MORE MASKS,
GLOVES AND DOWNS TO PREVENT
EXPOSURE TO COVID-19, ESPECIALLY
IF THERE IS A SURGE.
MARISA WOJCIK TELLS US WHAT
PEOPLE ARE DOING LOCALLY.
>> I DON'T THINK WE'VE SEEN THE
WORST YET.
YES.
I'M VERY BUSY.
>> HEALTH WORKERS ARE BRACING
THEMSELVES FOR IMPACT FROM AN
EXPECTED SURGE OF COVID-19
CASES.
BOB SALOV IS THE DIRECTOR OF
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IN
CAMBRIDGE.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO WEAR PPE,
MINIMALLY GLOVES, PROBABLY A
MASK.
>> N95 MASK TO KEEP AIRBORNE
PARTICLES OUT.
THERE'S ALSO A FACE SHIELD.
>> KATE WALTON IS AN EMERGENCY
ROOM NURSE IN MADISON.
LIKE MANY HEALTH CARE WORKERS,
IS AT HIGHER RISK OF EXPOSURE TO
THE VIRUS.
>> WITH THOSE DROPLETS FROM A
COUGH OR NEEZ, SNEEZE, YOU DON'T WANT
THOSE GETTING TO YOUR EYES, SO
WE COVER THE FACE AS WELL AS
PROTECT THE AIRWAYS.
>> ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT ARE
ADDED WHEN PATIENTS ARE
EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19,
BUT IT'S IN SHORT SUPPLY FOR THE
NEEDS.
>> IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE.
>> IT'S FAR LESS THAN IDEAL FOR
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, LIKE
REUSING MASKS.
>> IF WE GET CLOSE, WE'LL START
LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES.
IF WE HAVE TO USE SCARVES OR
TAKE SHEETS AND CUT THEM UP AND
MAKE MASKS OUT OF THEM, WE'LL DO
THAT.
>> LAST WEEK UW HEALTH SENT OUT
A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO SEW
MASKS, BUT HAVE SINCE PULLED
THAT BACK SAYING THEY STARTED TO
WORK WITH MANUFACTURERS WHO CAN
PRODUCE MASKS THAT MEET THE
REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE
PROTECTION OF OUR HEALTH CARE
WORK WITHERS.
A DIFFERENT URGENT CALL FOR A
SHORTAGE OF FACE SHIELDS WAS
ANSWERED BY LENNON ROGERS,
DIRECTOR OF GRAINGER INNOVATION
LAB.
>> I ASKED MY WIFE, I GOT THIS
EMAIL AND KIND OF THROUGH THAT
CONVERSATION I REALIZED IT
ACTUALLY IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT
ISSUE.
>> ROGERS RAN OUT TO THE
HARDWARE STORE THAT NIGHT AND
CREATED A FACE SHIELD PROTOTYPE
AT THEIR MAKERSPACE.
IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS HE'S
CONNECTED WITH MANUFACTURERS AND
SUPPLY CHAINS TO WORK ON
MANUFACTURE OF FACE SHIELDS.
>> WE'VE HAD IT ON OUR WEBSITE
FOR THE LAST FIVE DAYS AND WE
HAVE MILLIONS.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REQUESTING
MILLIONS OF THEM.
>> MANY ARE PUSHING TO CONVERT
MANUFACTURING LINES TO START
MAKING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT AS THE WAIT FROM THE
FEDERAL STOCKPILE DRAGS ON.
FOR THOSE ON THE FRONT LINE,
IT'S ABOUT PREVENTING EXPOSURE.
>> WE'RE PROTECTING OURSELVES,
OUR PATIENTS, THE COMMUNITY.
IF IT COMES AS A TSUNAMI, WE'LL
DO OUR VERY BEST.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
MARISA WOJCIK.
>> FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR
JOBS, THEIR BUSINESSES OR WHO
ARE SICK, HELP IS ON THE WAY.
IN THE FORM OF A $2 TRILLION
STIMULUS PACKAGE PASSED THIS
WEEK BY THE U.S. SENATE AND THE
HOUSE JUST TODAY.
THE PRESIDENT SIGNED IT THIS
AFTERNOON.
WE INVITED WISCONSIN U.S.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE GALLAGHER TO
JOIN US THIS WEEK, BUT WITH
LAST-MINUTE CHANGES TO HIS
SCHEDULE, HE COULD NOT JOIN US.
INSTEAD, HE PROVIDED US WITH
THIS STATEMENT.
WHAT WE FACE IS FIRST AND
FOREMOST A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
AND OUR PRIMARY GOAL MUST BE TO
GET THIS DISEASE UNDER CONTROL.
UNTIL WE DO SO, THERE'S NO
AMOUNT OF FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT
WILL ALLOW TO KEEP OUR
ECONOMY SHUT DOWN INDEFINITELY.
RECOGNIZING THIS, THE CARES ACT
SURGES BADLY-NEEDED RESOURCES TO
FIRST RESPONDERS ON THE FRONT
LINES OF THIS FIGHT.
IT DEVOTES BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
TOWARD TESTING AND OTHER
CRITICAL SUPPLIES AND BUILDS ON
THE BIPARTISAN EFFORTS TO ENSURE
STATES LIKE WISCONSIN HAVE THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED TO DEFEAT
THIS DISEASE.
NOW, THE EMERGENCY STIMULUS
CALLED THE CARES ACT INCLUDES
DIRECT PAYMENTS TO INDIVIDUALS,
RETENTION LOANS TO SMALL
BUSINESSES SO THEY CAN KEEP
THEIR WORKERS, EXPANDED
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND
HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS TO
HOSPITALS AND STATES.
WE ARE JOINED BY U.S.
REPRESENTATIVE MARK POCAN.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> FIRST TELL US ABOUT WHY YOU
SUPPORT THIS MORNING HISTORIC SPENDING.
>> BECAUSE WE NEED IT
DESPERATELY.
WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE
COUNTRY AND IN WISCONSIN IS
HAVING A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON
SMALL BUSINESSES AND BIG
BUSINESSES.
PEOPLE'S HEALTH.
WE'RE PUTTING HOSPITALS AND
HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS AT FULL
CAPACITY AND ALMOST OVER
CAPACITY.
IT'S GOING TO PUT MONEY INTO
PEOPLE'S POCKETS WHO ARE
UNEMPLOYED THROUGH NO FAULT OF
THEIR OWN.
WE'VE ALL BEEN WORKING TOGETHER,
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AND I
THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
>> COULD YOU NAME THE BIGGEST
BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PACKAGE?
>> PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR
JOBS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS,
SOME OF THE BIG BUSINESSES LIKE
AIRLINES ARE GOING TO BENEFIT.
HOSPITALS ARE GOING TO SEE
MONEY.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE GOING TO
SEE MONEY.
THERE'S A LOT IN HERE.
BUT MORE NEEDS TO HAPPEN
ESPECIALLY FOR SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS, UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS,
A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS GOT
INTO POLITICS AND WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS IN A
PLACE THAT THEY'RE BEING MADE
WHOLE OR ABLE TO GET TESTING.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW ALL OF THAT'S
CRUCIAL TO MAKING SURE WE CAN
OVERCOME THIS.
>> AND YOU THINK THAT ANOTHER
PIECE OF LEGISLATION WILL BE
FORTHCOMING?
>> EXTREMELY LIKELY.
WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT SOME
OF THE GAPS WE DIDN'T HAVE IN
THIS PACKAGE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE COMMITTED TO
WORKING ON THIS IN A BIPARTISAN
WAY.
IN WISCONSIN, MIKE GALLAGHER,
YOU JUST READ A STATEMENT FROM.
HE AND I TALK ON THE PHONE DAILY
AND WE HAVE FOUND COMPANIES THAT
HAVE ABILITY TO DO TESTS.
WE'RE FINDING NEEDS WITH FEMA IN
THE STATE TO MAKE SURE THEIR
NEEDS ARE MATCHING.
IT'S JUST REAL IMPORTANT THAT WE
DO WHAT WE CAN HERE ON THE
GROUND RIGHT NOW BUT WE'RE GOING
TO NEED ANOTHER PACKAGE.
>> IN TERMS OF THESE DIRECT
PAYMENTS TO PEOPLE, WHEN MIGHT
PEOPLE SEE THIS MONEY?
>> SO THE CHECK, THEY'RE SAYING
ABOUT THREE WEEKS, THE $1200
CHECK, PEOPLE WHO MAKE LESS THAN
$75 THOWRKS,000 AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR
$150,000 AS A COUPLE.
THERE'S ALREADY A SYSTEM SET UP
TO DELIVER THAT MONEY.
PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GET UP TO
THE STATE MAX PLUS $600 A WEEK
FOR THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS.
SO PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE AVERAGE
INCOME IN WISCONSIN, IF YOU'RE
UNEMPLOYED, YOU SHOULD BE MADE
WHOLE FOR THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS
IF YOU ARE OUT OF WORK.
>> BECAUSE WISCONSIN IS SEEING
SOME 20,000 UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS
A DAY STARTING MONDAY OF THIS
WEEK.
SO IT'S REALLY BAD OUT THERE.
>> YEAH.
MY BUSINESS WAS FORCED TO CLOSE.
I'M NONESSENTIAL.
SO I AM LIVING THIS WITH
EVERYONE ELSE.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVERYONE'S TAKEN CARE OF.
THIS BILL WILL TAKE CARE OF
PEOPLE LARGELY.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
SMALL BUSINESSES GET TO A
POSITION THEY CAN BRING THEM
BACK TO WORK AND THERE'S A FEW
GAPS STILL.
>> YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL
LEGISLATION IN MIND WHICH WOULD
KEEP WORKERS EMPLOYED.
>> YEAH.
THERE'S A WORK SHARE PROPOSAL
WITHIN UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
WHERE PEOPLE CAN START TO GET
BACK TO WORK AT MAYBE 25 OR 50%
OF HOURS BUT STILL BE ABLE TO
ACCESS UNEMPLOYMENT, SO THEY
WILL HAVE MORE MONEY IN THEIR
POCKET THAN JUST BEING
UNEMPLOYED.
THE BUSINESS CAN RAMP BACK UP
INTO PRODUCTIVITY AND YOU SAVED
THE STATE MONEY BY ALLOWING THIS
TO HAPPEN.
WE HAVE IT IN WISCONSIN.
27 STATES HAVE IT.
IT NEEDS TWEAKS.
IT'S HARD TO ACCESS.
WE NEED TO DO SOME CHANGES AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL.
I'VE BEEN TALKING TO SPEAKER
VOS, THE GOVERNOR ABOUT IT.
>> WE'RE HEARING WORKERS IN
ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY OR FACTORY
POSITIONS THAT ARE STILL ON THE
JOB ARE WORRIED ABOUT HAVING TO
WORK WITH THE POTENTIAL OF
CONTRACTING COVID-19 FROM THE
PERSON NEXT TO THEM.
WHAT ABOUT THOSE CONCERNS?
WE TALK ABOUT OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE
LOSING THEIR JOBS.
REALLY BAD.
BUSINESSES HAVING TO CLOSE.
BUT THEN THERE ARE THESE PEOPLE
WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT BEING
DECLARED ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES IN
A FACTORY OR A PLANT JOB.
>> AND A COUPLE HUNDRED BONUS
FROM WALMART IS NOT GOING TO CUT
IT IF YOU'RE EXPOSED LIKE THAT.
SO THERE ARE SOME STANDARDS OF
THIS BILL.
THAT'S WHY A FOURTH BILL, TOO.
WE NEED MORE STANDARDS TO
PROTECT EVERY WORKER WHO RIGHT
NOW IS DOING ESSENTIAL THINGS.
PEOPLE MAKING VENTILATORS,
RUNNING OUR TESTS TO SEE IF
PEOPLE HAVE COVID-19 AND
OPERATING OUR GROCERY STORES AND
GAS STATIONS.
EVERYONE HAS TO BE PROTECTED.
SOME OF THAT'S IN THIS BILL.
I THINK MORE HAS TO HAPPEN.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING
US, REPRESENTATIVE MARK POCAN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LOOKING AHEAD, WE ARE JUST 11
DAYS AWAY FROM THE APRIL 7
SPRING ELECTION AS IT IS
CURRENTLY SCHEDULED, BUT THERE
ARE FOUR LAWSUITS IN THE FEDERAL
COURTS RIGHT NOW THAT COULD
SCRAMBLE THOSE PLANS, INCLUDING
ONE LAWSUIT SEEKING TO POSTPONE
THE ELECTION.
AND JUST TODAY, GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS ASKED REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE TO COME BACK INTO
SESSION AND PASS A LAW THAT
WOULD SEND ABSENTEE BALLOTS OUT
TO EVERY VOTER, ALTHOUGH THE
GOVERNOR STILL WANTS THE
ELECTION HELD ON APRIL 7.
"HERE AND NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ IS HERE
WITH SOME INFORMATION ON ALL OF
THIS AND THANKS FOR JOINING US,
ZAC.
>> THANK YOU, FRED.
>> THE GOVERNOR WANTS PEOPLE TO
JUST GET IN A BALLOT IN THE MAIL
WITHOUT HAVING TO REQUEST ONE?
>> THAT'S THE IDEA HE PROPOSED
TODAY IN A VIDEO ON TWITTER,
THAT THE CLERK WOULD
AUTOMATICALLY MAIL OUT A BALLOT
TO EVERYONE.
THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN
THAT IDEA.
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
FITZGERALD SAID IT'S A COMPLETE
FANTASY TO THINK THAT WILL
HAPPEN.
JUST A WEEK AGO THE ELECTIONS
COMMISSION WAS WORRIED ABOUT
HAVING ENOUGH ENVELOPES TO SENDS
OUT THE REQUESTED ABSENTEE
BALLOTS.
>> SO THAT'S WHY IT'S A FANTASY,
BECAUSE IT'S A LOGISTICAL
NIGHTMARE?
>> 11 DAYS OUT, THERE'S ALREADY
BEEN HALF A MILLION BALLOT
REQUESTS AROUND THE STATE.
SO TO THINK THAT THERE'S ENOUGH
TIME TO PUT THIS TOGETHER, THE
CLERKS I'VE BEEN TALKING TO OVER
THE LAST WEEK WERE WORRIED ABOUT
PULLING IT OFF IN GENERAL.
I THINK I HAVE ENOUGH ENVELOPES
FOR WHAT I'M EXPECTING.
THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ENVELOPES
FOR EVERY VOTER ON THE ROLL AT
THIS POINT.
>> EVERS STOPPED SHORT OF
CALLING OFF VOTING ON APRIL 7.
>> HE DOES NOT HAVE THE LEGAL
AUTHORITY TO POSTPONE THIS
ELECTION ON HIS OWN.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN AGREED THAT HE
WOULD NEED THE LEGISLATURE TO
PASS A LAW THAT WOULD DO THAT.
THE ONLY WAY HE COULD TRY AND DO
THAT IS IF HE USED IT UNDER HIS
EMERGENCY POWERS THE SAME WAY
HE'S SHUTTING DOWN NONESSENTIAL
BUSINESSES OR CLOSING SCHOOLS.
BUT HE ISN'T READY TO TRY TO USE
THOSE POWERS TO POSTPONE THE
ELECTION.
>> ELECTED LEADERS WANT TO
PROCEED HE WITH IN-PERSON VOTING
ON APRIL 7.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
SOME PEOPLE ON THE ELECTIONS
COMMISSION SAY THEY'RE WORRIED
ABOUT SOME OF THE LOWER RACES ON
THIS BALLOT, FOR COUNTY BOARD,
CITY COUNSEL.
THERE'S SCHOOL BOARD REFERENDA
ON HERE THAT ARE WORTH MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS FOR SCHOOLS.
IF IT'S POSTPONED, WHEN WOULD
THAT HAPPEN?
WHEN WOULD COUNTIES BE ABLE TO
SEAT THEIR OFFICERS AND PASS
LOCAL LAWS?
NEVER MIND THE FACT THAT VOTE IS
ALREADY ONGOING.
THERE'S THE PARTISAN QUESTION HE
ABOUT WHO WOULD BE ADVANTAGED BY
DELAYING THIS ELECTION AND WHO
COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT
MOSTLY.
>> DOES GETTING BALLOTS IN THE
MAIL --
>> IF YOU'RE ISOLATING AND YOU
LIVE ALONE, HOW DO YOU GET
SOMEONE TO WITNESS?
THE WITNESS IS THERE TO SEE THE
STUFF THE BALLOT IN THE ENVELOPE
AND THEN YOU SIGN TO SAY THIS IS
MY BALLOT AND THEN YOU GIVE IT
TO THE WITNESS AND THEY SIGN AND
PUT THEIR ADDRESS DOWN SAYING I
WITNESSED THIS HAPPEN.
THE PROBLEM IS HOW DO YOU DO
THAT IF YOU'RE BY YOURSELF?
THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION SAYS
GET CREATIVE.
YOU CAN DO THIS THROUGH A GLASS
DOOR OR WINDOW.
YOU CAN DO IT VIA SKYPE AS LONG
AS LATER ON THE WITNESS COMES BY
AND VALIDATES.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THEY
WANT TO STRESS, BECAUSE PEOPLE
ARE VOTING ABSENTEE FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIERVETION
IS LIVES, IS
THE WITNESS HAS TO PUT THEIR
NAME AND ADDRESS ON THAT
ENVELOPE WHEN THEY RETURN IT OR
IT'S INVALID.
THE BALLOT HAS TO BE RETURNED
AND TO THE POLLING PLACE OR THE
CLERK'S OFFICE BY 8:00 ON
ELECTION NIGHT.
IF IT'S LATE OR IF IT'S IN THE
MAIL, IT DOESN'T COUNT.
THAT'S THE SUBJECT ANOTHER
FEDERAL LAWSUIT THAT'S GOING ON
RIGHT NOW.
BUT RIGHT NOW YOU CAN STILL
DRIVE YOUR ABSENTEE TO THE POLL
PLACE ON ELECTION DAY IF YOU
DON'T THINK THERE'S TIME FOR IT
TO GET THROUGH THE MAIL.
>> LOTS AND LOTS GOING ON.
ZAC SCHULTZ, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE GOVERNOR IS STILL URGING
WISCONSIN VOTERS TO GO ONLINE.
TONIGHT, TREVOR KELLER SHOWS US
ONE WISCONSIN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
HAS VASTLY SHORTENED THE TURN
AROUND TIME FOR RESULTS.
>> GUNDERSEN HEALTH SYSTEM IN
LA CROSSE HAS DEVELOPED THEIR
OWN TEST FOR COVID-19.
PARENTS NOPATIENTS NO LONGER HAVE TO WAIT
DAYS FOR RESULTS.
>> WE CAN TURN AROUND THE
RESULTS WITHIN 24 HOURS.
YOU'RE GETTING VERY REALTIME
RESULTS OF THE NUMBER OF CASES
THAT WE'RE SEEING.
>> TO INCREASE TESTING CAPACITY,
THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
ISSUED AN EMERGENCY POLICY IN
FEBRUARY ALLOWING LABS TO
DEVELOP THEIR OWN COVID-19
TESTS.
GUNDERSEN'S RESEARCH LAB
FINALIZED THEIRS LAST WEEK.
WITH AN ASSIST FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN-LA CROSSE.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF
COLLABORATIONS WITH PEOPLE AT
GUNDERSEN, SO ANYTHING WE COULD
DO TO GET MORE TESTS IN THE
COMMUNITY BENEFITS EVERYONE.
>> THE UNIVERSITY'S BIOLOGY,
MICROBIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
DEPARTMENTS DONATED IMPORTANT
SUPPLIES THAT ALLOW GUNDERSEN'S
LAB TO PRODUCE THOUSANDS OF
TESTS, HOPING IT WILL HELP FIGHT
COMMUNITY SPREAD.
PEOPLE WITH THE VIRUS CAN BE
QUARANTINED.
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE THE KEY TO
SLEG
SLOWING DOWN THIS VIRUS.
>> GUNDERSEN HAS RECEIVED CALLS
FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY ABOUT
THEIR IN-HOUSE TEST.
GUNDERSEN DOCTORS ARE ENCOURAGED
ABOUT GETTING RAPID RESULTS.
>> WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW, I'M
NOT SURE THERE'S A PLACE IN THE
UNITED STATES I'D RATHER BE THAN
IN COULEE COUNTRY WITH THE FOLKS
WE HAVE AND THE ABILITY WE HAVE
TO TAKE THIS ON.
>> THAT WAS TREVOR KELLER
REPORTING.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WAYS
WISCONSIN BUSINESSES ARE
FIGHTING AGAINST COVID-19 GO TO
wiscontext.org.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS
WEEK.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
>> 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
WISCONSIN.