PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> PUBLIC HEALTH HAS BEEN BUSY
COORDINATING CITY, COUNTY AND
STATE RESOURCES, MAKING SURE WE
WERE READY IN THE EVENT THIS
VIRUS PRESENTED HERE.
GIVEN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE GLOBE, IT'S
REASONABLE TO ASSUME TODAY'S
NEWS WILL NOT BE THE LAST
POSITIVE CASE WE HEAR ABOUT IN
OUR REGION.
>> IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO THAT DANE
COUNTY EXECUTIVE JOE PARISI
ANNOUNCED THE FIRST POSITIVE
CASE OF CORONAVIRUS IN
WISCONSIN.
AT THE TIME, IT WAS AMONG ONLY
12 TOTAL CASES IN THE U.S.
�OVER A HALF MILLION MORE
WISCONSIN CASES FOLLOWED, AS
WELL AS NEARLY 6,000 LIVES LOST.
THE GRIM ANNIVERSARY GAIFS GIVES WAY
TO HOPE IN THE FORM OF
VACCINATIONS, SHOTS IN THE ARM
THAT WERE HARD TO IMAGINE EVEN
JUST MONTHS AGO.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
INTERIM STATE HEALTH SECRETARY
KAREN TIMBERLAKE IS HERE WITH
GUIDANCE ON HOW TO SCHEDULE
VACCINATIONS.
A NEW STUDY SHOWS VERY LITTLE
TRANSMISSION OF THE CORONAVIRUS
IN WOOD COUNTY SCHOOLS.
LATER, THE POLITICS OF THE
PANDEMIC.
ZAC SCHULTZ HAS THE LATEST ON A
BURST OF ACTIVITY TODAY AT THE
STATE CAPITOL.
AND WE WILL HEAR FROM MADISON'S
NEW CHIEF OF POLICE, SHON
BARNES.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR FEBRUARY
5. >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THAT'S WHY TODAY WE WILL BE
ISSUING A NEW PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCY, AN ORDER REQUIRING
FACE COVERINGS IN PUBLIC PLACES.
OUR FIGHT AGAINST THIS VIRUS
ISN'T OVER.
IT'S NOT GOING AWAY, ESPECIALLY
AS WE SEEF MUTATIONS OF THIS
VIRUS IN OUR STATE AND OTHERS.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
IMMEDIATELY REIN STATES THE
STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE AFTER THE
LEGISLATURE VOTED TO GET RID OF
IT THIS WEEK.
THIS AFTERNOON, THE MAJORITY
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE PASSED
THIS COVID RELIEF BILL AND EVERS
MADE QUICK WORK OF REJECTING IT
WITH A VETO.
WE CHECK IN SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ NOW FOR
MORE.
HI, ZAC.
>> HELLO, FRED.
>> SO ARE THE SIDES STANDING ON
PRINCIPLE HERE OR POWER
- POLITICS?
>> BOTH.
I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHICH SIDE
YOU'RE SUPPORTING.
REPUBLICANS SAY THIS IS ABOUT
STOPPING WHAT THEY'RE
INTERPRETING AS ILLEGAL OR
UNCONSTITUTIONAL ORDERS AND
PUTTING THEIR PROPER PLACE IN
GOVERNMENT THERE.
OF COURSE, GOVERNOR EVERS IS
SAYING HE'S ON BEHALF OF THE
PEOPLE AND STOPPING THE PANDEMIC
AND IT'S FULLY WITHIN HIS LEGAL
RIGHTS.
IT DEPENDS ON WHICH SIDE YOU'RE
PLAYING FOR.
>> COULDN'T THIS MASK MANDATE
JUST BECOME LIKE A PING PONG
BACK AND FORTH, ISSUE IT AND
REPEAT.
>> THAT IS UNTIL THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT ISSUES THEIR
DECISION.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE
GOVERNOR HAS REISSUED THE
EMERGENCY AND MASK ORDER.
HE DID IT LAST YEAR.
AT THAT TIME REPUBLICANS VOICED
CONCERN BUT DECIDED NOT TO DO
ANYTHING EXCEPT GO TO COURT AND
THEY HOPED THE SUPREME COURT
WOULD DO THEIR DIRTY WORK
BECAUSE THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT
WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO
VOTERS IN FRONT OF THE ELECTION.
THE COURT HAS STILL NOT RULED.
THIS TIME REPUBLICANS ARE
FEELING THEY NEED TO ASSERT
THEMSELVES TO CONSERVATIVE
DONORS AND VOTERS.
>> MEANWHILE NOW WOULD BE ABOUT
THE TIME FOR THE COURT TO RULE,
RIGHT, AFTER THAT FAILED IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
>> YEAH.
THE COURT KIND OF DECIDES ON
THEIR OWN ON WHICH CASE ON WHEN
THEY'RE GOING TO ISSUE THAT
DECISION.
WHEN THEY TAKE THIS LONG IT'S A
SIGN THEY DON'T SEE ANYTHING
MAJORLY WRONG THEY NEED TO FIX.
LAST YEAR WHEN THE COURT SHUT
DOWN THE SHUTDOWN ORDERS THEY
DID IT IMMEDIATELY AND ISSUED
THE WRITTEN DECISION WEEKS
LATER.
THEY DIDN'T DO THAT WITH THIS
ORDER.
SO THAT MAY GIVE US SOME INSIGHT
OR IT COULD BE IT'S JUST
FIGURING OUT WHAT THE DECISION
WILL BE.
>> AND ON THIS, WHAT ARE THE
IMPLICATIONS OF GOVERNOR EVERS
VETOING THE COVID RELIEF BILL,
WHICH REPUBLICANS KNEW HE WOULD
DO?
>> THE BIGGEST ISSUE NOW IS FOR
THOSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO BECOME
UNEMPLOYED WHETHER THEY KNOW IT
OR NOT AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE
FIRST WEEK OF UNEMPLOYMENT UNDER
WISCONSIN LAW PASSED BY SCOTT
WALKER MORE THAN A DECADE AGO
SAYS YOU DON'T GET PAID FOR THAT
FIRST WEEK.
BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNDER
THE CARES ACT SAID WE'LL PAY FOR
THE FIRST WEEK OF UNEMPLOYMENT.
YOU JUST HAVE TO REINSTATE IT.
IT EXPIRES FEBRUARY 6 FOR
WISCONSIN.
THIS BILL WOULD HAVE EXTENDED
THAT MATCH PROGRAM FROM FEDERAL
DOLLARS.
IT'S NOW BEEN REDUCED TO 50%
MATCH.
BUT THAT FIRST WEEK
UNEMPLOYMENT, $# 1.3 MILLION A
WEEK FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ABOUT TO
BECOME UNEMPLOYED.
THAT'S THE MAJOR PRESSURE POINT
ON THIS DECISION AND HOW SOON
SOMETHING MAY GET SIGNED IN THE
FUTURE.
>> BUT BOTH SIDES WERE WILLING
TO JEOPARDIZE THAT FUNDING.
>> I THINK AT THIS POINT BOTH
SIDES THINK THEY CAN PIN THE
BLAME ON THE OTHER ACCORDING TO
THE PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE SUPPORT.
REPUBLICANS SAY ALL GOVERNOR
EVERS HAS TO DO IS SIGN THE
BILL.
GOVERNOR EVERS IS SAYING JUST
SEND ME A CLEAN BILL LIKE THE
ONE THAT THE SENATE ORIGINALLY
AMENDED AND THEN WE CAN SAVE THE
PEOPLE THAT WAY.
SO WHO KNOWS HOW LONG THIS MAY
PLAY OUT AND AT WHAT POINT IT
GETS REALLY HOT FOR POLITICIANS
OF BOTH SPHRIEPS.
>> THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
GOVERNOR HAD REACHED AGREEMENT
ON COVID RELIEF WITH A BILL OUT
OF THE SENATE.
THEN THAT WENT OUT OF THE DOOR.
HOW DOES ALL OF THAT BODE FOR
STATE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS?
>> IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD AT ALL.
WE'VE KNOWN FOR A WHILE THAT
THERE'S GOING TO BE A PRESSURE
POINT HERE.
THE LAST BUDGET BEFORE A
GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION IS ALWAYS
REALLY TOUCHY AND THIS ONE IS
GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO
GET THROUGH.
WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE.
WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE NEW JOINT
FINANCE LEADERS SAY DON'T BE
PUSHING ANYTHING NEW, GOVERNOR
EVERS.
WE'RE THE REASON THAT THE STATE
IS IN GOOD FISCAL SHAPE.
GOVERNOR EVERS HAS BEEN ISSUING
PRESS RELEASES WITH NEW IDEAS HE
HAS TO GO BIG ON THIS MOMENT IN
THE ECONOMY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE SUFFERING.
>> WELL, YOU'RE ROLLING UP YOUR
SLEEVES TO COVER THAT ONE, TOO.
ZAC SCHULTZ, THANKS A LOT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AS THE POLITICAL FIGHT WEARS
ON OVER COVID RESPONSE, THE RACE
IN WISCONSIN TO GET AS MANY
VACCINES IN ARMS IS IN ITS ERL
STAGES.
SO FAR 143,000 PEOPLE IN THE
STATE HAVE COMPLETED THE
TWO-SHOT SERIES.
TURNING BACK TO MORE REPORTING
FROM ZAC, HE MET UP WITH A
WISCONSIN DOCTOR WHO SHOW US HOW
THE VACCINE PROCESS IS WORKING,
A PROCESS THAT IS, OF COURSE,
ALSO MIRED IN POLITICS.
>> IT'S FRIDAY AND DR. MATT
ANDERSON IS ABOUT TO FIND OUT
FROM THE STATE HOW MANY VACCINE
DOSES UW HEALTH WILL RECEIVE FOR
THE NEXT WEEK.
>> THOSE DOSES TEND TO SHOW UP
EITHER SOMETIME ON MONDAY OR
OCCASIONALLY ON TUESDAY.
>> BETWEEN FRIDAY AND MONDAY,
THEY NEED TO CONFIRM
APPOINTMENTS WITH PATIENTS.
>> WE'VE GOT APPOINTMENTS THAT
ARE ON THE BOOKS FOR MONDAY AND
WE'RE DOING A LOT OF LOGISTICS
TO BALANCE OUR SUPPLIES AND
SUCH.
>> BY MONDAY, THE STATE IS
ASKING HOW MANY VACCINE DOSES
THEY CAN DISTRIBUTE THE
FOLLOWING WEEK.
>> WHAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT WITH
THAT IS HOW MANY APPOINTMENTS DO
WE HAVE CAPACITY TO DO IN THE
COMING WEEK, YOU KNOW, AND
SCHEDULE THEM SUCH.
>> AS THE SHOTS COME IN, SHOTS
GO OUT AND THE CYCLE REPEATS.
>> THOSE SHOTS ARE GETTING IN
AND THEN WE'RE MANAGING THOSE
AND GETTING THOSE PUT OUT.
SO IT'S NOT A LENGTHY PERIOD OF
TIME THAT THEY'RE SITTING IN THE
FREEZER.
>> DR. ANDERSON IS THE LEAD
PHYSICIAN FOR THE COVID VACCINE
WORK STREAM AT UW HEALTH.
HE SAYS IN THE LAST MONTH,
THEY'VE BUILT UP THEIR CAPACITY
TO DISTRIBUTE 5,000 FIRST DOSES
OF THE VACCINE EACH WEEK.
THEY ADMINISTER SECOND DOSES AS
WELL, BUT THOSE ARE
AUTOMATICALLY SENT OUT AND DON'T
REQUIRE A SEPARATE REQUEST.
HE SOON HOPES TO HAVE THE STAFF
AND SPACING CAPACITY FOR 6,000
DOSES A WEEK.
>> REALLY THE LIMITING FACTOR
RIGHT NOW IS VACCINE SUPPLY.
IF WE GET MORE VACCINE, WE WILL
ACCOMMODATE THAT BY FIGURING OUT
HOW THE STAFFING MODEL WORKS.
>> UW HEALTH'S VACCINE SUPPLY IS
DETERMINED BY WISCONSIN'S
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES,
WHICH TAKES ORDERS FROM
VACCINATORS ACROSS THE STATE AND
THEN REQUESTS THAT AMOUNT FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE
VACCINE PRODUCERS.
>> RIGHT NOW WE JUST DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH VACCINE.
>> JULIE WILLEMS VAN DIJK IS
DEPUTY SECRETARY AT DHS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ONLY
BEEN ALLOTTING THE WHOLE STATE
AROUND 70,000 FIRST DOSES A
WEEK.
SHE'S HOPING THE NEW BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION WILL SOON BE ABLE
TO BOOST THAT NUMBER.
>> VACCINE SUPPLY IS OUR
LIMITING FACTOR RIGHT NOW, BUT
THE GOOD NEWS IS WE WILL HAVE A
SYSTEM AND WE HAVE VACCINATORS
IN PLACE FOR THE DAYS WHEN THE
SUPPLY INCREASES.
>> DR. ANDERSON AGREES WE'LL BE
IN A BETTER POSITION IN A COUPLE
MONTHS.
BUT SAYS RIGHT NOW HIS BIGGEST
FRUSTRATION IS THE LACK OF
PREDICTABILITY.
>> PREDICTABILITIMENT I THINK
FOR US KNOWING WE'RE GOING TO
GET A CERTAIN NUMBER TO FIND OUT
ON FRIDAY WHAT YOU'RE GETTING
FOR MONDAY IS NOT IDEALMENT WE
RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE LIMIT
LIMITATIONS THERE.
>> WISCONSIN'S VACCINE ROLL-OUT
HAS BEEN A NATIONAL
EMBARRASSMENTMENT
>> REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE SAY THE BLAME FOR
ALL OF THIS FALLS ON GOVERNOR
EVERSMENT THE ASSEMBLY PASSED A
BILL TO SUBMIT PLANS FOR
VACCINATION TO LEGISLATIVE
COMMITTEES AND EXPAND
ELIGIBILITY FOR THE SHOTS TO
ANYONE ABOVE AGE 60.
CURRENTLY VACCINATORS ARE
WORKING WITH PEOPLE ABOVE AGE
65.
>> HERE WE ARE IN WISCONSIN,
WHERE IF YOU ASK THE AVERAGE
CITIZEN, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT
OUR PLAN IS, THEY HAVE NO IDEA
WHEN THEY CAN GET A VACCINE AND
THEY HAVE NO IDEA BESIDES
CALLING THEIR LOCAL HOSPITAL
FRANTICALLY HOW THEY CAN GET
ACCESS TO THE VACCINE.
>> OF COURSE, DHS DOES HAVE
VACCINE PLANS WHICH ARE
AVAILABLE TO AT PUBLIC.
DEMOCRATS SAY IT'S IRONIC
REPUBLICANS ARE CRITICIZING THE
GOVERNMENT ABOUT VACCINES AT THE
SAME TIME THEY'RE ELIMINATING
HIS MASK MANDATE.
THEY SAY REPUBLICANS ARE JUST
TRYING TO BLAME GOVERNOR EVERS
FOR A SUPPLY PROBLEM THAT STEMS
FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
>> ELIGIBILITY IS NOT THE SAISM
AS AVAILABILITY.
IF WE ONLY HAVE 70,000 VACCINES
MADE AVAILABLE TO US EACH WEEK
BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A PLAN,
BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ENOUGH
VACCINES AND WE KNOW THAT WE
HAVE 700,000 PEOPLE OVER THE AGE
OF 65?
I THINK EVERYBODY CAN DO THE
MATH.
>> REPUBLICANS ARE BASING THEIR
CLAIM OF INEPTITUDE OFF A CDC
WEBSITE WHICH TRACKS THE NUMBER
AND PERCENTAGE OF VACCINES EACH
STATE HAS DISTRIBUTED.
FOR A TIME, WISCONSIN RANKED
NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE COUNTRY.
DHS SAYS THAT WAS LARGELY A
REPORTING ERROR, WITH THE CDC
WEBSITE COMPARING THREE-DAY-OLD
WISCONSIN NUMBERS TO CURRENT
NUMBERS FROM OTHER STATES.
>> I REALLY CAUTION PEOPLE ABOUT
THESE COMPARISONS ON DIFFERENT
SITES THAT THEY MAY NOT BE
APPLES-TO-APPLES COMPARISONS.
>> ANOTHER ISSUE IN THE EARLY
DAYS OF VACCINE DISTRIBUTION WAS
MANY OF WISCONSIN'S DOSES WERE
BEING SENT TO WALGREENS AND CVS,
WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR
VACCINATING PEOPLE IN SKILLED
NURSING FACILITIES.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF FACILITIES
IN THIS GROUP AND A LOT MORE
THAN A LOT OF OTHER STATES AND
CVS AND WALL GREEFNS ARE FINDING
THAT OUT AS THEY GO TO SCHEDULE
PEOPLE.
>> SOME STATES LIKE WEST
VIRGINIA USED LOCAL PHARMACIES
FOR THAT PROGRAM AND FOUND
THEMSELVES AT THE TOP OF THE
CDC'S LIST.
>> I THINK THE WEST VIRGINIA'S
MODEL REALLY GETS TO THAT
SIMPLICITY, CENTRALIZATION.
>> DR. ANDERSON SAYS YOU CAN
COMPARE THE EARLY DAYS OF
VACCINE DISTRIBUTION TO THE
EARLY DAYS OF COVID TESTING.
A YEAR AGO, TESTS WERE HARD TO
COME BY.
BUT WITHIN A FEW MONTHS A NUMBER
OF DIFFERENT TESTS WERE
AVAILABLE.
WITH NEW VAKS CONVENIENCE VACCINES COMING ONLINE,
HE SAYS WE'LL BE IN A BETTER
PLACE BY SPRING.
>> LATE MARCH, APRIL, INTO
THERE.
>> REPORTING FROM MADISON, I'M
ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW."
>> THE PERSON NEWLY IN CHARGE OF
MANAGING COVID-19 RESPONSE IN
WISCONSIN, INCLUDING VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION, IS INTERIM
SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SERVICES, CD R KAREN
TIMBERLAKE.
SHE TAKES OVER FOR ANDREA PALM.
SHE SERVED IN THE SAME ROLE
UNDER GOVERNOR JIM DOYLE.
SHE JOINS US NOW AND THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.
>> SAME ROLE, DIFFERENT TIMES.
HOW DIFFERENT IS THIS GOING TO
BE?
>> VERY DIFFERENT TIMES.
YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY HERE AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN COMMITTED TO
PROTECTING AND PROMOTING THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE
OF WISCONSIN.
BUT THAT MISSION HAS NEVER BEEN
MORE MEANINGFUL THAN RIGHT NOW
AS WE CONTINUE TO MANAGE OUR WAY
THROUGH THIS COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
>> WHAT ARE THE NEXT CONCRETE
STEPS THAT YOU EXPECT TO TAKE IN
WISCONSIN'S RESPONSE TO THIS?
>> THERE REALLY ARE THREE TOP
PRIORITIES RELATED TO THE
RESPONSE.
THE FIRST IS TO GET VACCINES
INTO ARMS OF PEOPLE ALL ACROSS
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS
IN THAT REGARD.
WE HAVE GIVEN OVER 700,000
PEOPLE IN OUR STATE THEIR FIRST
DOSE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE.
SO THAT MEANS 12% OF OUR ENTIRE
STATE POPULATION HAS RECEIVED
THEIR FIRST DOSE.
THE SECOND PRIORITY IS TO
CONTINUE WITH ALL OF THE
PREVENTIVE MEASURES THAT WE KNOW
WORK: WEARING MASKS, KEEPING
PHYSICALLY DISTANT FROM PEOPLE
WHO ARE NOT IN OUR IMMEDIATE
HOUSEHOLD, KEEPING OUR HANDS
CLEAN AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
AND THE THIRD PRIORITY IS TO
CONTINUE WITH TESTING.
TESTING HAS SORT OF FALLEN A
LITTLE BIT OFF OF EVERYONE'S
RADAR SCREEN AS WE'VE BEEN
FOCUSED ON THE VACCINE.
BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS WE NEED
TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO TRACK
THIS DISEASE VERY CAREFULLY.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED
PEOPLE TO GET TESTED.
>> WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION AND
HOPE THAT THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION WILL BE ABLE TO
QUICKLY SOLVE ISSUES OF VACCINE
SUPPLY AND CONSISTENCY OF
SHIPMENTS SO THAT YOUR AGENCY
CAN OFFER THE SAME TO AT
VACCINATORS OUT THERE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS
SHOWN ALREADY THAT THEY ARE
INTENDING TO BE A GREAT PARTNER
WITH STATES.
WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IMPROVEMENTS
IN COMMUNICATION.
WE HAVE SEEN INCREASES IN THE
ALLOCATION OF VACCINE THAT HAS
COME TO WISCONSIN JUST IN THE
LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.
AND BEGINNING THIS WEEK, WE'RE
ABLE TO ALLOW OUR MANY
VACCINATOR PARTNERS, OUR
HOSPITALS, OUR CLINICS, OUR
FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH
CENTERS, PHARMACIES ALL ACROSS
THE STATE TO REQUEST VACCINE FOR
TWO WEEKS INSTEAD OF ONE WEEK,
WHICH I KNOW IS A LITTLE BIT OF
PROGRESS, BUT IT'S JUST THAT
MUCH MORE PREDICTABILITY FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO HELP US ACTUALLY
ADMINISTER THOSE SHOTS INTO ARMS
TO SAVE LIVES ALL ACROSS THE
STATE.
>> SO THAT'S ON THAT SIDE.
AN APPLETON POST CRESCENT REPORT
WROTE SHE HAS TAKEN MORE THAN
100 CALLS IN TWO DAYS FROM
ELDERLY READERS DESPERATE ABOUT
HOW TO GET THE VACCINE.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE LONG
SINCE ELIGIBLE BUT STILL STUCK
NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND THE
VACCINE?
>> YEAH.
WE'RE RIGHT IN THAT PLACE WHERE
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SO MANY
PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN
GETTING THE COVID VACCINE AND
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONNECT
PEOPLE TO VACCINES.
WE NEED A COUPLE THINGS TO
HAPPEN IN ORDER FOR THAT TO
OCCUR.
WE NEED ALL OF OUR HOSPITALS,
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS,
PHARMACIES TO BE COMMUNICATING
PROACTIVELY IN THEIR LOCAL
COMMUNITIES ABOUT HOW BEST TO
ACCESS THE VACCINES.
IT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATION BY ORGANIZATION.
WE ALSO REALLY NEED TO ASK
PEOPLE TO BE PATIENT AND TO
UNDERSTAND THAT GOING FROM ZERO
VACCINE ON DECEMBER 13 TO NOW
700,000 PLUS SHOTS HAVING BEEN
GIVEN A FEW SHORT WEEKS LATER,
IT'S AN ACHIEVEMENT AND WE'RE
GETTING BETTER AND BETTER AT IT.
ANYONE WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO
USE THE INTERNET SHOULD BE
LOOKING FIRST ON THE WEBSITE OF
THEIR OWN DOCTOR'S OFFICE, THEIR
LOCAL PHARMACY, THEIR LOCAL
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SEE
WHAT INFORMATION THEY CAN FIND.
IF THEY CAN'T FIND THE
INFORMATION THAT WAY, PICK UP
THE PHONE, BUT RECOGNIZE, RIGHT,
THAT PHONE LINES GET JAMMED
QUICKLY.
AND THE THIRD THING IS THAT AS
WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE MORE VACCINE
SUPPLY AND WE ARE STANDING UP
MORE COMMUNITY VACCINATION
SITES, WE WILL ALSO BE SETTING
UP REGISTRATION ON A WEBSITE
THAT WILL ENABLE PEOPLE TO FIND
VACCINE AT THOSE COMMUNITY SITES
MORE EASILY THAN THEY'RE ABLE TO
AGAIN.
>> OKAY.
SO BRIEFLY, THE LEGISLATURE THIS
WEEK ELIMINATED THE MASK
MANDATE.
THE GOVERNOR TURNED AROUND,
REINSTATED IT.
TODAY THE LEGISLATURE PASSES ITS
COVID RELIEF BILL.
THE GOVERNORS VETOES IT.
HOW ARE POLITICS AFFECTING OUR
RESPONSE?
>> HERE WE ARE FOCUSED ON WHAT
WE NEED TO DO IN THIS RESPONSE,
SUPPORTING THE WORK OF OUR
PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE,
COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH
HOSPITALS, CLINICS, ALL OUR
DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING OUR
LEGISLATURE TO HELP THE PEOPLE
OF WISCONSIN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
KAREN TIMBERLAKE, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITY
TRANSMISSION OF THE CORONAVIRUS,
IN THE WORDS OF ONE WISCONSIN
PHYSICIAN, QUOTE, "OVERALL
SCHOOLS JUST REALLY AREN'T THE
PROBLEM."
THOSE WORDS FROM PEDIATRICIAN
AMY FALK, WHO CO-AUTHORIZED A
STUDY THAT BACKS UP HERE CLAIM.
IN NOVEMBER 17 WOOD COUNTY
SCHOOLS WERE MONITORED FOR
CORONAVIRUS.
191 CASES WERE IDENTIFIED AMONG
STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS
DURING THAT TIME.
ONLY SEVEN CASES WERE CONNECTED
TO IN-SCHOOL SPREAD.
DR. AMY FALK JOINS US NOW AND
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO THE UPSHOT OF THIS 13-WEEK
STUDY IS THAT IT IS SAFE FOR
STUDENTS AND STAFF TO BE BACK IN
SCHOOL?
>> I THINK OBVIOUSLY THAT'S
GOING TO MEAN SOMETHING
DIFFERENT FOR EVERY COMMUNITY.
THE SCHOOLS AROUND HERE, THE 17
WE FOLLOWED, HAD A LOT OF
MITIGATION MEASURES.
THERE WAS DISTANCING TO THE BEST
OF THEIR ABILITY.
THERE WAS UNIVERSAL MASKING.
THERE WAS INCREASED SANITATION
AND VENTILATION.
I THINK OBVIOUSLY THERE'S MANY
SCHOOLS THAT ARE VERY DIFFERENT
FROM OUR POPULATION.
THE SCHOOLS THAT WE'VE BEEN
FOLLOWING ARE QUITE LARGE AND
ARE SHOWING THAT IT CAN BE DONE
WELL.
>> HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO
MAINTAIN THOSE KIND OF
MITIGATION MEASURES WITHIN A
SCHOOL SETTING?
>> I THINK -- I MEAN, SOME OF
THE THINGS LIKE MASKING, THE
KIDS HAVE JUST REALLY -- OF ALL
AGES, KINDERGARTEN TO 12TH GRADE
HAVE SHOWN THAT THEY ARE
UNWAVERING IN THEIR MASKING
ABILITY AND PATIENCE WITH THAT.
SO THAT'S BECOME PART OF THEIR
NORM.
FOR SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS,
SANITATION MEASURES AND THOSE
THINGS HAVE BEEN TAKEN
FINANCIALLY ON BY THE SCHOOLS
WHICH HAS BEEN AN UNDERTAKING.
I THINK ORCH OVERALL EVERYONE SETTLED
INTO THIS NEW NORMAL TO MAKE IT
AS SAFE AS THEY CAN.
>> THE MITIGATION ALSO INCLUDED
KIND OF KEEPING CHILDREN IN
PODS, RIGHT, AS THOUGH THEY WERE
ALMOST LITTLE FAMILY GROUPS.
>> YEAH.
THAT DIFFERED AMONG EACH OF THE
SCHOOLS.
WE DIDN'T IMPOSE ANY SORT OF --
WE JUST WANTED TO HELP THEM SEE
WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
WE NEVER EXPECTED IT TO GET AS
FAR AS IT DID BUT WE REALIZED WE
HAD SOMETHING TO DO SAY.
THE ELEMENTARY, ONE 1ST FIRST
GRADE ARE TOGETHER.
THEY DON'T MIX AT RECESS OR
LUNCH.
WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO KIND OF BE
A LITTLE CLOSER AND NOT STAY
WITH THE STRICT SIX FEET APART.
WHEN ONE KID IN THE COHORT GETS
SICK WITH COVID-19, THEY ALL GO
OUT.
AND THE OLDER KIDS AS WELL,
THERE WERE MANY THAT WERE IN THE
TIGHT TBROOPS.
>> SO YOU SPOKE TO THIS A LITTLE
BIT, BUT COULD THOSE METHODS BE
REPLICATED ACROSS THE BOARD IN
ALL WISCONSIN SCHOOLS, DO YOU
THINK?
>> I THINK THAT'S A TOUGH
QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, INTERESTINGLY I WAS
SPEAKING WITH A LOT OF THE
PRINCIPALS INVOLVED AND SOME OF
THE CHANGES TO THE HVAC SYSTEMS
ARE RUNNING MORE CYCLES BEFORE
AND AFTER SCHOOL, NOT CHANGING
OUT WHOLE SYSTEMS TO HELP WITH
FRESH AIR.
THE SANITATION STUFF, ALL THAT'S
BEEN PRETTY WELL AVAILABLE.
SO I THINK THE BIGGEST PART IS
THE DISTANCING.
A LOT OF SCHOOLS ARE HUNG UP ON
MAKE SURE EVERYBODY STAYS SIX
FEET APART, WHERE THERE'S MANY
PLACES AND SOME EMERGING DATA
THAT THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE END
ALL/BE ALL.
IF YOU THINK OF MITIGATION LIKE
SWISS CHEESE, WHERE THERE'S
HOLES WITH EVERY DIFFERENT THING
YOU DO, THE MASKING, THE
DISTANCING.
BUT IF YOU LAYER THEM TOGETHER,
THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE THE MOST
SUCCESS.
SO I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST
PIECE TO LOOK AT NEXT.
>> AS A PEDIATRICIAN, HOW
IMPORTANT DO YOU BELIEVE IT IS
FOR CHILDREN TO BE BACK IN
SCHOOL OR IN SCHOOL?
>> I THINK IT IS OF UTMOST
IMPORTANT FOR.
WE'RE HAVING GROWING DATA THAT
DEPRESSION RATES ARE SKY-HIGH.
IT'S NOT THE SAME VIRTUAL NO
MATTER HOW GREAT OF A FAMILY OR
HOW MANY RESOURCES.
IT'S NOT THE SAME.
SUICIDE RATES IN OUR COUNTRY IN
TEENS ARE SKYROCKETING.
WE TRY TO GET THEM BACK IN
BEFORE OTHER THINGS ARE
LIBERALIZED.
WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE CHILDREN
AND THEIR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN A
GOOD EDUCATION AND SOCIAL
STRUCTURE.
>> WITH ALL THE MITIGATION AND
MANDATES AROUND THEM, IS IT
POSSIBLE THAT CHILDREN ARE
ACTUALLY SAFER IN A SCHOOL
SETTING THAN NOT BEING IN SCHOOL
SCHOOL?
>> I'VE POSTULATED THIS.
IF YOU CAN ACCOUNT FOR
SOMEBODY'S WHEREABOUTS FOR 36 TO
40 HOURS A WEEK AND THEY'RE
MASKED, HAND WASHED, FED, WITH
RESPONSIBLE ADULTS, THAT IS
SUPERIOR TO SITTING AT HOME WITH
LARGER AND LARGER SOCIAL GROUPS
AS PARENTS HAVE TO GO TO WORK,
SO THEY BRING THEIR CHILDREN
PLACES.
KIDS ARE PLAYING WITH LARGER
GROUPS PERHAPS THAN THEY WOULD
AT SCHOOL.
I THINK KIDS ARE SAFER IN SCHOOL
THAN OUT.
>> DR. AMY FALK, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THE CITY OF MADISON SWORE IN
A NEW CHIEF OF POLICE MONDAY.
SHON BARNES TAKES THE HELM AFTER
MIKE KOVAL ANNOUNCED MISS
IMMEDIATE DEPARTURES MORE THAN A
YEAR AGO.
THE NEW CHIEF IS ENERGIZED ABOUT
THE POSITION AND TAKES OVER
DURING HISTORICALLY CHALLENGING
TIMES.
>> YOU THINK ABOUT 2020.
WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
WE STILL HAVE AMERICAN CITIZENS
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
VISITORS WHO ARE IN OUR COUNTRY
DYING EVERY DAY FROM THIS VIRUS
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET A
HANDLE OF.
OFFICERS STILL HAVE TO GO OUT
AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, DO
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PREVENT
CRIME IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THAT.
IN ADDITION, WE'RE NOW SEEING
POLICE OFFICERS DO THINGS EVERY
DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT MAKE US
SCRATCH OUR HEADS OR THAT EVEN
SHOCK OUR CONSCIENCE.
I THINK THE INCIDENT IN
MINNESOTA, IT SHOCKED EVERYONE'S
CONSCIENCE.
THERE WERE POLICE OFFICERS WHO
WERE JUST AS UPSET ABOUT THAT AS
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SO IT'S AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME IN
OUR COUNTRY.
ADDED TO THAT, ALMOST THIS
NATIONAL SENTIMENT OF DIVISION.
AND SO I THINK IT'S TIME -- I
THINK THE COUNTRY IS READY TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY
I'M ENERGIZED ABOUT THIS
POSITION.
THE COUNTRY IS READY TO MOVE
FORWARD TOGETHER AS A COUNTRY.
I THINK WE HAVE SEEN THAT WHEN
OUR DIVISION ISN'T HEALTHY, IT
DOESN'T BENEFIT ANYONE.
AND SO THE SAME THING CAN BE
SAID ABOUT EVERY POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND EVERY COMMUNITY
MEMBER.
I THINK OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS --
YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T WANT TO
PROTEST JUST AS MUCH AS
OFFICERS, YOU KNOW, DON'T WANT
TO HAVE TO MANAGE PROTESTS.
THEY DON'T WANT TO PROTEST.
THEY WANT TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY
WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO.
AND THAT'S DIFFICULT CONSIDERING
THE GLOBAL LANDSCAPE OF
POLICING.
>> MADISON POLICE CHIEF BARNES.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
NEXT WEEK, WE WILL HAVE COVERAGE
OF THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IN THE
U.S. SENATE.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.