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Today we highlight the latest installment of our Outbreak Wisconsin collaboration with WPR.
Bram Sable-Smith has followed Mariah Clark, a UW Health emergency department nurse, throughout a pandemic filled with anxiety and loss. But this month she reflected on a moment of hope; On Dec. 17, Clark joined health care colleagues in receiving a first dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine.
“I hope this helps us return to something resembling the normalcy we knew before,” she said.
Read and listen to our complete Outbreak Wisconsin series here.
Top Stories
‘I’m happy to be part of history’: An ER nurse gets the coronavirus vaccine, offering example to others — WPR/Wisconsin Watch
Trump reluctantly signs COVID aid, sparks fresh fight in GOP — Associated Press
Experts say experience convinced Midwest of virus dangers — Associated Press
Evers says he will extend mask mandate, veto stricter rules for absentee voting, decide later whether to run again — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
‘We are not going to lose a generation’: Here’s how one small Wisconsin school district has made the most of the pandemic — Appleton Post-Crescent
COVID-19 vaccination in nursing homes to start in Wisconsin this week — Wisconsin State Journal
So much for holiday cheer. Thousands of Wisconsinites still waiting in unemployment backlog — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Fearing COVID-19 exposure in hospitals, patients getting sicker before seeking care — Janesville Gazette
Fired Tyson boss says COVID office pool was a ‘morale boost’ — Associated Press
What are we missing? And how are you coping? Help us provide critical information and accountability by filling out this form or emailing us at tips@wisconsinwatch.org.
Quotable
“I think we actually turned that around a little bit. …I think there’s more people wearing a mask now than ever before. I think there’s more people kind of camping out at home more often than they have been before. And we’re in a position now where we can begin to vaccinate people and kind of end this mess.”
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, speaking to WPR
Data to note
WisContext offers these visualizations of Wisconsin COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths. New documented COVID-19 infections and test-positivity rates have continued to decline from a pre-Thanksgiving peak. The state is also seeing fewer COVID-19 patients hospitalized since mid-November, now hovering at mid-October levels.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services on Monday reported a seven-day average of 41 new COVID-19 deaths each day. Wisconsin’s total pandemic death toll is 4,711, according to DHS data.
Calculate your exposure risk
In Wisconsin, even small gatherings can carry a big risk of exposure to the coronavirus, according to a nationwide tool that estimates the danger by the size of gathering and county in which it is held. Data scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Stanford University developed the tool, which you can find here.
Resilient Wisconsin
People helping others and showing resilience during this time of anxiety. Send suggestions by tagging us on social media — @wisconsinwatch — or emailing us: tips@wisconsinwatch.org.
After exhausting, unbearable months fighting COVID-19 and losing patients, getting the vaccine was ‘euphoria’ for Milwaukee physician — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Driven to success: Classes, internship turn out commercial drivers despite the pandemic — Cap Times
Find out if you have COVID-19 antibodies while also donating blood with local blood drives — TMJ4 News
The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (wisconsinwatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.
