Department of Health Services chief medical officer Ryan Westergaard in briefing with @WiHealthNews says Wisconsin is approaching a "tipping point" when hospitals are not able to save everyone who becomes ill.
@WiHealthNews Westergaard says Wisconsin lost control of the outbreak over the summer.
He says a big issue has been predominantly asymptomatic people who aren't limiting interaction with other people.
He says a big issue has been predominantly asymptomatic people who aren't limiting interaction with other people.
@WiHealthNews Wisconsin Hospitals Association's Eric Borgerding says staffing in hospitals are "stressed."
"Not only are we seeing demand ... just almost going at a vertical pace, truly, but it's coming at a time when our capacity to treat that demand is becoming more and more diminished."
"Not only are we seeing demand ... just almost going at a vertical pace, truly, but it's coming at a time when our capacity to treat that demand is becoming more and more diminished."
@WiHealthNews .@TimSheehy_MMAC: 22 million jobs were created over last decade, 11 million were lost since April.
Sheehy says pandemic effect is not affecting every sector equally. He says parts of the economy are at a low unemployment rate but other parts have a rate of 32%.
Sheehy says pandemic effect is not affecting every sector equally. He says parts of the economy are at a low unemployment rate but other parts have a rate of 32%.
@WiHealthNews @TimSheehy_MMAC Sheehy says about 10% office workers are back in offices in metro Milwaukee.
@WiHealthNews @TimSheehy_MMAC Washington Ozaukee Public Health director Kirsten Johnson says local health officials are now unable to contact all positive cases within 24 hours.
@WiHealthNews @TimSheehy_MMAC Johnson says local officials are asking positive cases to do contact tracing themselves
Johnson says her department is seeing more than 400 cases a day and the department can handle 200.
"We can't get our arms around this."
Johnson says her department is seeing more than 400 cases a day and the department can handle 200.
"We can't get our arms around this."
@WiHealthNews @TimSheehy_MMAC Johnson says public health officials have lost of a lot of tools to combat the virus.
Johnson says they can't enforce policies to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Johnson says they can't enforce policies to stop the spread of coronavirus.
@WiHealthNews @TimSheehy_MMAC "We are just trying to help," she says.
@WiHealthNews @TimSheehy_MMAC While health officials say Wisconsin needs to stop interacting with the public or hospitals won't be able to save everyone who is sick, @SenStroebel issues a press release saying @GovEvers' speech asking people to stay home "was just a lot of fear mongering."
Westergaard says once epidemic is at this point, policy restrictions may not be enough. And "now it's private gatherings matter more and more."
"This is how things get accelerated. This is pouring gasoline on a fire," he says of smaller gatherings.
"This is how things get accelerated. This is pouring gasoline on a fire," he says of smaller gatherings.
Borgerding says it's great news a vaccine is on its way, but doesn't want the public to think that's a reason to not take the threat of the virus seriously.
Borgerding says Wisconsin needs leaders in state Capitol to "come together and speak with one voice as much as possible" on the urgency of the situation and how to stay safe.
Sheehy says GOP lawmakers and Gov. Evers need to get together on COVID-19: "The messages bouncing back between the governor's office and the Legislature hasn't been helpful."
Sheehy on what common ground can be found: "I'm just a bit perplexed at the kind of lack of common guidance on an issue that is broad and statewide, but I'm equally perplexed by how people are reacting to this."
Everyone on this panel: A key to getting a handle on the out-of-control situation: state government needs a unified and overarching message to the public.
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