WISCONSIN CORONAVIRUS: THE LATEST

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin joined other states Tuesday in suspending the use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine while federal agencies investigate six cases in which women who received the single-dose drug later developed blood clots.

State health officials made the move after the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration recommended the course of action, saying the pause could last days.

ROCK COUNTY, Wis.— With the Badger State now at two million vaccinated Wisconsinites, things seem to be looking up, but a recent spike in cases has health officials thinking otherwise.

The B.1.1.7 variant of the coronavirus is likely the leading strain across the state. It’s more contagious and health officials are saying the biggest age group affected in the most recent spike is kids.

WISCONSIN— Wisconsin Department of Health Services started sharing information on two additional coronavirus variants in the Badger State on Thursday, April 8.

Variants B.1.427 and B.1.429 were first identified in Wisconsin in Dec. 2020. These variants are believed to have started circulating in California, and were first discovered in California in May 2020.

MADISON, Wis.— Children are testing positive for coronavirus more than any other age group in Wisconsin right now.

Earlier on in the pandemic, the thought was that kids can’t spread the virus as much as adults. While the answer isn’t perfectly clear yet, evidence seems to dispute the idea that kids aren’t as contagious. However, kids are overall less severely impacted by the virus symptoms.

JANESVILLE, Wis. — Instead of driving to a COVID-19 testing site, you might be curious how you can take it from the comfort of the couch.

Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin asked Mercyhealth ER Dr. Christopher Wistrom to give the new technology a try.

MILWAUKEE — As COVID-19 vaccines continue to roll out across Wisconsin, it can be hard to know where to turn to schedule an appointment.

As of April 5, every Wisconsinite who is 16 or older is eligible to get their vaccine. Here, we’ve collected information from vaccine providers to help you get your shot.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin appeals court ruling clears the way for names of businesses that have had outbreaks of COVID-19 can be made public, but the decision is expected to be appealed to the state Supreme Court before any information is released.

The ruling from the 4th District Court of Appeals, based in Madison, came Monday in a case brought by the state’s largest business lobbying group, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, against Gov. Tony Evers’ administration. The lawsuit attempted to block the release of the names of more than 1,000 businesses with more than 25 employees where at least two workers have tested positive for COVID-19.

MILWAUKEE – A COVID-19 outbreak of the variant first identified in the U.K. (B.1.1.7) has now been tied to a childcare center in Dane County where 21 children and staffers tested positive, followed by 16 of their relatives and "dozens" of people in the community since.

"We have been in close contact with them, they had been doing everything right," Janel Heinrich, Director of Public Health Madison & Dane County said, adding that the center remains open right now. "They have strong protocols in place, continue to do so and we hope to not see much further spread."

MILWAUKEE — Over the past year, the scientific world has seen a steady flow of research updating what we know about the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and how it affects humans.

Because the virus is so new, researchers are still grappling with many questions about its function. And because of the nature of the scientific process, no single study can completely answer those questions. Instead, new research is constantly challenging our understanding of the pandemic.

As COVID-19 testing numbers continue to slide in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has authorized two at-home, over-the-counter COVID-19 tests that can get rapid results – without a prescription.

The FDA said Wednesday that Abbott’s BinaxNow and Quidel’s QuickVue COVID tests can be sold without a prescription.

MILWAUKEE — Now that you can finally catch a baseball game at American Family Field for the first time in 18 months, many Brewers fans are probably rounding up their merchandise and on the hunt for tickets. But this season there's one more thing you're going to need before hitting up a game: A rundown of all the new rules.

The new guidelines are implemented with one thing in mind: Safety. The ballpark worked with MLB and the City of Milwaukee to create a set of standards to protect fans and staff from health risks posed by the pandemic.

MADISON, Wis.— A Madison-area teen is thrilled to hear Pfizer’s new younger age vaccine safety announcement — the survivor battled her own deadly disease — the Oregon girl hopes her constant fear of catching COVID-19 will one day also become a thing of the past.

In 2019, Phoebe Yancey learned she had a successful battle with a malignant stage IV brain tumor. Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin shared her Emmy award-winning story that same year. It highlighted her positive spirit and a special 'miracle cure' non-alcoholic cocktail made in her honor.

WISCONSIN— Wisconsin Department of Health Services confirmed Friday that another variant of the coronavirus was detected in Wisconsin.

The variant strain, referred to as P.1, is believed to have originated in Brazil. P.1 was first detected in January 2021 in four travelers coming from Brazil to Tokyo, Japan.

MILWAUKEE — Most Wisconsinites are now eligible to get their COVID-19 vaccinations. And every day, life-saving shots are going into arms, bringing us closer to the end of the pandemic.

Over a year after the coronavirus first showed up in the state, and with more than three months of the vaccine rollout now behind us, we take a look at the latest news to know here in the Badger State.

MILWAUKEE – In the movies, the blockbuster comes to a close just before the credits roll: the Death Star blows up and the Star Wars rebels celebrate; Andy Dufresne and Red reunite on a beach after getting out from behind bars in The Shawshank Redemption; Bogart bids Ingrid Bergman adieu at the end of Casablanca.

So how might the pandemic's story end?

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A new online tool to record COVID-19 vaccine side effects is gaining more attention. It's called V-Safe Health Checker, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging people to sign up to help improve vaccination safety.

With more Americans getting the vaccine, the CDC is stepping in to help continue with the research.

MADISON, Wis. — The coronavirus originated in animals before making the jump to humans. It's a type of sickness called a zoonotic disease. Tony Goldberg, a professor of epidemiology at the UW-Madison veterinary school and an expert on zoonotic diseases spoke with Spectrum News about how the coronavirus came around, and why we should be prepared for another pandemic.

Spectrum: I'll just start off with zoonotic diseases, can you tell me a little bit about them and how the coronavirus is one?

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos called on the state’s business community to “step up” and return workers to offices around the Fourth of July, joining Wednesday with the state Senate’s top Republican in praising the state’s coronavirus vaccination efforts.

Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu offered rare praise for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ administration, giving it credit for increasing vaccinations. During the virtual event hosted by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state’s largest business lobbying group, they also pushed for a return to pre-pandemic work routines.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Three months into the U.S. vaccination effort against COVID-19, nearly 84 million Americans have received at least one dose. None of them are under 16.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three vaccines for emergency use, none for anyone younger than 16. Vaccines from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson may be administered to those as young as 18. Pfizer's vaccine is available for those as young as 16.

MILWAUKEE — A broad group of Wisconsinites with high-risk medical conditions have been added to the COVID-19 vaccine list.

On March 11, the Department of Health Services released a list of 20 different medical conditions that would qualify residents for the next vaccine phase, set to start on March 29. Days later, the eligibility date was pushed up to March 22.

LA CROSSE, Wis.— Three women are preserving first-hand accounts of how the pandemic altered countless lives. A student, professor, and archivist at UW-La Crosse have made it their mission to ensure this past year is forever documented.

It began with Professor Kate Errthum, who taught her English class virtually last year.

MILWAUKEE — Matt Roman Lopez, the director of operations at BelAir Cantina on Milwaukee’s Water Street believes the new guidance from the City of Milwaukee on restaurants shows things are headed in the right direction when it comes to COVID-19.

“It’s a sign that we’re doing things right, that the city as a hole is doing things right and people are staying healthy,” Roman Lopez said.

CHICAGO — The best COVID-19 vaccine shots in America just might be the two that went into Sister Jean’s arm.

The breakout star and model for the most coveted bobblehead of the 2018 NCAA Tournament is now eight months beyond her 101st birthday and still serving as chaplain for the Loyola of Chicago basketball team. It took two vaccinations and some serious wrangling, but Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt was back on the scene Friday in Indianapolis watching her beloved Ramblers in person, sporting brand-new, brick-red kicks but the same radiant smile — a fresh reminder for a pandemic-weary fan base that a little perseverance still goes a long way.

MILWAUKEE — Dr. Mark Hansen has been working in education for almost three decades. He’s spent the past nine years serving as the superintendent for Elmbrook School District.

But he’s never seen anything like the past 365-days-and-change.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — There will be enough coronavirus vaccine in Wisconsin by the end of June to immunize 80% of those age 16 and over in the state, hitting a key target to achieve herd immunity for COVID-19, a top state health official said Thursday.

“Wouldn’t that be a wonderful 4th of July celebration, to hit 80% community immunity in the state of Wisconsin?” said Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk.

MADISON, Wis. — As the pandemic has dragged on, we’ve lost a year of “normal” life — of hugs, celebrations, family time, unmasked smiles.

But in terms of those gone too soon to COVID-19, we’ve lost much more time. According to a recent study, deaths from the coronavirus have cost more than 20 million years of life.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin is “woefully behind” in cleaning up COVID-19 data and a renewed emphasis it has placed on making sure its case counts are more accurate has resulted in swings in previously reported numbers, state health officials said Wednesday.

There’s a concern the public won’t understand why the numbers are changing, state Department of Health Services officials told The Associated Press, even though they said it’s part of a routine process that fell behind in the fall as COVID-19 cases were spiking.

MILWAUKEE — Consider it a booster shot to Wisconsin's ongoing efforts to get more Wisconsinites vaccinated against COVID-19 as FEMA stepped in Monday to take over Milwaukee's mega-vaccination site at the Wisconsin Center.

"This represents a whole of government effort and a whole of government partnership-- FEMA is coming in with a number of our federal partners to help support the State of Wisconsin's vaccination efforts," Dan Shulman, External Affairs Specialist with FEMA Region 5 told Spectrum News 1 on Monday. "For people in Milwaukee and the surrounding areas, they're not going to notice any difference besides the fact thtat the people inside giving the shots are going to be federal employees instead of state and city employees."

GREEN BAY, Wis.— One year ago Thursday the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak to be a global pandemic.

Stephan Walker says the past twelve months have proven to be quite difficult. He says it’s flown by in all but one regard.

GREEN BAY, Wis.— Lambeau Field is going from hallowed grounds to a health clinic.

The Packers, Bellin Health, and Brown County public health announced Friday they are partnering to turn the Lambeau Field Atrium into a COVID-19 vaccine clinic starting March 17.

MILWAUKEE — One year ago, the threat of COVID-19 was creeping into the national consciousness.

The novel coronavirus, at first a seemingly distant danger, started hitting home for the Badger State in March 2020. Wisconsinites hunkered down, stocked up on toilet paper, hosted Zoom hangouts, maybe tried their hand at a nice sourdough.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Everyone in Wisconsin will be eligible for the coronavirus vaccine on May 1, in according with President Joe Biden’s call, Gov. Tony Evers announced Friday.

State health officials had said Thursday that everyone in the state would be eligible sometime in May. Hours later, Biden said he wanted states to make everyone eligible by May 1.

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County is working to get all state-eligible groups vaccinated.

With certain areas more at risk than others, they have found a new way to get more people their shots.

MILWAUKEE — A year ago, for many Americans, COVID-19 got real.

What started as a faraway threat quickly started hitting close to home. As March rolled around, we saw a rapid succession of scary events: Cases grew stateside, the World Health Organization called the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, and the U.S. declared its own national emergency.

MILWAUKEE — Almost three months in, the Badger State’s rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is reaching new heights.

Wisconsin’s turnaround for getting its shots into arms is now among the best in the nation. Recently, we’ve seen the vaccination plan move forward with new residents joining the vaccine pool, new shots authorized for use, and new resources for finding an appointment.

WISCONSIN— Another variant of COVID-19 was identified in Wisconsin, according to a press release issued on Friday by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

The strain, referred to as B.1.351, was first discovered in South Africa in Oct. 2020, according to the press release. This is a different variant than the coronavirus strain that was identified in Wisconsin on Jan. 12, 2021. That strain, B.1.1.7, was first seen in the U.K.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A highly contagious coronavirus variant is becoming more prevalent in Wisconsin but vaccine shots should be available to everyone by mid-summer, pushing the state closer to the end of the pandemic, health officials said Thursday.

State Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk told reporters during a question-and-answer session that sequencing has now detected 19 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant in the state. The variant was first detected in the United Kingdom late last year.

MILWAUKEE— Getting teachers vaccinated continues to be a top priority for state and local leaders.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced a partnership with Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin Wednesday morning. Barrett said city and health officials have worked to “move heaven and earth” to make sure they are getting vaccines in the arms of educators, efficiently, by mid-March.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Teachers will be prioritized to receive the first shipment of about 48,000 doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine coming to Wisconsin next week, a bolster in supply that won’t be matched again for several weeks, the state’s deputy health secretary said Tuesday.

About 30% of Wisconsin public school districts — 131 out of 421 — will be done vaccinating teachers by March 15, said Julie Willems Van Dijk, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The state originally planned to prioritize schools for vaccine distribution, but didn’t need to do that because initial supply of the vaccine met the plans for distribution submitted by schools, she said.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Nearly 4,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine will be distributed to Pick ’n Save and Metro Market locations in Wisconsin this week, the state Department of Health Services announced Tuesday.

Those stores are joining Walgreens as participants under a federal program to get the vaccine into underserved areas. The federal government is providing 2,340 doses this week and the state is contributing 1,552 doses. Anyone currently eligible for the vaccine can schedule an appointment through Kroger’s website or by calling 866-211-5320.

MILWAUKEE — Over the past year, the scientific world has seen a steady flow of research updating what we know about the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and how it affects humans.

Because the virus is so new, researchers are still grappling with many questions about its function. And because of the nature of the scientific process, no single study can completely answer those questions. Instead, new research is constantly challenging our understanding of the pandemic.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Few things smell like a new home.

Despite a brief pandemic-related downturn last spring, homebuilders across the state and nation are busy. That includes Chad Buntin of Buntin Construction.

Following Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are being shipped out to states nationwide.

"The trucks are literally rolling off the docks as we speak," the company's CEO Alex Gorsky told "Good Morning America" on Monday, "And we hope to be able to get shots in arms within literally the next 24 to 48 hours."

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory panel voted unanimously to recommend the one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, allowing inoculations to begin after CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky accepted the panel's guidance.

The news comes one day after the Food and Drug Administration granted Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine Emergency Use Authorization for adults 18 and over.

MILWAUKEE— Willie Mae Williams was one of the first people to get their first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during Saturday’s walk-in clinic at the Hayatt Pharmacy.

“I ain’t too crazy about shots, but I’m very happy to have it,” Williams said after getting the vaccine.

WISCONSIN— Disparities along racial lines continue to be an issue across the country. This is especially true when it comes to COVID-19 deaths and access to the vaccine.

Dr. Melanie Gray with Aurora Health says a lot of coronavirus-centric problems for people of color can be boiled down to access issues, both before diagnosis and after.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Teachers at Wisconsin schools with a higher percentage of students at risk for catching the coronavirus will be prioritized for vaccinations when they become eligible next week, the deputy secretary of the state Department of Health Services said Thursday.

Teachers belong to a group of 700,000 people who will be eligible for the vaccine starting Monday, joining those over 65. About half of those people have been vaccinated, allowing the move to the next priority group.

MADISON, Wis.— DHS announced that teachers and childcare workers would be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine on March 1. They're rejoicing all across Wisconsin.

Phase 1B of the vaccine distribution in Wisconsin opens on March 1. That means specific groups are now eligible, but it does not necessarily mean doses will be immediately available for everyone.

MILWAUKEE — For Carlene Brennan, lending an ear comes naturally.

“I’ve always been told that I’m a good listener,” said Brennan, a registered nurse in radiology at Froedtert and The Medical College of Wisconsin. “I’ve always been one that I feel like people come to.”

MADISON, Wis. — Despite the pandemic, a team of dental hygienists-in-training wants people to keep their cleaning appointments.

At Madison Area Technical College this month, the school once again is offering 150 pre-selected at-risk children a free check-up.

OSHKOSH, Wis.— The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is the newest community vaccination center to open its doors.

Gov. Tony Evers visited Friday to tour the new site. The center has the capacity to distribute up to 1,000 vaccines a day.

WEST ALLIS, Wis.— A one-of-a-kind vaccine service is being given to those in a Wisconsin community who are homebound during the pandemic.

Members of the mobile integrated health team at the West Allis fire department started their day by packing up a handful of covid vaccines at the firehouse.

WISCONSIN— Health experts continue to learn more about COVID-19 "long haulers." That's the informal term used to describe people who recovered from the virus but are still experiencing chronic symptoms, sometimes for months.

The scientific term is "post-acute COVID-19 syndrome." From what doctors know there are two main categories of "long haulers."

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The University of Wisconsin-Madison warned of a recent spike in COVID-19 cases Friday, a day after a more contagious variant of the virus was detected in the county and the UW president said he wanted students to attend nearly all classes in person this fall.

The email told of a “significant increase” in COVID-19 cases among students on and off campus. There were 112 confirmed cases reported Wednesday and 99 more on Thursday, according to the message from Jake Baggott, the head of University Health Services.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin health officials said Thursday they plan to launch a new online COVID-19 vaccine registry next month.

People will be able to log into the registry, determine if they’re eligible and schedule appointments for shots through their local health departments. The registry also will remind people about scheduling for a second dose and help people monitor for symptoms after getting vaccinated.

MILWAUKEE — Over the course of the pandemic, tens of millions of people across the world have caught COVID-19 and recovered. But for this growing group of COVID-19 survivors, scientists still don’t have an exact answer for what immunity looks like.

Generally, the body is better at fighting off viruses and other invaders it has dealt with in the past. Parts of the immune system can remember what that invader looks like and rally the body’s defenses more quickly if it shows up again.

MADISON, Wis.— Since the beginning of the pandemic, researchers at UW-Madison's AIDS Vaccine Research Laboratory have been mapping the genetic makeup of positive coronavirus samples.

“Generating a genetic finger print essentially from those viruses to sort of be able to track what viruses are here, where they are coming from, and how they are moving through our community,” said Katarina Braun, a grad student researcher in the lab.

WISCONSIN— New guidance from the CDC for people fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If exposed to the virus, they don't have to do the standard 14-day quarantine.

"This is huge, this is really great news," Gundersen health infection preventionist, Megan Meller says.

MILWAUKEE — In Wisconsin, COVID-19 infection rates are at their lowest point in months, and life-saving vaccines are rolling out faster than ever.

“While things are still tough for so many, and we know we’re not out of the woods quite yet, things are certainly looking up,” Gov. Tony Evers said at a media briefing this week.

MILWAUKEE — The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has offered a hopeful turn in the pandemic’s path. The shots help your body put up its immune defenses and fend off the coronavirus as it tries to take hold.

But those defenses aren’t perfect: It’s still possible to get a COVID-19 infection after you get vaccinated, explains Dr. Joyce Sanchez, an infectious disease specialist at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A second case of a new, more contagious form of the COVID-19 virus has been detected in Wisconsin, less than a month after it was first seen, health officials said Tuesday.

The variant was first detected on Jan. 12 and was identified again on Sunday by lab partners of the state Department of Health Services.

MILWAUKEE — Every day, more and more Wisconsinites are getting life-saving doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

The vaccines have brought some hope for the end of the pandemic — and also a lot of questions. Here, we walk you through the key information you should know about getting your shot here in Wisconsin.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers issued a new statewide mask order on Thursday, an hour after the Republican-controlled Legislature voted to repeal his previous mandate.

The Democrat Evers said in a video message that his priority is keeping people safe and that wearing a mask was the most basic way to do that.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled Legislature on Thursday repealed Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ mask mandate, brushing aside warnings from health experts against making Wisconsin one of only 10 states without a statewide order.

The Assembly vote came a week after the Senate voted to kill the mandate. Republicans, who control both chambers, argued that Evers exceeded his authority by repeatedly extending the mask mandate without legislative approval. The repeal will take effect on Friday, after the Senate majority leader signs it.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s COVID-19 vaccination rate increased relative to other states over the past week and demand continues to far exceed supply, with roughly one dose delivered to vaccinators for every four requested.

Last week alone, nearly 300,000 doses were requested by Wisconsin vaccinators, but the federal government delivered only about 77,000 doses, Julie Willems Van Dijk, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, said Tuesday. That’s about 27% of the amount requested.

WISCONSIN— State health leaders say our healthcare workers are ready to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine, but they do not have enough supplies.

Officials say the federal government has failed to give Wisconsin enough supplies such as PPE, and the vaccine itself. Therefore, they cannot vaccinate everyone who is currently eligible.

MILWAUKEE— While thousands of COVID-19 vaccines continue to be distributed each day, there are growing concerns about pregnant women being vaccinated.

While experts continue to gather data, fertility expert and OBGYN Dr. Ellen Hayes from Vios Fertility Institute-Milwaukee is sharing the following about the vaccine as it relates to pregnant women.

MARINETTE, Wis.— Alan Young of Athelstane got his first of two vaccination shots Friday at a Bellin Health clinic in Marinette.

“I’m a little relieved because I don’t know how freely these vaccines are going to keep rolling in,” he said.

MILWAUKEE— Truck drivers continue traveling across the country as essential employees.

They're keeping supply chains in motion, but they're also busy delivering key items that will help the nation combat the coronavirus such as PPE supplies and the vaccine.

WASHINGTON — The government’s top infectious disease expert said Friday he hopes to see some kids starting to get vaccinated for COVID-19 in the next few months. It’s a needed step to securing widespread immunity to the virus.

Vaccines are not yet approved for children, but testing already is underway for those as young as 12.

MILWAUKEE — It's been almost a year since the World Health Organization first declared COVID-19 a public health emergency.

The fight against the novel coronavirus hasn’t slowed down since then. But, of course, we now have some powerful weapons on our side: Two highly effective COVID-19 vaccines rolling out across the U.S., with more possibly on the way.

MADISON, Wis. – Republicans lawmakers are putting pressure on Gov. Tony Evers to speed up the vaccine rollout in Wisconsin.

In an effort to get more Wisconsinites vaccinated faster, Republicans took up a proposal Thursday requiring DHS to present its vaccination plan to the Legislature no later than February 28.

MILWAUKEE — After graduating from Marquette University in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic last spring, David Fraley was able to land a full-time job as a software engineer. So why did he decide to take on extra, unpaid work on a vaccine management project?

“I just don’t like to sleep,” Fraley jokes.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — For Lucy Bellerud and Jessica Landry a year that started with a trek into the unknown of a pandemic ended with a nearly unrelenting stream of patients coming through the doors of Bellin Hospital in Green Bay.

“And then September hit. And it it hard and fast,” said Bellerud, a respiratory therapist. “ Something I’ve never seen before — I’ve been at Bellin for 19 years — is I’ve never seen our emergency room to the point where we’re lining patients down the hall.”

MILWAUKEE— Healthcare professionals at Children's Wisconsin are joining a growing number of frontline workers across the country, who are taking to social media to document their COVID-19 vaccine side effects.

Dr. Jorge Ramallo, a primary care physician, is one of those sharing his journey in hopes of easing the concern over the vaccination process.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin will become one of only 10 states without statewide mask mandates if the Assembly votes as scheduled Thursday to overturn Gov. Tony Evers’ order, but masks will still be required in some of its largest cities thanks to local ordinances.

More than two dozen public health organizations, as well as state and local health officials, have urged the Republican-controlled Legislature to reconsider the vote. Wearing masks is one of the pillars of recommendations from health experts worldwide to slow the spread of the coronavirus, along with physically distancing and avoiding crowds.

MILWAUKEE — A new study focused on schools in Wisconsin will come as welcome news to those pushing to get students back in the classroom as soon as possible during the pandemic.

The main finding?

MILWAUKEE — More than a year since the novel coronavirus infected its first humans, the COVID-19 pandemic is still in full swing.

In Wisconsin, though, the new year has brought some promising trends. Infections are on the decline from their crisis-level peaks in late 2020, and vaccines offer a glimmer of hope for defeating the virus.

MADISON, Wis. — The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate voted Tuesday to repeal Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide mask mandate, despite warnings from virtually every sector of the health care community that doing so would impair efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Both legislative chambers have to pass the resolution in order to undo the mask requirement. The Assembly, controlled 58-30 by Republicans, scheduled it for a vote Thursday.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Wisconsin pharmacist accused of trying to defrost and spoil dozens of vials of COVID-19 vaccine agreed Tuesday to plead guilty in federal court.

Steven Brandenburg, 46, of Grafton, is charged with two counts of attempting to tamper with consumer products. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years and a $250,000 fine on each count, according to the plea deal.

The White House announced Tuesday afternoon that the Biden-Harris administration will be purchasing an additional 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine as the country looks to ramp up its supply to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden’s administration has requested 100 million additional doses of Moderna’s vaccine, as well as another 100 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, the president said Tuesday — an order that doubles the federal administration’s previous vaccine supply.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Senate planned to vote Tuesday on repealing Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide mask mandate, while it remained unclear whether the Assembly would follow suit as required to undo the order.

A joint resolution cosponsored by 29 Republicans in the Legislature was up for approval in the Senate. It was the only item on the Senate’s agenda for Tuesday.

JANESVILLE, Wis.— Hundreds of teachers were vaccinated Friday, in one of Wisconsin’s first mass clinics for educators.

Candy Clough taught in the Beloit School District for more than 20 years. She recently came out of retirement to teach online. Rise Virtual Academy typically teaches about 300 students, but with the pandemic, their enrollment is up to 3,000.

MILWAUKEE — This week, after much discussion, Wisconsinites got some more clarity on which groups will be next up in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Shots have previously been opened up to health care workers and long-term care facilities in Phase 1A, plus police and firefighters as the first chunk of 1B.

APPLETON, Wis.— There’s no playbook that comes with vaccinating an entire region, or entire state, for COVID-19.

But healthcare providers have a wealth of knowledge they’re pulling from as they gear up to begin vaccinating people 65 and older next week.

WAUWATOSA, Wis. — Being a good neighbor looks a little different in these pandemic days.

Instead of handing over a cup of sugar, providers in Wisconsin are sharing something much more valuable: Doses of life-saving COVID-19 vaccines.

WISCONSIN— As the governor and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services continue to map out the priority list of who can get the vaccine, grocery store workers were added to the phase 1B group. This puts them next in line to get vaccinated.

Since last March, grocery store workers across the U.S. have been put on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the plans to roll out the vaccine, grocery store workers were not originally on plan 1B.

MILWAUKEE— As the COVID-19 vaccine continues to be handed out to people across Wisconsin, here is a quick breakdown of who can get vaccinated and where you can go to get your first dosage.

Right now, Wisconsin is in phase 1A, which includes frontline health care workers, residents in long-term care facilities, and police and fire personnel.

MILWAUKEE — A broad group of vulnerable Wisconsinites will soon be eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

On Tuesday, the Department of Health Services announced that any Wisconsinites 65 and older would be able to get their shots starting next week.

MADISON, Wis.— Just days from now, health officials are set to finalize who gets the next round of Wisconsin’s COVID-19 vaccines. Grocery store workers are not on the list.

Some grocers want to change that.

President-elect Joe Biden on Friday laid out his detailed plan to ramp up the pace that Americans receive critical COVID-19 vaccinations, slamming the Trump administration's vaccine rollout plan as a "dismal failure."

Biden has long promised the ambitious goal of administering 100 million vaccine doses during his first 100 days in office, but until Friday had not specified what steps his incoming administration will take to do so. Biden on Thursday released plans for a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, legislation aimed at economic recovery and financial assistance for needy Americans.

MILWAUKEE — Over the past year, the scientific world has seen a steady flow of research updating what we know about the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and how it affects humans.

Because the virus is so new, researchers are still grappling with many questions about its function. And because of the nature of the scientific process, no single study can completely answer those questions. Instead, new research is constantly challenging our understanding of the pandemic.

GREEN BAY, Wis.— Green Bay Packers’ head coach Matt LaFleur said there were no additional positive cases of COVID-19 among the team as of Thursday, after tackle Jared Veldheer was put on the reserve list Wednesday.

Veldheer learned he tested positive for COVID-19 after he practiced with the team on Tuesday.

The highly contagious coronavirus variant first detected in England could become the predominant strain in the United States by March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Friday.

As of Wednesday, 76 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant had been found in 10 states, the CDC said. But the agency said its modeling data show the variant spreading rapidly, which would place an even greater strain on hospitals, many already overwhelmed as case numbers continue to soar.

MILWAUKEE— It's one of the most anticipated days of the year for frontline workers. And no, it's not a holiday.

Dr. Dimmy Sokhal is a pharmacist at Hayat Pharmacy in Milwaukee. Dr. Sokhal and her team at the pharmacy's Layton Avenue location are prepped and ready to begin administering the first round of COVID-19 vaccinations as early as next week.