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Republican state Senator wants to block UW System COVID-19 protocols

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Senator Steve Nass

A Republican state legislator is seeking to block the University of Wisconsin System’s COVID-19 plans for the fall.

State Senator Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) wants the UW System to get legislative approval for any virus-related regulations. Nass co-chairs the legislature’s administrative rules committee. Nass explained his decision in media release on Wednesday.   

Unfortunately, some chancellors in the UW System consider themselves mini-Andrea Palms not beholden to following state law and moving quickly to take advantage of the Delta-variant hysteria to enact excessive Covid-19 mandates.  The legislature should not drag its feet in utilizing the powers we have to prevent state agencies from abusing the statutory and constitutional rights of citizens as was done in 2020.

 

Interim UW System President Tommy Thompson

Senator Kelda Roys (D-Madison) serves on the rules committee, and her district includes the Madison campus. “It’s just hard to see how any rational person could think that prohibiting any COVID precautions is a good idea. I mean unless you really think that unmitigated spread of COVID is a good thing,” said Roys.

Interim UW System President Tommy Thompson did not directly address Nass’ proposal, but expressed his concerns in a statement released on Thursday.

Given my experience as a former United States Health and Human Services Secretary, I know the biggest threat to in-person classes this fall would be actions that strip the UW System of the tools it has so successfully used to date to address outbreaks and reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Nass plans to hold a paper ballot vote Tuesday in the committee, in which Republicans hold a 6-to-4 majority. His effort to restrict the UW System’s efforts come with Wisconsin the midst of an increase in new COVID-19 infections.

Record 120 COVID-19 deaths reported in Wisconsin on Tuesday

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A record more deaths due to COVID-19 were recorded in a single day in Wisconsin on Tuesday.

Although the deaths were reported Tuesday, they may have occurred earlier. Still, it’s the highest single day number reported by the state Department of Health Services since the beginning of the pandemic. That brings the total in Wisconsin to 4,545, and the average over the past week to 60 per day.

There were 2,403 new confirmed cases Tuesday on just over 6800 tests as both new cases and new tests continue to decline.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Wisconsin Hospitals Association reported 1,274 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, with 281 in ICUs. Those figures are both down from highs set in mid-November.

Statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations exceed 2,000 for the first time

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For the first time since the start of the global pandemic, there are more than 2,000 COVID-19 patients in Wisconsin hospitals.

The Wisconsin Hospitals Association updates its dashboard of COVID-19 data daily, and as of Monday afternoon it showed 2,003 patients being treated for the virus, with 396 in ICUs.

The state Department of Health Services reported 4,360 new cases on Monday, and a 7-day average of well over 5,000 cases. DHS also reported 17 additional deaths for a total of 2,329 lives lost in the state.

State and local public health agencies and hospital groups continue to plead with the public to follow recommended guidelines to help “flatten the curve,” and slow transmission of the virus in Wisconsin communities.

 

No new COVID-19 deaths in Wisconsin for third straight day

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For a third straight day, no new deaths due to COVID-19 were reported in Wisconsin.

That’s according to the daily summary from the state Department of Health Services. The number of test results reported dropped to one of its lowest points in recent weeks, pushing the percentage of positive test results up.

DHS reported that 717 — or 17.6 percent — of 4,083 tests were returned as positive. The seven day rolling average of new cases is 842 per day, and the seven day average rate of new infections is 11.3 percent.

No new deaths means that number holds at 1,168 lives lost in Wisconsin due to coronavirus.

Thursday COVID-19 numbers – 4 deaths, 7.9% positive test rate

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The coronavirus continues to claim lives and hospitalize people in Wisconsin.

Thursday’s daily statewide COVID-19 update included four additional deaths and 30 more hospitalizations over the previous 24 hours. The Department of Health Services reported 727 – or 7.9 percent – of 9,178 new test results were positive.

The seven-day average of reported positive daily cases is 674, down from 701 a week ago. Hospitals are currently treating 287 patients with 91 in intensive care.

The Wisconsin death toll from the global pandemic is 1,146.

Wednesday COVID-19 numbers for Wisconsin

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Wisconsin reported a half-dozen more deaths and over 40 more hospitalizations on Wednesday.


The Department of Health Services reported 768 — or 7.4 percent — of 10,378 new test results were returned as positive, according to new numbers released Wednesday.

The number of new cases and percentage of new cases were both up from Tuesday’s 638, and 6.4 percent. The seven-day average of 681 new daily cases is still lower than 747 a week ago. Six deaths bring the total number of lives lost in Wisconsin to 1100.

COVID-19 cases and positive test percentage back up Thursday

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After dropping to the second lowest number of cases since June, Thursday’s COVID-19 numbers for Wisconsin are back up.

The Department of Health Services reported 943 – or 7.6 percent – of 12,415 new test results came back positive Thursday, compared with just 478 new confirmed cases and a positive test rate of 4.8 percent on Wednesday.

The seven-day average of 775 new cases per day is down from 810 a week ago. DHS listed seven new deaths, bringing to the total to 1,018 lives lost in Wisconsin.

Forty-five new new hospitalizations bring the current number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients to 364, with 111 in intensive care.

Additional information on COVID-19 cases by region and county can be found on the DHS website.

Tuesday COVID-19 numbers: 5.3% positive test rate and 14 additional deaths

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Wisconsin’s confirmed COVID-19 cases have exceeded 50-thousand, as the virus continues to claim lives.

The Department of Health Services reported 762 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, out of 14,424 test results. That’s a rate of 5.3 percent, which is an encouraging trend.

However, DHS also listed 14 new deaths, for a total of 906 Wisconsin lives lost to the pandemic.

Seventy-three new hospitalizations bring the number of patients being treated for COVID-19 to 246, with 86 people in intensive care.

Public health officials continue to urge people to wear masks while inside public places and outdoors when social distancing is not possible, and to practice good hand hygiene.

Wednesday COVID-19 numbers: 821 positive tests, 5.9 percent

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Wednesday’s count of confirmed COVID-19 cases is the fourth highest in Wisconsin total since the pandemic began here.

The Department of Health Services reported 821 of 13,925 tests from the prior 24 hours were positive. a rate of 5.9 percent, which brings the seven-day average to 7.2 percent.

The other three record setting days for case totals have all come in the last week, including 964 on Tuesday. The seven-day average is up to 796 cases per day, from 565 a week ago.

DHS also reported one additional death and 295 hospital patients with COVID-19. 88 in intensive care.

Weekend COVID-19 numbers: no new deaths, positive test rate above 10 percent

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Sunday was a second straight day of no new COVID-19 deaths in Wisconsin.  However, the 10.4 percent positive tests was the second straight day of positive test rates above 10 percent. The Department of Health Services reported 522 of 4,996 new test results were positive.

Saturday saw 738 of 6,822 new test results come back positive. That was 10.8 percent and also broke the previous single day record for positive cases. DHS also reported 31 additional hospitalizations over the weekend.