Read chapter 73 here
As you are probably aware, Wisconsin is one of the top 3 states in the Covid hit parade right now. Our 7-day average of new cases is approaching 3,000, a 300% increase since September 1. A few weeks later, a New York Times list of 20 cities with the fastest increase in Covid cases during a 14-day period included 8 cities in Wisconsin, most of them college towns.
What initially fueled our latest spike was students returning to college, specifically, a number of UW System campuses including Madison, Whitewater, Oshkosh, Stevens Point, Eau Claire, and La Crosse. In-person classes went virtual, resident students were quarantined in dorms where severe outbreaks had taken place, bars closed or had to limit their capacity, and finger-pointing between college and local officials became a popular pastime. Nearly two months into the fall semester, the number of campus cases have dropped dramatically. But now, unfortunately, the entire state is on fire, thanks to a spike among middle-aged adults, which some attribute to students returning home rather than being locked down on campus. I’m not convinced that this is the case, but then I’m no epidemiologist.
Nonetheless, although the outbreak is widespread, northeastern Wisconsin is currently getting the worst of it. Brown County (Green Bay) is ground zero, and has been so for more than a month. The county ranks 1st, by a significant margin, in having the highest percentage of positive cases per 100,000 persons among the state’s 72 counties. Although the county is home to UW-Green Bay, the
campus has had little impact on Covid numbers as it is primarily a commuter campus. Moreover, Its location on the northeastern edge of the city, sprawling architectural design, and lack of any nearby off-campus amenities gives it a cloistered atmosphere. What’s driving the numbers in Brown County are folks going out to the bars or attending large gatherings at people’s homes while foregoing masks and social distancing while braying in each other’s faces. No doubt complaining that the Packers won’t allow any fans at Lambeau Field. Critical thinking skills are in short supply. Most of the other counties with a top 10 positivity rate are located north and northwest of Brown County. In fact, until recently, the entire 7th Congressional District (dark blue on map at left), was mostly red when overlaid on a New York Times Covid map. Even Florence County (pop. 4,300), where Spread Eagle is located, has gotten into the act.
It gets worse.
Hospitals in northeastern Wisconsin are running out of beds, and staff are working long hours to keep up with the influx of patients. When a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter sent out a questionnaire asking legislators how they plan to help their constituents, none of the Republicans responded, including Mike Gallagher, a Republican who represents in the 7th district. Too busy drinking the Cult of Trump-flavored Kool-Aid.
Needless to say, northeastern Wisconsin is a very Trumpy area of the state. All but one of the counties voted for Obama in 2008, but Trump won all but one (the Menominee Indian reservation) by big margins. Residents, on average, are older, less educated, more likely to be struggling economically — receptive audience to Trump’s dismissiveness of masks, social distancing, the virus itself. (“It’s going to go away.” “It’s gonna disappear.”)
And look where it got them.
Thanksgiving and Christmas are ruined. But these folks will party on. Which is why it’s going to take us so long to beat the virus.
Meanwhile, public health and medical officials are pleading with all Wisconsin residents to observe safety guidelines. As far as its intended audience is concerned, the message has fallen on deaf ears.
Maybe the Packers, as a team, should create a public service announcement.
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