PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.

>> PUBLIC HEALTH HAS BEEN BUSY COORDINATING CITY, COUNTY AND STATE RESOURCES, MAKING SURE WE WERE READY IN THE EVENT THIS VIRUS PRESENTED HERE.

GIVEN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE GLOBE, IT'S REASONABLE TO ASSUME TODAY'S NEWS WILL NOT BE THE LAST POSITIVE CASE WE HEAR ABOUT IN OUR REGION.

>> IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO THAT DANE COUNTY EXECUTIVE JOE PARISI ANNOUNCED THE FIRST POSITIVE CASE OF CORONAVIRUS IN WISCONSIN.

AT THE TIME, IT WAS AMONG ONLY 12 TOTAL CASES IN THE U.S. úOVER A HALF MILLION MORE WISCONSIN CASES FOLLOWED, AS WELL AS NEARLY 6,000 LIVES LOST.

THE GRIM ANNIVERSARY GAIFS GIVES WAY TO HOPE IN THE FORM OF VACCINATIONS, SHOTS IN THE ARM THAT WERE HARD TO IMAGINE EVEN JUST MONTHS AGO.

>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," INTERIM STATE HEALTH SECRETARY KAREN TIMBERLAKE IS HERE WITH GUIDANCE ON HOW TO SCHEDULE VACCINATIONS.

A NEW STUDY SHOWS VERY LITTLE TRANSMISSION OF THE CORONAVIRUS IN WOOD COUNTY SCHOOLS.

LATER, THE POLITICS OF THE PANDEMIC.

ZAC SCHULTZ HAS THE LATEST ON A BURST OF ACTIVITY TODAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

AND WE WILL HEAR FROM MADISON'S NEW CHIEF OF POLICE, SHON BARNES.

IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR FEBRUARY 5.

>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.

>> THAT'S WHY TODAY WE WILL BE ISSUING A NEW PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, AN ORDER REQUIRING FACE COVERINGS IN PUBLIC PLACES.

OUR FIGHT AGAINST THIS VIRUS ISN'T OVER.

IT'S NOT GOING AWAY, ESPECIALLY AS WE SEEF MUTATIONS OF THIS VIRUS IN OUR STATE AND OTHERS.

>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS IMMEDIATELY REIN STATES THE STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE AFTER THE LEGISLATURE VOTED TO GET RID OF IT THIS WEEK.

THIS AFTERNOON, THE MAJORITY REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE PASSED THIS COVID RELIEF BILL AND EVERS MADE QUICK WORK OF REJECTING IT WITH A VETO.

WE CHECK IN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ NOW FOR MORE.

HI, ZAC.

>> HELLO, FRED.

>> SO ARE THE SIDES STANDING ON PRINCIPLE HERE OR POWER - POLITICS?

>> BOTH.

I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHICH SIDE YOU'RE SUPPORTING.

REPUBLICANS SAY THIS IS ABOUT STOPPING WHAT THEY'RE INTERPRETING AS ILLEGAL OR UNCONSTITUTIONAL ORDERS AND PUTTING THEIR PROPER PLACE IN GOVERNMENT THERE.

OF COURSE, GOVERNOR EVERS IS SAYING HE'S ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE AND STOPPING THE PANDEMIC AND IT'S FULLY WITHIN HIS LEGAL RIGHTS.

IT DEPENDS ON WHICH SIDE YOU'RE PLAYING FOR.

>> COULDN'T THIS MASK MANDATE JUST BECOME LIKE A PING PONG BACK AND FORTH, ISSUE IT AND REPEAT.

>> THAT IS UNTIL THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT ISSUES THEIR DECISION.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE GOVERNOR HAS REISSUED THE EMERGENCY AND MASK ORDER.

HE DID IT LAST YEAR.

AT THAT TIME REPUBLICANS VOICED CONCERN BUT DECIDED NOT TO DO ANYTHING EXCEPT GO TO COURT AND THEY HOPED THE SUPREME COURT WOULD DO THEIR DIRTY WORK BECAUSE THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO VOTERS IN FRONT OF THE ELECTION.

THE COURT HAS STILL NOT RULED.

THIS TIME REPUBLICANS ARE FEELING THEY NEED TO ASSERT THEMSELVES TO CONSERVATIVE DONORS AND VOTERS.

>> MEANWHILE NOW WOULD BE ABOUT THE TIME FOR THE COURT TO RULE, RIGHT, AFTER THAT FAILED IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> YEAH.

THE COURT KIND OF DECIDES ON THEIR OWN ON WHICH CASE ON WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO ISSUE THAT DECISION.

WHEN THEY TAKE THIS LONG IT'S A SIGN THEY DON'T SEE ANYTHING MAJORLY WRONG THEY NEED TO FIX.

LAST YEAR WHEN THE COURT SHUT DOWN THE SHUTDOWN ORDERS THEY DID IT IMMEDIATELY AND ISSUED THE WRITTEN DECISION WEEKS LATER.

THEY DIDN'T DO THAT WITH THIS ORDER.

SO THAT MAY GIVE US SOME INSIGHT OR IT COULD BE IT'S JUST FIGURING OUT WHAT THE DECISION WILL BE.

>> AND ON THIS, WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF GOVERNOR EVERS VETOING THE COVID RELIEF BILL, WHICH REPUBLICANS KNEW HE WOULD DO?

>> THE BIGGEST ISSUE NOW IS FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO BECOME UNEMPLOYED WHETHER THEY KNOW IT OR NOT AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE FIRST WEEK OF UNEMPLOYMENT UNDER WISCONSIN LAW PASSED BY SCOTT WALKER MORE THAN A DECADE AGO SAYS YOU DON'T GET PAID FOR THAT FIRST WEEK.

BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNDER THE CARES ACT SAID WE'LL PAY FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO REINSTATE IT.

IT EXPIRES FEBRUARY 6 FOR WISCONSIN.

THIS BILL WOULD HAVE EXTENDED THAT MATCH PROGRAM FROM FEDERAL DOLLARS.

IT'S NOW BEEN REDUCED TO 50% MATCH.

BUT THAT FIRST WEEK UNEMPLOYMENT, $# 1.3 MILLION A WEEK FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ABOUT TO BECOME UNEMPLOYED.

THAT'S THE MAJOR PRESSURE POINT ON THIS DECISION AND HOW SOON SOMETHING MAY GET SIGNED IN THE FUTURE.

>> BUT BOTH SIDES WERE WILLING TO JEOPARDIZE THAT FUNDING.

>> I THINK AT THIS POINT BOTH SIDES THINK THEY CAN PIN THE BLAME ON THE OTHER ACCORDING TO THE PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE SUPPORT.

REPUBLICANS SAY ALL GOVERNOR EVERS HAS TO DO IS SIGN THE BILL.

GOVERNOR EVERS IS SAYING JUST SEND ME A CLEAN BILL LIKE THE ONE THAT THE SENATE ORIGINALLY AMENDED AND THEN WE CAN SAVE THE PEOPLE THAT WAY.

SO WHO KNOWS HOW LONG THIS MAY PLAY OUT AND AT WHAT POINT IT GETS REALLY HOT FOR POLITICIANS OF BOTH SPHRIEPS.

>> THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR HAD REACHED AGREEMENT ON COVID RELIEF WITH A BILL OUT OF THE SENATE.

THEN THAT WENT OUT OF THE DOOR.

HOW DOES ALL OF THAT BODE FOR STATE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS?

>> IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD AT ALL.

WE'VE KNOWN FOR A WHILE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A PRESSURE POINT HERE.

THE LAST BUDGET BEFORE A GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION IS ALWAYS REALLY TOUCHY AND THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THROUGH.

WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE NEW JOINT FINANCE LEADERS SAY DON'T BE PUSHING ANYTHING NEW, GOVERNOR EVERS.

WE'RE THE REASON THAT THE STATE IS IN GOOD FISCAL SHAPE.

GOVERNOR EVERS HAS BEEN ISSUING PRESS RELEASES WITH NEW IDEAS HE HAS TO GO BIG ON THIS MOMENT IN THE ECONOMY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING.

>> WELL, YOU'RE ROLLING UP YOUR SLEEVES TO COVER THAT ONE, TOO.

ZAC SCHULTZ, THANKS A LOT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AS THE POLITICAL FIGHT WEARS ON OVER COVID RESPONSE, THE RACE IN WISCONSIN TO GET AS MANY VACCINES IN ARMS IS IN ITS ERL STAGES.

SO FAR 143,000 PEOPLE IN THE STATE HAVE COMPLETED THE TWO-SHOT SERIES.

TURNING BACK TO MORE REPORTING FROM ZAC, HE MET UP WITH A WISCONSIN DOCTOR WHO SHOW US HOW THE VACCINE PROCESS IS WORKING, A PROCESS THAT IS, OF COURSE, ALSO MIRED IN POLITICS.

>> IT'S FRIDAY AND DR. MATT ANDERSON IS ABOUT TO FIND OUT FROM THE STATE HOW MANY VACCINE DOSES UW HEALTH WILL RECEIVE FOR THE NEXT WEEK.

>> THOSE DOSES TEND TO SHOW UP EITHER SOMETIME ON MONDAY OR OCCASIONALLY ON TUESDAY.

>> BETWEEN FRIDAY AND MONDAY, THEY NEED TO CONFIRM APPOINTMENTS WITH PATIENTS.

>> WE'VE GOT APPOINTMENTS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS FOR MONDAY AND WE'RE DOING A LOT OF LOGISTICS TO BALANCE OUR SUPPLIES AND SUCH.

>> BY MONDAY, THE STATE IS ASKING HOW MANY VACCINE DOSES THEY CAN DISTRIBUTE THE FOLLOWING WEEK.

>> WHAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT WITH THAT IS HOW MANY APPOINTMENTS DO WE HAVE CAPACITY TO DO IN THE COMING WEEK, YOU KNOW, AND SCHEDULE THEM SUCH.

>> AS THE SHOTS COME IN, SHOTS GO OUT AND THE CYCLE REPEATS.

>> THOSE SHOTS ARE GETTING IN AND THEN WE'RE MANAGING THOSE AND GETTING THOSE PUT OUT.

SO IT'S NOT A LENGTHY PERIOD OF TIME THAT THEY'RE SITTING IN THE FREEZER.

>> DR. ANDERSON IS THE LEAD PHYSICIAN FOR THE COVID VACCINE WORK STREAM AT UW HEALTH.

HE SAYS IN THE LAST MONTH, THEY'VE BUILT UP THEIR CAPACITY TO DISTRIBUTE 5,000 FIRST DOSES OF THE VACCINE EACH WEEK.

THEY ADMINISTER SECOND DOSES AS WELL, BUT THOSE ARE AUTOMATICALLY SENT OUT AND DON'T REQUIRE A SEPARATE REQUEST.

HE SOON HOPES TO HAVE THE STAFF AND SPACING CAPACITY FOR 6,000 DOSES A WEEK.

>> REALLY THE LIMITING FACTOR RIGHT NOW IS VACCINE SUPPLY.

IF WE GET MORE VACCINE, WE WILL ACCOMMODATE THAT BY FIGURING OUT HOW THE STAFFING MODEL WORKS.

>> UW HEALTH'S VACCINE SUPPLY IS DETERMINED BY WISCONSIN'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH TAKES ORDERS FROM VACCINATORS ACROSS THE STATE AND THEN REQUESTS THAT AMOUNT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE VACCINE PRODUCERS.

>> RIGHT NOW WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE.

>> JULIE WILLEMS VAN DIJK IS DEPUTY SECRETARY AT DHS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ONLY BEEN ALLOTTING THE WHOLE STATE AROUND 70,000 FIRST DOSES A WEEK.

SHE'S HOPING THE NEW BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WILL SOON BE ABLE TO BOOST THAT NUMBER.

>> VACCINE SUPPLY IS OUR LIMITING FACTOR RIGHT NOW, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS WE WILL HAVE A SYSTEM AND WE HAVE VACCINATORS IN PLACE FOR THE DAYS WHEN THE SUPPLY INCREASES.

>> DR. ANDERSON AGREES WE'LL BE IN A BETTER POSITION IN A COUPLE MONTHS.

BUT SAYS RIGHT NOW HIS BIGGEST FRUSTRATION IS THE LACK OF PREDICTABILITY.

>> PREDICTABILITIMENT I THINK FOR US KNOWING WE'RE GOING TO GET A CERTAIN NUMBER TO FIND OUT ON FRIDAY WHAT YOU'RE GETTING FOR MONDAY IS NOT IDEALMENT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE LIMIT LIMITATIONS THERE.

>> WISCONSIN'S VACCINE ROLL-OUT HAS BEEN A NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENTMENT >> REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE SAY THE BLAME FOR ALL OF THIS FALLS ON GOVERNOR EVERSMENT THE ASSEMBLY PASSED A BILL TO SUBMIT PLANS FOR VACCINATION TO LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES AND EXPAND ELIGIBILITY FOR THE SHOTS TO ANYONE ABOVE AGE 60.

CURRENTLY VACCINATORS ARE WORKING WITH PEOPLE ABOVE AGE 65.

>> HERE WE ARE IN WISCONSIN, WHERE IF YOU ASK THE AVERAGE CITIZEN, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT OUR PLAN IS, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY CAN GET A VACCINE AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA BESIDES CALLING THEIR LOCAL HOSPITAL FRANTICALLY HOW THEY CAN GET ACCESS TO THE VACCINE.

>> OF COURSE, DHS DOES HAVE VACCINE PLANS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE TO AT PUBLIC.

DEMOCRATS SAY IT'S IRONIC REPUBLICANS ARE CRITICIZING THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT VACCINES AT THE SAME TIME THEY'RE ELIMINATING HIS MASK MANDATE.

THEY SAY REPUBLICANS ARE JUST TRYING TO BLAME GOVERNOR EVERS FOR A SUPPLY PROBLEM THAT STEMS FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> ELIGIBILITY IS NOT THE SAISM AS AVAILABILITY.

IF WE ONLY HAVE 70,000 VACCINES MADE AVAILABLE TO US EACH WEEK BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A PLAN, BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ENOUGH VACCINES AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE 700,000 PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 65?

I THINK EVERYBODY CAN DO THE MATH.

>> REPUBLICANS ARE BASING THEIR CLAIM OF INEPTITUDE OFF A CDC WEBSITE WHICH TRACKS THE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF VACCINES EACH STATE HAS DISTRIBUTED.

FOR A TIME, WISCONSIN RANKED NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE COUNTRY.

DHS SAYS THAT WAS LARGELY A REPORTING ERROR, WITH THE CDC WEBSITE COMPARING THREE-DAY-OLD WISCONSIN NUMBERS TO CURRENT NUMBERS FROM OTHER STATES.

>> I REALLY CAUTION PEOPLE ABOUT THESE COMPARISONS ON DIFFERENT SITES THAT THEY MAY NOT BE APPLES-TO-APPLES COMPARISONS.

>> ANOTHER ISSUE IN THE EARLY DAYS OF VACCINE DISTRIBUTION WAS MANY OF WISCONSIN'S DOSES WERE BEING SENT TO WALGREENS AND CVS, WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR VACCINATING PEOPLE IN SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF FACILITIES IN THIS GROUP AND A LOT MORE THAN A LOT OF OTHER STATES AND CVS AND WALL GREEFNS ARE FINDING THAT OUT AS THEY GO TO SCHEDULE PEOPLE.

>> SOME STATES LIKE WEST VIRGINIA USED LOCAL PHARMACIES FOR THAT PROGRAM AND FOUND THEMSELVES AT THE TOP OF THE CDC'S LIST.

>> I THINK THE WEST VIRGINIA'S MODEL REALLY GETS TO THAT SIMPLICITY, CENTRALIZATION.

>> DR. ANDERSON SAYS YOU CAN COMPARE THE EARLY DAYS OF VACCINE DISTRIBUTION TO THE EARLY DAYS OF COVID TESTING.

A YEAR AGO, TESTS WERE HARD TO COME BY.

BUT WITHIN A FEW MONTHS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TESTS WERE AVAILABLE.

WITH NEW VAKS CONVENIENCE VACCINES COMING ONLINE, HE SAYS WE'LL BE IN A BETTER PLACE BY SPRING.

>> LATE MARCH, APRIL, INTO THERE.

>> REPORTING FROM MADISON, I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW."

>> THE PERSON NEWLY IN CHARGE OF MANAGING COVID-19 RESPONSE IN WISCONSIN, INCLUDING VACCINE DISTRIBUTION, IS INTERIM SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES, CD R KAREN TIMBERLAKE.

SHE TAKES OVER FOR ANDREA PALM.

SHE SERVED IN THE SAME ROLE UNDER GOVERNOR JIM DOYLE.

SHE JOINS US NOW AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

>> SAME ROLE, DIFFERENT TIMES.

HOW DIFFERENT IS THIS GOING TO BE?

>> VERY DIFFERENT TIMES.

YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY HERE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN COMMITTED TO PROTECTING AND PROMOTING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN.

BUT THAT MISSION HAS NEVER BEEN MORE MEANINGFUL THAN RIGHT NOW AS WE CONTINUE TO MANAGE OUR WAY THROUGH THIS COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

>> WHAT ARE THE NEXT CONCRETE STEPS THAT YOU EXPECT TO TAKE IN WISCONSIN'S RESPONSE TO THIS?

>> THERE REALLY ARE THREE TOP PRIORITIES RELATED TO THE RESPONSE.

THE FIRST IS TO GET VACCINES INTO ARMS OF PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS IN THAT REGARD.

WE HAVE GIVEN OVER 700,000 PEOPLE IN OUR STATE THEIR FIRST DOSE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

SO THAT MEANS 12% OF OUR ENTIRE STATE POPULATION HAS RECEIVED THEIR FIRST DOSE.

THE SECOND PRIORITY IS TO CONTINUE WITH ALL OF THE PREVENTIVE MEASURES THAT WE KNOW WORK: WEARING MASKS, KEEPING PHYSICALLY DISTANT FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN OUR IMMEDIATE HOUSEHOLD, KEEPING OUR HANDS CLEAN AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

AND THE THIRD PRIORITY IS TO CONTINUE WITH TESTING.

TESTING HAS SORT OF FALLEN A LITTLE BIT OFF OF EVERYONE'S RADAR SCREEN AS WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON THE VACCINE.

BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO TRACK THIS DISEASE VERY CAREFULLY.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED PEOPLE TO GET TESTED.

>> WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION AND HOPE THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WILL BE ABLE TO QUICKLY SOLVE ISSUES OF VACCINE SUPPLY AND CONSISTENCY OF SHIPMENTS SO THAT YOUR AGENCY CAN OFFER THE SAME TO AT VACCINATORS OUT THERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS SHOWN ALREADY THAT THEY ARE INTENDING TO BE A GREAT PARTNER WITH STATES.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IMPROVEMENTS IN COMMUNICATION.

WE HAVE SEEN INCREASES IN THE ALLOCATION OF VACCINE THAT HAS COME TO WISCONSIN JUST IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

AND BEGINNING THIS WEEK, WE'RE ABLE TO ALLOW OUR MANY VACCINATOR PARTNERS, OUR HOSPITALS, OUR CLINICS, OUR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS, PHARMACIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE TO REQUEST VACCINE FOR TWO WEEKS INSTEAD OF ONE WEEK, WHICH I KNOW IS A LITTLE BIT OF PROGRESS, BUT IT'S JUST THAT MUCH MORE PREDICTABILITY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HELP US ACTUALLY ADMINISTER THOSE SHOTS INTO ARMS TO SAVE LIVES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

>> SO THAT'S ON THAT SIDE.

AN APPLETON POST CRESCENT REPORT WROTE SHE HAS TAKEN MORE THAN 100 CALLS IN TWO DAYS FROM ELDERLY READERS DESPERATE ABOUT HOW TO GET THE VACCINE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE LONG SINCE ELIGIBLE BUT STILL STUCK NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND THE VACCINE?

>> YEAH.

WE'RE RIGHT IN THAT PLACE WHERE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING THE COVID VACCINE AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONNECT PEOPLE TO VACCINES.

WE NEED A COUPLE THINGS TO HAPPEN IN ORDER FOR THAT TO OCCUR.

WE NEED ALL OF OUR HOSPITALS, PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, PHARMACIES TO BE COMMUNICATING PROACTIVELY IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES ABOUT HOW BEST TO ACCESS THE VACCINES.

IT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION BY ORGANIZATION.

WE ALSO REALLY NEED TO ASK PEOPLE TO BE PATIENT AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOING FROM ZERO VACCINE ON DECEMBER 13 TO NOW 700,000 PLUS SHOTS HAVING BEEN GIVEN A FEW SHORT WEEKS LATER, IT'S AN ACHIEVEMENT AND WE'RE GETTING BETTER AND BETTER AT IT.

ANYONE WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO USE THE INTERNET SHOULD BE LOOKING FIRST ON THE WEBSITE OF THEIR OWN DOCTOR'S OFFICE, THEIR LOCAL PHARMACY, THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHAT INFORMATION THEY CAN FIND.

IF THEY CAN'T FIND THE INFORMATION THAT WAY, PICK UP THE PHONE, BUT RECOGNIZE, RIGHT, THAT PHONE LINES GET JAMMED QUICKLY.

AND THE THIRD THING IS THAT AS WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE MORE VACCINE SUPPLY AND WE ARE STANDING UP MORE COMMUNITY VACCINATION SITES, WE WILL ALSO BE SETTING UP REGISTRATION ON A WEBSITE THAT WILL ENABLE PEOPLE TO FIND VACCINE AT THOSE COMMUNITY SITES MORE EASILY THAN THEY'RE ABLE TO AGAIN.

>> OKAY.

SO BRIEFLY, THE LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK ELIMINATED THE MASK MANDATE.

THE GOVERNOR TURNED AROUND, REINSTATED IT.

TODAY THE LEGISLATURE PASSES ITS COVID RELIEF BILL.

THE GOVERNORS VETOES IT.

HOW ARE POLITICS AFFECTING OUR RESPONSE?

>> HERE WE ARE FOCUSED ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN THIS RESPONSE, SUPPORTING THE WORK OF OUR PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE, COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH HOSPITALS, CLINICS, ALL OUR DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING OUR LEGISLATURE TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KAREN TIMBERLAKE, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION OF THE CORONAVIRUS, IN THE WORDS OF ONE WISCONSIN PHYSICIAN, QUOTE, "OVERALL SCHOOLS JUST REALLY AREN'T THE PROBLEM."

THOSE WORDS FROM PEDIATRICIAN AMY FALK, WHO CO-AUTHORIZED A STUDY THAT BACKS UP HERE CLAIM.

IN NOVEMBER 17 WOOD COUNTY SCHOOLS WERE MONITORED FOR CORONAVIRUS.

191 CASES WERE IDENTIFIED AMONG STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS DURING THAT TIME.

ONLY SEVEN CASES WERE CONNECTED TO IN-SCHOOL SPREAD.

DR. AMY FALK JOINS US NOW AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO THE UPSHOT OF THIS 13-WEEK STUDY IS THAT IT IS SAFE FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF TO BE BACK IN SCHOOL?

>> I THINK OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GOING TO MEAN SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR EVERY COMMUNITY.

THE SCHOOLS AROUND HERE, THE 17 WE FOLLOWED, HAD A LOT OF MITIGATION MEASURES.

THERE WAS DISTANCING TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.

THERE WAS UNIVERSAL MASKING.

THERE WAS INCREASED SANITATION AND VENTILATION.

I THINK OBVIOUSLY THERE'S MANY SCHOOLS THAT ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM OUR POPULATION.

THE SCHOOLS THAT WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING ARE QUITE LARGE AND ARE SHOWING THAT IT CAN BE DONE WELL.

>> HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO MAINTAIN THOSE KIND OF MITIGATION MEASURES WITHIN A SCHOOL SETTING?

>> I THINK -- I MEAN, SOME OF THE THINGS LIKE MASKING, THE KIDS HAVE JUST REALLY -- OF ALL AGES, KINDERGARTEN TO 12TH GRADE HAVE SHOWN THAT THEY ARE UNWAVERING IN THEIR MASKING ABILITY AND PATIENCE WITH THAT.

SO THAT'S BECOME PART OF THEIR NORM.

FOR SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS, SANITATION MEASURES AND THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN TAKEN FINANCIALLY ON BY THE SCHOOLS WHICH HAS BEEN AN UNDERTAKING.

I THINK ORCH OVERALL EVERYONE SETTLED INTO THIS NEW NORMAL TO MAKE IT AS SAFE AS THEY CAN.

>> THE MITIGATION ALSO INCLUDED KIND OF KEEPING CHILDREN IN PODS, RIGHT, AS THOUGH THEY WERE ALMOST LITTLE FAMILY GROUPS.

>> YEAH.

THAT DIFFERED AMONG EACH OF THE SCHOOLS.

WE DIDN'T IMPOSE ANY SORT OF -- WE JUST WANTED TO HELP THEM SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

WE NEVER EXPECTED IT TO GET AS FAR AS IT DID BUT WE REALIZED WE HAD SOMETHING TO DO SAY.

THE ELEMENTARY, ONE 1ST FIRST GRADE ARE TOGETHER.

THEY DON'T MIX AT RECESS OR LUNCH.

WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO KIND OF BE A LITTLE CLOSER AND NOT STAY WITH THE STRICT SIX FEET APART.

WHEN ONE KID IN THE COHORT GETS SICK WITH COVID-19, THEY ALL GO OUT.

AND THE OLDER KIDS AS WELL, THERE WERE MANY THAT WERE IN THE TIGHT TBROOPS.

>> SO YOU SPOKE TO THIS A LITTLE BIT, BUT COULD THOSE METHODS BE REPLICATED ACROSS THE BOARD IN ALL WISCONSIN SCHOOLS, DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, INTERESTINGLY I WAS SPEAKING WITH A LOT OF THE PRINCIPALS INVOLVED AND SOME OF THE CHANGES TO THE HVAC SYSTEMS ARE RUNNING MORE CYCLES BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL, NOT CHANGING OUT WHOLE SYSTEMS TO HELP WITH FRESH AIR.

THE SANITATION STUFF, ALL THAT'S BEEN PRETTY WELL AVAILABLE.

SO I THINK THE BIGGEST PART IS THE DISTANCING.

A LOT OF SCHOOLS ARE HUNG UP ON MAKE SURE EVERYBODY STAYS SIX FEET APART, WHERE THERE'S MANY PLACES AND SOME EMERGING DATA THAT THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE END ALL/BE ALL.

IF YOU THINK OF MITIGATION LIKE SWISS CHEESE, WHERE THERE'S HOLES WITH EVERY DIFFERENT THING YOU DO, THE MASKING, THE DISTANCING.

BUT IF YOU LAYER THEM TOGETHER, THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE THE MOST SUCCESS.

SO I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST PIECE TO LOOK AT NEXT.

>> AS A PEDIATRICIAN, HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU BELIEVE IT IS FOR CHILDREN TO BE BACK IN SCHOOL OR IN SCHOOL?

>> I THINK IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANT FOR.

WE'RE HAVING GROWING DATA THAT DEPRESSION RATES ARE SKY-HIGH.

IT'S NOT THE SAME VIRTUAL NO MATTER HOW GREAT OF A FAMILY OR HOW MANY RESOURCES.

IT'S NOT THE SAME.

SUICIDE RATES IN OUR COUNTRY IN TEENS ARE SKYROCKETING.

WE TRY TO GET THEM BACK IN BEFORE OTHER THINGS ARE LIBERALIZED.

WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE CHILDREN AND THEIR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN A GOOD EDUCATION AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE.

>> WITH ALL THE MITIGATION AND MANDATES AROUND THEM, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT CHILDREN ARE ACTUALLY SAFER IN A SCHOOL SETTING THAN NOT BEING IN SCHOOL SCHOOL?

>> I'VE POSTULATED THIS.

IF YOU CAN ACCOUNT FOR SOMEBODY'S WHEREABOUTS FOR 36 TO 40 HOURS A WEEK AND THEY'RE MASKED, HAND WASHED, FED, WITH RESPONSIBLE ADULTS, THAT IS SUPERIOR TO SITTING AT HOME WITH LARGER AND LARGER SOCIAL GROUPS AS PARENTS HAVE TO GO TO WORK, SO THEY BRING THEIR CHILDREN PLACES.

KIDS ARE PLAYING WITH LARGER GROUPS PERHAPS THAN THEY WOULD AT SCHOOL.

I THINK KIDS ARE SAFER IN SCHOOL THAN OUT.

>> DR. AMY FALK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THE CITY OF MADISON SWORE IN A NEW CHIEF OF POLICE MONDAY.

SHON BARNES TAKES THE HELM AFTER MIKE KOVAL ANNOUNCED MISS IMMEDIATE DEPARTURES MORE THAN A YEAR AGO.

THE NEW CHIEF IS ENERGIZED ABOUT THE POSITION AND TAKES OVER DURING HISTORICALLY CHALLENGING TIMES.

>> YOU THINK ABOUT 2020.

WE'RE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

WE STILL HAVE AMERICAN CITIZENS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VISITORS WHO ARE IN OUR COUNTRY DYING EVERY DAY FROM THIS VIRUS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET A HANDLE OF.

OFFICERS STILL HAVE TO GO OUT AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PREVENT CRIME IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THAT.

IN ADDITION, WE'RE NOW SEEING POLICE OFFICERS DO THINGS EVERY DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT MAKE US SCRATCH OUR HEADS OR THAT EVEN SHOCK OUR CONSCIENCE.

I THINK THE INCIDENT IN MINNESOTA, IT SHOCKED EVERYONE'S CONSCIENCE.

THERE WERE POLICE OFFICERS WHO WERE JUST AS UPSET ABOUT THAT AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

SO IT'S AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME IN OUR COUNTRY.

ADDED TO THAT, ALMOST THIS NATIONAL SENTIMENT OF DIVISION.

AND SO I THINK IT'S TIME -- I THINK THE COUNTRY IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'M ENERGIZED ABOUT THIS POSITION.

THE COUNTRY IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER AS A COUNTRY.

I THINK WE HAVE SEEN THAT WHEN OUR DIVISION ISN'T HEALTHY, IT DOESN'T BENEFIT ANYONE.

AND SO THE SAME THING CAN BE SAID ABOUT EVERY POLICE DEPARTMENT AND EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER.

I THINK OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS -- YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T WANT TO PROTEST JUST AS MUCH AS OFFICERS, YOU KNOW, DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO MANAGE PROTESTS.

THEY DON'T WANT TO PROTEST.

THEY WANT TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO.

AND THAT'S DIFFICULT CONSIDERING THE GLOBAL LANDSCAPE OF POLICING.

>> MADISON POLICE CHIEF BARNES.

THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

NEXT WEEK, WE WILL HAVE COVERAGE OF THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IN THE U.S. SENATE.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.