Ryan Westergaard

Health Officials Urge Vaccinations, Cite Cases of Infectious Disease

Public exposed to deadly diseases: measles in 2 counties, whooping cough in 1 county.

DHS Continues to Make COVID-19 Treatment Easily Available as Cases Climb

Free COVID-19 treatment telehealth services extended through April to quickly connect Wisconsinites to care

State Health Leaders Urge Individuals To Get New COVID-19 Booster Shot

Updated vaccine better matched to variants currently circulating.

Republican Legislators May Suspend Vaccine Requirements

Committee may suspend DHS rules for students on chickenpox, meningitis.

Wisconsin Sees Spike in Toxic Shock Syndrome Cases

State officials urge education about tampon use.

Not Enough Getting Bivalent Booster Shots, State Health Officials Warn

Extra booster shot decreases hospitalization by 73% but most adults haven't gotten it.

DHS Confirms Pediatric Influenza-Associated Death in Wisconsin

Encourages everyone six months and older to get the influenza (flu) vaccine

Health Officials Urge Flu, COVID-19 Vaccinations Amidst Three-Virus Surge

RSV, flu and COVID-19 cases are all on rise, stressing hospitals.

DHS Expands Monkeypox Vaccine Eligibility Criteria for Wisconsinites

DHS encourages all eligible Wisconsinites to get vaccinated

DHS Urges New Booster Shots

New bivalent vaccines provide wider immunity to virus variants.

Wisconsin Has First Case of Monkeypox

400 cases in U.S. so far, but state health officials say risk to public remains low.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Identifies the First Case of Monkeypox in a Wisconsin Resident

Risk to the general public remains low

State’s COVID-19 Cases Up 66% in May

Racine and Kenosha among 7 counties with highest rates, residents urged to wear masks at indoor events.

19 Precautions Before, During, and After Spring Break Travels

A few simple steps will help keep people safe and protect others

Wastewater Testing Suggests COVID-19 Waning

Wisconsin one of 37 states using sewage analysis as early warning system.

Public Health Officials Monitoring Omicron Subvariant

Fewer than five cases of the new variant have been detected in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Sees Record COVID-19 Cases

State health officials report highest ever seven-day-average of cases

DHS Urges Public Health Practices to Keep Kids Safe and in School

Asks parents and guardians to take action as Omicron cases increase

Many Older Teens Eligible for Booster Shots

State officials say those 16 or older who got the Pfizer vaccine should get booster shot.

DHS Recommends COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose for everyone 16 and older

DHS supports the FDA authorization and CDC recommendation to provide a Pfizer booster dose for 16- and 17-year-olds

DHS Recommends COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose for Anyone 18 and Older

DHS supports the FDA authorization, CDC recommendations

Hospitals Relying on Temporary Travel Nurses

Travel nurses work short term contracts, making significantly more than staff nurses.

Wisconsin to Offer COVID-19 Moderna and Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Booster Doses

DHS supports CDC recommendation to expand eligibility for COVID-19 booster shots

DHS Provides Update on Measles Cases in Wisconsin

Risk of measles transmission in surrounding communities remains low

State DHS Approves COVID-19 Booster

Senior citizens who got Pfizer shot should get booster, as should some groups with underlying conditions or greater exposure.

Wisconsin to Offer COVID-19 Pfizer Vaccine Booster Doses

DHS supports the FDA authorization, CDC recommendation to provide Pfizer booster doses to certain populations

DHS Urges Wisconsinites to Mask Up and Follow Public Health Practices Ahead of Labor Day Weekend

7-day average of COVID-19 cases is the highest it has been in more than 6 months

MPS Reports 53 Cases of COVID-19 in Schools

COVID-19 transmission in the community is showing up in cases at schools.

State Health Officials Expect Current COVID-19 Surge Will Worsen

Surge is driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant and low vaccination rates.

Wisconsin to Offer Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Dose to People Who Are Immunocompromised

DHS supports FDA, ACIP recommendations of additional dose of mRNA vaccine to people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised

Evers Considering Vaccine Mandate for State Employees

The governor expressed support for private sector mask, vaccine mandates.

State Officials Recommending Masks for Schools

Delta variant causing uptick in cases. Officials say masking will reduce school transmission.

Scott Walker’s Right, Get Vaccinated Now

As variants cause new rise in COVID-19, more Republicans urging people to get the vaccine.

Wisconsin Launches “Our Doctors” Multimedia Campaign

Features local doctors from across the state endorsing the COVID-19 vaccines

State Officials Target COVID-19 Delta Variant

New tool offers better tracking of vaccinations rates. ‘This variant is less forgiving.’

State Health Agency Finds Cases of Adult and Congenital Syphilis Spiking in Wisconsin

Pregnant people in six Wisconsin counties should be screened for syphilis at least twice during pregnancy

State Approves COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids 12 and Older

Adolescents and younger teenagers can now get the vaccine in Wisconsin.

State Wants Pause in Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

6 reports of blood clots among 6.8 million doses administered.

Wisconsin DHS Pauses Administration of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine

Vaccinators instructed to stop administering Johnson & Johnson vaccine

New COVID-19 Variants Behind Spiking Cases

Variants now account for more than half of all new cases of COVID-19.

DHS Releases New COVID-19 Variant Trackers

Updates include tracking newly classified variants of concern and displaying information by HERC region

DHS and Laboratory Partners Confirm a Third Variant Strain of SARS-CoV-2 in Wisconsin

DHS confirms variant P.1 and an additional case of variant B.1.351

A Return to Normalcy?

Experts consider when we’ll get to a post-pandemic world and what that will look like.

Fast Spreader COVID-19 Variant In Milwaukee

Arrived a month ago. Study shows variant doubling infections every 10 days in the U.S.

State Sees Second Case of Coronavirus Variant

A case in Waukesha of variant first discovered in UK and believed to spread more rapidly.

DHS and Laboratory Partners Identify Second Case of Variant Strain B.1.1.7 of SARS-CoV-2 in Wisconsin

COVID-19 Variant Hits Wisconsin

Research indicates it is more easily transmitted and may have led to UK's spike in infections.

DHS and Laboratory Partners Identify Variant Strain B.1.1.7 of SARS-CoV-2 in Wisconsin

DHS Shortens Quarantine For Some

For those exposed to someone with COVID-19 quarantine now 10 days rather than 14.

Evers Extending Mask Mandate Into 2021

New order expected in coming days, despite pending legal challenges.

7,777 New COVID-19 Cases, Another Record High

Record daily hospitalization and death averages

Record 7,497 New COVID-19 Cases As Hospital Capacity Dwindles

58 deaths pushes 30-day average to 33.57

3,943 New Cases, 123 Hospitalizations and 16 Deaths Reported Sunday

Milwaukee County falls to 17th worst all-time outbreak even as its case rate hits record levels.

Evers Asks High Court to Review COVID Rules

As lower courts flip flop on bar and restaurant restrictions he wants Supreme Court to step in.

704 Deaths, 4,074 Hospitalizations, 103,096 COVID-19 Cases in October

State crosses 2,000-death threshold as it also sets a new one-day high for cases.

State Officials Predict Worsening Outbreak With No Behavior Changes

Weekly totals for cases, hospitalizations and deaths all set all-time highs.

Record 1,230 People Actively Hospitalized With COVID-19

Active hospitalizations grow 265% in two months.

Evers Restricts Bar, Restaurant Capacity

All public, indoor facilities cannot exceed 25% of capacity. Order runs through November 6th.

Health Departments ‘Cracking Under Strain’ of Pandemic

Top epidemiologist say state needs more contact tracing staff, expanded testing to slow virus spread.

Avoid Public Gatherings, Evers Urges People

Governor warns pandemic spiking, “a crisis — virus is everywhere,” says top health official.

Gov. Evers Declares New Public Health Emergency Due to Campus Outbreaks, Issues New Face Coverings Order

Evers Wants to Extend Mask Mandate

Order expires in two weeks, governor looking at "every possible avenue” to extend it.

COVID-19 Cases Declining In Every Age Group Except 18-24

But seven-day case total is at an all-time high.

The Battle Over Face Masks

The limits of persuasion in a polarized state. Can science save lives and prevent threats?

Record COVID-19 Cases As a Result of Reporting Fix

Positive case rate, a measure of if enough testing is being done, continues to climb.

“We’re Not Doing Enough Tests” Says State Disease Expert

"I think it's very safe to say that we're not doing enough tests," says Dr. Ryan Westergaard.

COVID-19 Spread Accelerating In Wisconsin Teenagers

Percentage of individuals under 19 that have contracted disease has increased every month this summer.

1,059 New Cases As Governor Announces Mask Mandate

Second biggest testing and case day on record.

Gov. Evers Issues Executive Order Declaring Public Health Emergency and Requiring Face Coverings Statewide

45-Day COVID-19 Hospitalization High, But Only One Death

30-day death rate as low as it has been since outbreak began.

New Single Day COVID-19 High, Cases Spreading To Older Age Groups

State reports double-digit death total for first time in 22 days as hospitalizations fall.

New High, 964 New COVID-19 Cases

State sets new case record for fourth time in past week and a 30-day hospitalization high.

COVID-19 Early Indicators Are “Very Troubling”

Medical College of Wisconsin CEO warns of accelerating spread of COVID-19. Positive case rate has increased for 25 days.

Wisconsin Sets New Single-Day COVID-19 Case High

30-day testing high, but positive case rate ticks upward.

20 Days of Climbing COVID-19 Positive Case Rate

Active hospitalizations also hit three week high.

Evers Won’t Issue New Shutdown Order

Cites Republican and Supreme Court opposition even as state cases double in just one month.

Wisconsin Has Fastest COVID-19 Spread In U.S.

New study has alarming figures, with spread coming since state shutdown ended.

COVID-19 Cases Double Since Memorial Day

State officials fear spread to older population could trigger surge in hospitalizations and deaths.

Wisconsin Reports Biggest One-Day COVID-19 Case Increase

But no new deaths and hospitalizations fall to three month low.

1 of Every 200 in State Has Tested Positive For COVID-19

14-day positive case rate continues to climb upward.

Why Do COVID-19 Hospitalizations Continue To Drop?

256 new cases of disease confirmed on Wednesday.

COVID-19 Hospitalizations Fall To Two-Month Low

Number of people hospitalized hasn't been this low since April 4th.

Evers Meets With Lawmakers on Police Reform

Governor says the state is at a "watershed moment" for the issue of police reform, racism.

New Highs for COVID-19 Testing, Cases, Deaths

State reports over 10,000 tests in a single day for the first time.

Advocacy Groups Want Better Worker Safety

Following COVID-19 outbreak at Kenosha Amazon facility, they urge legislators to reinstate protections.

Wisconsin Sets COVID-19 Testing Record, Another Hospitalization High

All 72 counties have COVID-19 cases for the first time.

Positive COVID-19 Test Rate Falls to Record Low

Milwaukee County crosses 5,000 case threshold, has positive rate nearly twice the state average.

Tony Evers Plays Mr. Rogers

Governor handles pandemic and Supreme Court loss with nice guy concerns for our health.

State Hygiene Lab Seeks Antibody Test Data

Data may help measure spread of immunity.

Back-to-Back Record COVID-19 Testing Days

Wisconsin labs process over 4,000 tests in 24 hours for first time.

Ventilators ‘Almost a Death Sentence’?

Study shows they don’t work for many COVID-19 patients, state's hospitals limiting their use.

Wisconsin Sets New COVID-19 Testing Record

Percent of negative results increases, a positive sign.

Positive COVID-19 Testing Rate Trending In Wrong Direction

Even as testing expands, average number of people testing positive for disease expands.

State Hits New High in COVID-19 Cases

Number tested is higher, but so is percent of positive cases. Disease spreading in state.

Wisconsinites Starting To Ignore Stay-At-Home Order

State residents starting to experience “quarantine fatigue.”

Wisconsin COVID-19 Testing Grows 69 Percent Week Over Week

But the percentage of tests coming back positive isn't falling dramatically.

Is The Meat Safe to Eat?

COVID-19 outbreaks at state's meatpacking plants raises questions for consumers.

Positive Case Rate Falls, But State Wants It Even Lower

New webpage allows public to track progress on criteria in Badger Bounce Back plan.

Evers Administration Seeks to Save Lives, Stop Republican Lawsuit

State’s COVID-19 Death Toll Reaches 300

72 percent of those who've died have been 70 or older.

COVID-19 Testing Remains High, Positive Case Rate Surges 28%

Brown County passes Milwaukee County for highest case rate. State reports biggest one day case increase.

COVID-19 Testing Jumps Over 50 Percent To New Record, Cases Rise as Positive Rate Falls

Over 3,400 tests performed in last 24 hours, 304 new positive cases.

State Reports Record High COVID-19 Testing Capacity

But the number of tests performed isn't keeping pace. State officials encourage doctors to test more people.

Why Aren’t More COVID-19 Tests Given?

More available now, but other factors may limit use, says Department of Health Services official.

COVID-19 Testing Slows

State reports declining testing totals four days in a row, while positive test rate remains steady.

State Still Not Using Full Testing Capacity

Death toll from COVID-19 grows to 230, 132 in Milwaukee County.

New Data Shows Steady COVID-19 Growth, Nine More Confirmed Deaths

Number of people tested, percentage testing positive and other figures remain consistent throughout April.

State Still Reviewing Triage Guidelines for Ventilators

Committee has more time to decide how scarce medical equipment will be used.

Officials Want Physicians To Request More COVID-19 Tests

Testing capacity is more than triple what's being requested. Officials want doctors to test more people.

COVID-19: Safer at Home is Working

Keep up the good work, Wisconsin!

Business Groups Want State To Reopen

Pushing Evers to act within two weeks. Scientists say it's too soon.

3,341 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Wisconsin

ICU bed availability drops

Despite Slowing Growth Rate, No End in Sight for “Safer at Home”

"Science will determine what reopening looks like and when that will happen," said Evers.

COVID-19 Testing Capacity Continues To Outpace Actual Testing

State officials say they've expanded guidance to allow more people to be tested.

2,440 Positive Cases of COVID-19, Testing Capacity Growing

27 percent of confirmed cases have required hospitalization.

Wisconsin Reports 2,267 COVID-19 Cases, 624 Hospitalizations

Death total has risen to 68. 1,148 cases in Milwaukee County.

Wisconsin Reports 2,122 Positive COVID-19 Cases, 56 Deaths

Despite record increases, officials believe curve is flattening, "safer at home" working.

State Races To Do More COVID-19 Testing

But faces problem: shortage of everything.

Trump Downplays Pandemic in Midwest

Reality: as one Wisconsin doctor put it, a COVID-19 “tsunami” is coming.

1,351 Positive COVID-19 Cases in Wisconsin, 674 in Milwaukee County

State working with private partners to double testing capacity.

State Has 1,221 COVID-19 Cases, Exploring Field Hospital Locations

State says data on hospitalization coming soon.

State’s COVID-19 Case Count Rises to 1,112

10 deaths in Milwaukee County as of Sunday morning, all African Americans older than 50.

Study Projects 853 COVID-19 Deaths in Wisconsin, 81,114 Nationwide

Based on limited data, study predicts Wisconsin may not see its peak until May 22nd, last in the country.

Over 1,000 COVID-19 Cases in Wisconsin

State reports over 2,000 tests processed in one day for the first time.

842 COVID-19 Cases in Wisconsin, “Crisis Within A Crisis” in Milwaukee

Evers acknowledges disparate racial impact in Milwaukee, says CDC is studying matter.

Half of Wisconsin Counties Have COVID-19 Cases

Officials caution that it will be confirmed everywhere. 707 total cases in Wisconsin.

State Has Biggest One-Day Jump in COVID-19 Cases

585 cases Wednesday, up from 457 Tuesday, and 7 deaths, as disease spreads.

State Reports 457 COVID-19 Cases, Up From 416

But officials say actual total is higher. "We have a limited window into the number of cases."

State Has One-Day Drop in COVID-19 Tests

For first time in a week, the growth rate of new cases, positive and negative, slows.

381 Cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin, 4 Deaths

"Stay at home," says Governor Tony Evers in simple message on how Wisconsinites can help.

Nurses Prepare for COVID-19 Onslaught

State’s hospitals short on beds, protective gear and staff, though some see reason to hope.

Evers Doesn’t Believe Wisconsin Will Need “Shelter in Place” Order

COVID-19 cases rising exponentially, now at 206, state working on supply shortages

Evers Says State Bars, Restaurants Can Stay Open

But must operate at 50 percent of their fire code capacity or 50 people maximum.

47 Cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin

One had recovered and 504 negative tests. Cases and testing resources continue to grow.

19 Cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin

Two in Milwaukee County. State’s total up to 19 as of Friday

Confirmed Coronavirus Case in Wisconsin

Wisconsin resident recently traveled to China, becomes 12th case in US.