Content referencing Ryan Westergaard
State Officials Say Despite Federal Change, Kids Should Get Recommended Vaccines
Wisconsin DHS backs current childhood vaccine schedule, rejecting Trump administration move.
Jan 8th, 2026 by Hope Kirwan
Defying Federal Advisors, Wisconsin Reaffirms Support of Hepatitis B Vaccine
CDC advisory committee voted last week to end recommendation of a universal birth dose.
Dec 12th, 2025 by Hope Kirwan
Health Officials Urge Vaccinations, Cite Cases of Infectious Disease
Public exposed to deadly diseases: measles in 2 counties, whooping cough in 1 county.
Apr 30th, 2024 by Hope Kirwan
State Health Leaders Urge Individuals To Get New COVID-19 Booster Shot
Updated vaccine better matched to variants currently circulating.
Sep 14th, 2023 by Hope Kirwan
Republican Legislators May Suspend Vaccine Requirements
Committee may suspend DHS rules for students on chickenpox, meningitis.
Feb 26th, 2023 by Baylor Spears
Wisconsin Sees Spike in Toxic Shock Syndrome Cases
State officials urge education about tampon use.
Feb 11th, 2023 by Baylor Spears
Not Enough Getting Bivalent Booster Shots, State Health Officials Warn
Extra booster shot decreases hospitalization by 73% but most adults haven't gotten it.
Dec 26th, 2022 by Gaby Vinick
Health Officials Urge Flu, COVID-19 Vaccinations Amidst Three-Virus Surge
RSV, flu and COVID-19 cases are all on rise, stressing hospitals.
Nov 17th, 2022 by Baylor Spears
DHS Urges New Booster Shots
New bivalent vaccines provide wider immunity to virus variants.
Sep 8th, 2022 by Bridgit Bowden
Wisconsin Has First Case of Monkeypox
400 cases in U.S. so far, but state health officials say risk to public remains low.
Jul 2nd, 2022 by Jenny Peek
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.
May 17th, 2022 by Erik Gunn
Wastewater Testing Suggests COVID-19 Waning
Wisconsin one of 37 states using sewage analysis as early warning system.
Feb 8th, 2022 by Shamane Mills
Public Health Officials Monitoring Omicron Subvariant
Fewer than five cases of the new variant have been detected in Wisconsin.
Feb 4th, 2022 by Shamane Mills
Wisconsin Sees Record COVID-19 Cases
State health officials report highest ever seven-day-average of cases
Jan 20th, 2022 by Rob Mentzer
Many Older Teens Eligible for Booster Shots
State officials say those 16 or older who got the Pfizer vaccine should get booster shot.
Dec 13th, 2021 by Melanie Conklin
Hospitals Relying on Temporary Travel Nurses
Travel nurses work short term contracts, making significantly more than staff nurses.
Nov 19th, 2021 by Shamane Mills
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.
Sep 28th, 2021 by Graham Kilmer
MPS Reports 53 Cases of COVID-19 in Schools
COVID-19 transmission in the community is showing up in cases at schools.
Aug 20th, 2021 by Madeline Fox
State Health Officials Expect Current COVID-19 Surge Will Worsen
Surge is driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant and low vaccination rates.
Aug 19th, 2021 by Danielle Kaeding
Evers Considering Vaccine Mandate for State Employees
The governor expressed support for private sector mask, vaccine mandates.
Aug 13th, 2021 by Erik Gunn
State Officials Recommending Masks for Schools
Delta variant causing uptick in cases. Officials say masking will reduce school transmission.
Aug 6th, 2021 by Madeline Fox
Scott Walker’s Right, Get Vaccinated Now
As variants cause new rise in COVID-19, more Republicans urging people to get the vaccine.
Jul 27th, 2021 by Bill Kaplan
State Officials Target COVID-19 Delta Variant
New tool offers better tracking of vaccinations rates. ‘This variant is less forgiving.’
Jul 10th, 2021 by Shamane Mills
State Approves COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids 12 and Older
Adolescents and younger teenagers can now get the vaccine in Wisconsin.
May 13th, 2021 by Erik Gunn
State Wants Pause in Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
6 reports of blood clots among 6.8 million doses administered.
Apr 13th, 2021 by WPR Staff
New COVID-19 Variants Behind Spiking Cases
Variants now account for more than half of all new cases of COVID-19.
Apr 9th, 2021 by Erik Gunn
A Return to Normalcy?
Experts consider when we’ll get to a post-pandemic world and what that will look like.
Mar 9th, 2021 by Erik Gunn
Fast Spreader COVID-19 Variant In Milwaukee
Arrived a month ago. Study shows variant doubling infections every 10 days in the U.S.
Feb 16th, 2021 by Graham Kilmer
State Sees Second Case of Coronavirus Variant
A case in Waukesha of variant first discovered in UK and believed to spread more rapidly.
Feb 9th, 2021 by Shamane Mills
COVID-19 Variant Hits Wisconsin
Research indicates it is more easily transmitted and may have led to UK's spike in infections.
Jan 13th, 2021 by Graham Kilmer
DHS Shortens Quarantine For Some
For those exposed to someone with COVID-19 quarantine now 10 days rather than 14.
Dec 7th, 2020 by Erik Gunn
Evers Extending Mask Mandate Into 2021
New order expected in coming days, despite pending legal challenges.
Nov 18th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
7,777 New COVID-19 Cases, Another Record High
Record daily hospitalization and death averages
Nov 13th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Record 7,497 New COVID-19 Cases As Hospital Capacity Dwindles
58 deaths pushes 30-day average to 33.57
Nov 12th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
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.
Nov 1st, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
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.
Nov 1st, 2020 by Erik Gunn
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.
Oct 31st, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
State Officials Predict Worsening Outbreak With No Behavior Changes
Weekly totals for cases, hospitalizations and deaths all set all-time highs.
Oct 30th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Record 1,230 People Actively Hospitalized With COVID-19
Active hospitalizations grow 265% in two months.
Oct 22nd, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Evers Restricts Bar, Restaurant Capacity
All public, indoor facilities cannot exceed 25% of capacity. Order runs through November 6th.
Oct 6th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Health Departments ‘Cracking Under Strain’ of Pandemic
Top epidemiologist say state needs more contact tracing staff, expanded testing to slow virus spread.
Oct 6th, 2020 by Hope Kirwan
Avoid Public Gatherings, Evers Urges People
Governor warns pandemic spiking, “a crisis — virus is everywhere,” says top health official.
Sep 30th, 2020 by Shawn Johnson
Evers Wants to Extend Mask Mandate
Order expires in two weeks, governor looking at "every possible avenue” to extend it.
Sep 16th, 2020 by Erik Gunn
COVID-19 Cases Declining In Every Age Group Except 18-24
But seven-day case total is at an all-time high.
Sep 15th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
The Battle Over Face Masks
The limits of persuasion in a polarized state. Can science save lives and prevent threats?
Sep 7th, 2020 by Will Cushman
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.
Sep 4th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
“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.
Sep 3rd, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
COVID-19 Spread Accelerating In Wisconsin Teenagers
Percentage of individuals under 19 that have contracted disease has increased every month this summer.
Aug 16th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
1,059 New Cases As Governor Announces Mask Mandate
Second biggest testing and case day on record.
Jul 30th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
45-Day COVID-19 Hospitalization High, But Only One Death
30-day death rate as low as it has been since outbreak began.
Jul 19th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
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.
Jul 18th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
New High, 964 New COVID-19 Cases
State sets new case record for fourth time in past week and a 30-day hospitalization high.
Jul 14th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
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.
Jul 13th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Wisconsin Sets New Single-Day COVID-19 Case High
30-day testing high, but positive case rate ticks upward.
Jul 9th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
20 Days of Climbing COVID-19 Positive Case Rate
Active hospitalizations also hit three week high.
Jul 8th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Evers Won’t Issue New Shutdown Order
Cites Republican and Supreme Court opposition even as state cases double in just one month.
Jul 8th, 2020 by Erik Gunn
Wisconsin Has Fastest COVID-19 Spread In U.S.
New study has alarming figures, with spread coming since state shutdown ended.
Jul 7th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
COVID-19 Cases Double Since Memorial Day
State officials fear spread to older population could trigger surge in hospitalizations and deaths.
Jul 7th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Wisconsin Reports Biggest One-Day COVID-19 Case Increase
But no new deaths and hospitalizations fall to three month low.
Jul 4th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
1 of Every 200 in State Has Tested Positive For COVID-19
14-day positive case rate continues to climb upward.
Jul 1st, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Why Do COVID-19 Hospitalizations Continue To Drop?
256 new cases of disease confirmed on Wednesday.
Jun 17th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
COVID-19 Hospitalizations Fall To Two-Month Low
Number of people hospitalized hasn't been this low since April 4th.
Jun 12th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Evers Meets With Lawmakers on Police Reform
Governor says the state is at a "watershed moment" for the issue of police reform, racism.
Jun 12th, 2020 by Erik Gunn
New Highs for COVID-19 Testing, Cases, Deaths
State reports over 10,000 tests in a single day for the first time.
May 27th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Advocacy Groups Want Better Worker Safety
Following COVID-19 outbreak at Kenosha Amazon facility, they urge legislators to reinstate protections.
May 23rd, 2020 by Erik Gunn
Wisconsin Sets COVID-19 Testing Record, Another Hospitalization High
All 72 counties have COVID-19 cases for the first time.
May 21st, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Positive COVID-19 Test Rate Falls to Record Low
Milwaukee County crosses 5,000 case threshold, has positive rate nearly twice the state average.
May 18th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Tony Evers Plays Mr. Rogers
Governor handles pandemic and Supreme Court loss with nice guy concerns for our health.
May 18th, 2020 by Steven Walters
State Hygiene Lab Seeks Antibody Test Data
Data may help measure spread of immunity.
May 12th, 2020 by Danielle Kaeding
Back-to-Back Record COVID-19 Testing Days
Wisconsin labs process over 4,000 tests in 24 hours for first time.
May 6th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Ventilators ‘Almost a Death Sentence’?
Study shows they don’t work for many COVID-19 patients, state's hospitals limiting their use.
May 5th, 2020 by Bram Sable-Smith
Wisconsin Sets New COVID-19 Testing Record
Percent of negative results increases, a positive sign.
May 5th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Positive COVID-19 Testing Rate Trending In Wrong Direction
Even as testing expands, average number of people testing positive for disease expands.
May 2nd, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
State Hits New High in COVID-19 Cases
Number tested is higher, but so is percent of positive cases. Disease spreading in state.
May 1st, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Wisconsinites Starting To Ignore Stay-At-Home Order
State residents starting to experience “quarantine fatigue.”
Apr 30th, 2020 by Will Cushman
Wisconsin COVID-19 Testing Grows 69 Percent Week Over Week
But the percentage of tests coming back positive isn't falling dramatically.
Apr 30th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Is The Meat Safe to Eat?
COVID-19 outbreaks at state's meatpacking plants raises questions for consumers.
Apr 29th, 2020 by Miranda Suarez
Positive Case Rate Falls, But State Wants It Even Lower
New webpage allows public to track progress on criteria in Badger Bounce Back plan.
Apr 29th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
State’s COVID-19 Death Toll Reaches 300
72 percent of those who've died have been 70 or older.
Apr 28th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
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.
Apr 25th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
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.
Apr 24th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
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.
Apr 23rd, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Why Aren’t More COVID-19 Tests Given?
More available now, but other factors may limit use, says Department of Health Services official.
Apr 22nd, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
COVID-19 Testing Slows
State reports declining testing totals four days in a row, while positive test rate remains steady.
Apr 21st, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
State Still Not Using Full Testing Capacity
Death toll from COVID-19 grows to 230, 132 in Milwaukee County.
Apr 20th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
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.
Apr 19th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
State Still Reviewing Triage Guidelines for Ventilators
Committee has more time to decide how scarce medical equipment will be used.
Apr 17th, 2020 by Shamane Mills
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.
Apr 16th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Business Groups Want State To Reopen
Pushing Evers to act within two weeks. Scientists say it's too soon.
Apr 12th, 2020 by Erik Gunn
3,341 Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Wisconsin
ICU bed availability drops
Apr 12th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
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.
Apr 11th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
COVID-19 Testing Capacity Continues To Outpace Actual Testing
State officials say they've expanded guidance to allow more people to be tested.
Apr 10th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
2,440 Positive Cases of COVID-19, Testing Capacity Growing
27 percent of confirmed cases have required hospitalization.
Apr 6th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Wisconsin Reports 2,267 COVID-19 Cases, 624 Hospitalizations
Death total has risen to 68. 1,148 cases in Milwaukee County.
Apr 5th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
Wisconsin Reports 2,122 Positive COVID-19 Cases, 56 Deaths
Despite record increases, officials believe curve is flattening, "safer at home" working.
Apr 4th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
State Races To Do More COVID-19 Testing
But faces problem: shortage of everything.
Apr 1st, 2020 by Will Cushman
Trump Downplays Pandemic in Midwest
Reality: as one Wisconsin doctor put it, a COVID-19 “tsunami” is coming.
Mar 31st, 2020 by Bill Kaplan
1,351 Positive COVID-19 Cases in Wisconsin, 674 in Milwaukee County
State working with private partners to double testing capacity.
Mar 31st, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
State Has 1,221 COVID-19 Cases, Exploring Field Hospital Locations
State says data on hospitalization coming soon.
Mar 30th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
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.
Mar 29th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
