Coronavirus cases are growing in Wisconsin at a rate not seen since this time last year. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services gave an update this afternoon. Current COVID-19 rates stand at 3,294 new cases, which is double October’s rate. That includes 19 omicron variant cases. The D-H-S recommends people get vaccinated, practice social distancing-especially during holiday get togethers and stay home if they show COVID symptoms.
The increase in COVID-19 cases is putting additional stress on an already overburdened health care system. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, however, claims vaccine mandates are making the state’s health care worker shortage worse.
At the same time, the Chief Medical Officer of one of Wisconsin’s largest health care providers say his organization did lose some health care workers because of vaccination mandates. Dr. William Melms with Marshfield Clinic Health System says, however, it was a small number and requiring vaccination has paid off.
He also says Marshfield Clinics is turning away 100 patients weekly from smaller hospitals and clinics that have no room for them.
