The statewide COVID-19 website is a one stop shop that consolidates information from state agencies, and provides up-to-date information and guidance regarding COVID-19. DHS has also offered information on their website on How and Where to Get Tested.
If you're not busy, please make a call, send a card, or write a letter to someone you know who lives alone or may need assistance.
Bless each of you during this difficult time of uncertainty and suffering. Take good care!
As residents 65 and older as well as certain other frontline personnel have become eligible to receive their COVID shots, demand for the vaccine and the number of eligible individuals trying to get access is far outstripping the state's supply of the vaccine.
Vaccine providers have requested about 290,000 doses but the state is only receiving 70,000 each week.
In Greenfield, they have been notified that they will receive 300 doses as they continue serving the 8,000 eligible residents.
Although Wisconsinites will need to remain patient for the time being, the pace of vaccinations across the state is starting to accelerate. Last Wednesday the state saw its highest number of daily vaccines administered at over 46,000 according to the state Department of Health Services.
New HealthCare.gov Open Enrollment Period in Two Weeks
Following an executive order by President Biden, the HealthCare.gov marketplace will be reopening for a special enrollment period to help address the burdens placed upon our country through the COVID-19 pandemic beginning February 15th through May 15th
"The Department is committed to ensuring that we deploy every available resource during the Public Health Emergency. This Special Enrollment Period will ensure that more individuals and families have access to quality, affordable health coverage during this unprecedented time," said U.S. Health and Human Services Acting Secretary Norris Cochran.
“This is great news for folks in Wisconsin,” said Wisconsin Commissioner of Insurance Mark Afable. “If you missed your opportunity to enroll last fall, you now have another chance to get affordable health insurance for you or your family. You may also still qualify for tax credits that could keep your monthly premiums low."
Most people on a HealthCare.gov plan qualify for financial help that lowers their monthly payment. Folks who would like to know if they qualify are encouraged to call 2-1-1 or visit WisCovered.com to find free, expert help. These experts can help you understand your coverage, simplify the enrollment process, and help you select a plan that fits your family and your budget.
Black History Month in Wisconsin
This February, learn more about the historic influence that African Americans have had on our state.
The Wisconsin Historical Society has brought together articles, historical essays, videos and panel discussions from its collections about our state's Black history and its leaders such as Vel Phillips and Lloyd Barbee.
Out of Thousands of Complaints about Election Fraud, Few Could be Substantiated
Through an open records request, the Wisconsin State Journal obtained more than 10,000 pages of emails related to claims of election fraud from the offices of State Senator Kathy Bernier and State Assemblyman Ron Tusler, the chairpersons of the state legislature's committees on electoral issues last session, who held hearings related to the claims that election fraud occurred during the November 3rd election.
Although thousands of complaints had been shared with the two chairpersons, the State Journal found that the majority of the emails were mass-generated form letters making nonspecific claims.
The journalists did identify 28 allegations of fraud or irregularities that were specific enough to investigate, but were only able to partially verify one claim involving 42 votes.
Representative Tusler explained to the State Journal that the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections that he chaired last session has only been able to substantiate one case of potential voter fraud from the November election.
The article in the Wisconsin State Journal details the different types of claims that they were able to identify, and explains how their efforts to investigate those claims played out.
January Ice Cover on the Great Lakes is at Near-Record Low
"We've had two very low ice cover years or what seemed to be very low ice cover years if 2021 persists as it is," said James Kessler, a physical scientist with NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab. "If there was a third, that would, I think, be cause for concern."
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association research trends show that the Great Lakes have been seeing a 5 percent decline in their annual maximum ice cover per decade. The record monthly low for average ice cover for the lakes in January was 4.08 percent in 2002, in 2021 the average was 4.4 percent.
Consider Something Special from Wisconsin for Valentine's Day
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection is running a second "Boxes of Fun" series geared towards Valentine's Day after the succes that the program saw during the holidays.
These curated boxes make it easy for Wisconsin consumers to give fun, unique Valentine’s Day gifts while supporting local Wisconsin businesses. Boxes can be purchased online at:
