Hometown Broadcasting News Thursday 3/4/21
4 March 2021 News
Rollback On COVID Precautions Is Too Early
A member of the Ripon Community COVID-19 Task Force says it’s too early for some states to be rolling back precautions put into place for the pandemic. Jeff Puhlmann-Becker says Wisconsin’s positivity rate for new cases of the virus is at about 2.4 percent, but other recent declines in key metrics have begun to level off. He feels if we remove precautions too early we could see numbers begin to climb again. He believes a few states have rolled back their precautions too early. “and one of the bigger concerns on the national level is 7 states are actively pursuing rolling back significant COVID precautions including Mississippi and Texas who are dropping everything at this point.” Puhlmann-Becker feels those precautions are in place for a good reason and shouldn’t be rolled back until health experts feel it is safe to do so.
ThedaCare COVID Vaccine Update
ThedaCare was expecting to receive 2,108 doses of COVID-19 vaccine this week, but all available doses have been scheduled. More eligible patients will be contacted through MyThedaCare if additional doses become available. You can start a MyThedaCare account at the ThedaCare website. Since last December 24th ThedaCare has administered 27,339 vaccines hoping to eventually administer 10,000 vaccines per week. ThedaCare Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Mark Cockley says with the emergency authorization of a vaccine by Johnson & Johnson they are hopeful it will increase vaccine supply in the coming weeks and months.
OASD Vaccine Availability
Starting today and throughout the weekend all interested Oshkosh Area School District employees will be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The expedited access is the result of the District’s ongoing advocacy and partnership with Advocate Aurora Health-Oshkosh, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and the Winnebago County Health Department. In addition as a result of the evening and weekend vaccination appointment availability, the District will not need to transition to a scheduled virtual learning day for students as previously expected. The District has been advocating for expedited vaccine access for employees for the past several months.
Quitting Smoking In The Age Of COVID
The Five Counties for Tobacco Free Living Coalition run out of the Fond du Lac County Health Department can offer some help to those who are trying to quit smoking given the greater risks smokers have of contracting COVID-19. Sandy Bernier is the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program Coordinator. She says it’s good to start with your health care provider to see if medication might make it easier. “If you’re interested in making a quit attempt talk to them about if you tried to quit before what worked, what didn’t work and then also you’d want to talk to them about what medication might be appropriate.” She says besides your health care provider you would want to inform family and friends to get their support. Bernier also recommends calling the Quit Line at 1-800-784-8669, which can provide support and free help.
State Representative Dallman On Proposed State Budget
State Representative Alex Dallman says he’d like to see a number of policy items taken out of Governor Ever’s proposed state budget. The state lawmaker from Green Lake feels the focus for the budget should be fiscal in nature. “I think it is very irresponsible to put a bunch of policy items into a budget when we are talking about the fiscal nature of our economy in the budget. I don’t think we should be doing things that have nothing to do with a fiscal nature.” Dallman feels a couple of policy items in the budget legalizing recreational marijuana and rolling back ACT 10 should be in separate bills and sink or swim on their own merit, with a chance for the public to testify on them. The Legislature Fiscal Bureau will be putting out information on the policy items in the budget that should be removed.
FDL Fire Chief Praises Teamwork That Saved A Life
Fond du Lac Fire Chief Peter O’Leary recently commended Fond du Lac Police and North Fond du Lac Paramedics for saving the life of a drug overdose victim. It happened Monday night while all on duty Fond du Lac Fire Department units were responding to a house fire on South Park Avenue. Police got to the separate scene where a person was unconscious and not breathing. Officers performed CPR until North Fond du Lac Paramedics arrived and continued CPR while the paramedics administered NARCAN. The patient was taken to the hospital. O’Leary says there is no question, the police officers and paramedics saved that person’s life. O’Leary praised the teamwork.
Markesan Winter Parking Restrictions Suspended
Because of the warmer weather and lack of significant snowfall, the Markesan Police Department is temporarily suspending the overnight winter parking rules, which does not include the downtown restrictions. If a significant amount of snow were to fall that requires the Public Works Department to plow, the winter parking rules would once again be enforced. If there is doubt about whether police will be enforcing winter parking rules send them a message on Facebook or call the department at 920-398-2121.
FDL County Internet Access Survey
Envision Greater Fond du Lac is partnering with Fond du Lac County to complete a county-wide survey assessment of broadband internet access and service. All residents are encouraged to complete the short survey detailing their home internet capabilities. Broadband internet access became more important than ever during 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It became the primary delivery method of education and business connections and many healthcare providers quickly adapted to provide services via telehealth. Fond du Lac County is one of six counties selected to participate in the Broadband Connectors Pilot. To learn more about the Fond du Lac County internet surveys visit the Envision Greater Fond du Lac website.
Broadband Internet Survey – Envision Greater Fond du Lac (envisiongreaterfdl.com)
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