Like much of the country, our state is feeling the effects of a COVID-19 spike.
Wisconsin’s coronavirus hospitalizations have jumped double-digits over the past two weeks. The state’s Department of Health Services is reporting a 14 percent increase in the number of people in the hospital with the virus since the last full week of August. ICU hospitalizations are up 11 percent. DHS says, as of Tuesday, the two-week average was 987 people hospitalized with the coronavirus. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM WI DHS.
Here locally, there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight for doctors and nurses in Eau Claire. Hospitals in the city yesterday said their staff is being stretched thin because of a spike in coronavirus cases.
Marshfield Medical Center in Eau Claire says it’s seeing a staff shortage and an increase in the number of people hospitalized with the virus. HSHS hospitals said they are having to turn to sister hospitals in other communities to meet the needs. Mayo Clinic managers say they expect to be busy for weeks. All of the hospitals say the spike in delta cases are responsible for the increase in hospitalizations.
On the national stage, President Biden is frustrated with the 80-million people who still aren’t vaccinated against coronavirus. He blames them for the nationwide surge, saying their “refusal has cost all of us.”
During a speech from the White House he asked “What more do you need to see?” The President outlined his six-part plan to battle the surging delta variant. It includes vaccine mandates for companies with more than 100 workers or weekly testing.
We will show you different sides so you can decide, not everyone agrees with that message.
For example, Georgia’s Republican governor is sharing his displeasure with the Biden administration’s new plan for COVID vaccines. Governor Brian Kemp says he’ll pursue every legal option to stop what he calls blatantly unlawful overreach. He has refused to implement any kind of face mask requirement or vaccine mandates in Georgia.
The Republican National Committee is promising to take legal action regarding President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Mark Mayfield has the details.
