Archive
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A Year Into The Pandemic, What's Driving Varied Coronavirus Rates Across Wisconsin?
posted Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021A Host Of Factors Contribute To Lower Per Capita COVID-19 Numbers In Dane And St. Croix Counties
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Janel Heinrich and Jerry Halverson: COVID precautions are working, so please keep going
posted Monday, Feb. 8, 2021This month marks the passing of a full year since the first indication of COVID-19 here in Dane County. A heartfelt “thank you” to everyone in Madison and Dane County who took the science seriously. Together we saved lives.
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Dane Co. health officials launch new COVID-19 dashboard
posted Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021Public Health Madison & Dane County is updating how people can get access to track COVID-19 in Dane County.
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Pandemic response raised Public Health’s profile, caused ‘shift in focus’
posted Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021As the coronavirus pandemic swept across the world and took hold in Dane County, the local public health department became the go-to resource for residents desperate for information on how to keep themselves safe.
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Schools can reopen safely, if they take strong infection-control measures
posted Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020New guidance from Public Health Madison & Dane County offers area school districts direction for safely reopening.
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For First Time In Months, Wisconsin's COVID-19 Cases Are Declining. Experts Say It May Not Last
posted Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020Downward trends in new infections 'encouraging,' but effects of Thanksgiving gatherings are still unknown
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“We’re struggling here.” Madison hospitals postpone some surgeries to increase ICU capacity
posted Monday, Nov. 16, 2020Madison hospitals announced they would immediately start postponing some non-urgent procedures in an effort to free up staff and space for more ICU beds.
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Madison health director endures during COVID-19, despite 'no off-switch'
posted Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020Janel Heinrich’s life as director of Public Health Madison and Dane County has not been easy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Public Health Madison & Dane County to Provide Free Drive Through Flu Shots
posted Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020Free drive through flu clinic at Alliant Energy Center for Dane County adults and children 6 months and up who don't have health insurance, and Dane County children 6 months and up who are on BadgerCare or Medicaid.
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COVID-19 hospitalizations at record levels in Wisconsin, Dane County
posted Monday, Oct. 5, 2020A record 714 people were hospitalized for COVID-19 in Wisconsin as of Sunday, with the tally growing more than 2.5 times in the last month and coming closer to what a hospital official said could be "crisis stage."
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Alliant Energy Center COVID-19 Test Site Hours Change Beginning October 5
posted Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2020Beginning October 5th, the Alliant Energy Center COVID-19 community test site hours will change. The site will be closed on Mondays, while continuing to be open Tuesday through Saturday until the end of the year.
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UW, Public Health act to stop COVID-19 spread in fraternity, sorority houses
posted Friday, Sep. 4, 2020Members of nine UW–Madison fraternities and sororities with off-campus live-in chapter houses have been directed to quarantine for at least 14 days in response to confirmed cases of COVID-19 among their members.
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Covid-19 cases could explode after Labor Day: It's up to us to stop it
posted Thursday, Sep. 3, 2020"The more we travel, the more we interact with people, the more opportunities there are for exposure."
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COVID-19 Update: FDA Warns Consumers About Hand Sanitizer Packaged in Food and Drink Containers
posted Thursday, Sep. 3, 2020The FDA has discovered alcohol-based hand sanitizers that are being packaged in beer cans, children’s food pouches, water bottles, juice, and vodka bottles.
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How to Understand COVID-19 Numbers
posted Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020Viewed in isolation or presented without context, coronavirus numbers don’t always give an accurate picture of how the pandemic is being handled.
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Opioid overdoses up more than 30% in Madison since start of COVID-19 pandemic
posted Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020From January to June, the Madison Police Department received 139 overdose calls, compared to 102 during the same time in 2019.
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People are dying after drinking hand sanitizer, CDC says
posted Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020Young children might unintentionally swallow these products, whereas adolescents or adults with history of alcohol use disorder might intentionally swallow these products as an alcohol (ethanol) substitute.
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Dane County to purchase and deliver 100,000 free face masks to local organizations
posted Thursday, Jul. 16, 2020A number of Dane County departments are working to get masks out to community centers, churches, schools, food pantries, and other settings that can reach underserved communities and those who may be unable to afford masks.
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COVID-19 could be controlled in 1-2 months if people wear masks: CDC Director Robert Redfield
posted Thursday, Jul. 16, 2020The most powerful weapon we have is face coverings, washing hands, and physical distancing.
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Protesting in a pandemic: Wear masks, wash hands, get tested
posted Monday, Jun. 8, 2020Anyone who attends a gathering should watch for symptoms of COVID-19.
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Madison COVID-19 testing site to remain open until June 24
posted Monday, Jun. 8, 2020In response to high utilization, the Wisconsin National Guard has extended the Dane County COVID-19 community testing site at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison through June 24.
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UW Health: Youth sports will look a lot different when they return
posted Monday, Jun. 8, 2020Kids who play sports and their parents are going to have to accept a new normal in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, medical experts warn.
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Public Health Offices Closed to Public
posted Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2020To protect health of staff and clients
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Health agencies’ funding cuts challenge coronavirus response
posted Monday, Mar. 9, 2020When an outbreak hits, public health departments are America’s front line of defense.
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State Health Agency Offers Tips for Travelers in Response to COVID-19
posted Wednesday, Mar. 4, 2020DHS recommends travelers returning from countries with a CDC level 2 or level 3 coronavirus travel health notice practice limited self-quarantine.
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A Guide: How To Prepare Your Home For Coronavirus
posted Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020The CDC is telling Americans that they should be prepared for the possibility of a COVID-19 outbreak in their community. But what does preparedness look like in practice? The short answer: Don't panic — but do prepare.
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'All Hands on Deck': Health Workers Race to Track Thousands of Americans Amid Coronavirus
posted Monday, Feb. 24, 2020Local health departments around the United States are monitoring thousands of people returning from travel in China and elsewhere. Among the tasks: daily calls, emails, texts.
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Efforts to Ramp Up to Address Black Infant Mortality in Dane County
posted Monday, Feb. 24, 2020An expanded birth coach program, a new Black Maternal and Child Health Alliance, and a screening tool to connect black pregnant women to community resources are being launched to address poor outcomes for black babies in Dane County.
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After decrease in opioid overdoses in Madison, UW, city takes steps to sustain downward trend
posted Monday, Feb. 17, 2020After Madison saw a 10% decrease in opioid overdoses in 2019 from the previous year, city officials and University of Wisconsin researchers are surging forward to increase access to treatment options.
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'We've got what you need': Foundation for Black Women's Wellness celebrates grand opening
posted Monday, Feb. 3, 2020After using different spaces around the community for about eight years, Lisa Peyton-Caire, her Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness and the women they serve in Madison and Dane County have a permanent place to call home.
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Flu more of a threat to Wisconsinites than Coronavirus
posted Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020According to the latest CDC data Wisconsin is considered one of 34 states with a high number of influenza-like illnesses in just the last week. While the number of Coronavirus cases in this state is zero.
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Health officials advise limited consumption of Lake Monona fish due to PFAS contamination
posted Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020State health officials now recommend that people limit consumption of fish from Lake Monona and Starkweather Creek.
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Dane County Health Officials Want Tighter Vaccine Controls
posted Friday, Jan. 10, 2020Dane County health officials unanimously approved a position statement calling for an end to the state’s personal conviction waiver which allows unvaccinated children to attend school.
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Wisconsin serious flu cases up threefold from a year ago
posted Friday, Jan. 3, 2020Wisconsin has had 459 hospitalizations for flu this season — more than three times the number at this time last year — and 11 residents have died, state health officials said Friday.
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'An incredible public health advance': Raising the legal age to purchase tobacco
posted Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020A major shift in the way that tobacco is bought and sold, as President Donald Trump signs new legislation that raises the legal age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21-years-old.
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Breastfeeding Advocates Look to Ease Lactation-on-the-Go
posted Monday, Dec. 9, 2019With prefabricated “lactation rooms” and mini-grants for companies that want to turn unused space into comfortable areas for breast milk pumping, local public health officials are expanding efforts to encourage nursing.
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The Litter of the Law: Most Madison Cat Owners Ignore City Regulations
posted Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019There are around 30,000 pet cats in Madison. But only a little over 3 percent are in compliance with city law, which requires owners pay an annual $15 licensing fee per cat ($20 if it isn’t spayed or neutered).
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Proposal would expand the area in Downtown Madison where additional bars are banned
posted Monday, Nov. 18, 2019Recent study by City of Madison Finance and Public Health shows a link between alcohol and increased crime and building code violations.
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Open Enrollment via Federal Marketplace Begins
posted Friday, Nov. 1, 2019The federal marketplace is for people who would not otherwise have health insurance through work, Medicaid, Medicare or CHIP. The deadline to sign up is December 15.
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City of Madison Declares Racism a Public Health Crisis
posted Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019The City of Madison joins 32 other organizations in Wisconsin that have signed on to the resolution and agree something more needs to be done.
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CDC Intensifies Warnings About Vaping Illness As Cases Top 1,000
posted Friday, Oct. 4, 2019The case count has reached 1,080, the agency announced Thursday. There have been 18 deaths in 15 states, and more deaths are being investigated.
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Don't Kiss Your Chickens, the CDC Says. Please Don't.
posted Tuesday, Sep. 17, 2019The CDC and health officials are investigating several outbreaks of Salmonella linked to contact with backyard poultry and caution all chicken keepers to wash hands with soap and water after touching poultry.
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Health Alert: Opioid Overdose Increase
posted Tuesday, Sep. 10, 2019There has been an increase in suspected opioid drug overdose activity in Dane County from August 25 to September 7, 2019.
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Health Alert: Vaping Linked to Severe Lung Disease
posted Thursday, Sep. 5, 2019Public Health Madison & Dane County is urging residents to stop using vape or e-cigarette products immediately.
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How Climate Change Threatens Public Health
posted Friday, Aug. 30, 2019Citing health threats posed by climate change, more than 70 major medical groups in the U.S. released a call to action in June 2019 declaring climate change “a true public health emergency.”
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The Impact of Racism on Children's Health
posted Monday, Aug. 12, 2019American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement on how racism affects the health and development of children and adolescents.
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For Your Health: 2020 Census Affects Public Health
posted Friday, Aug. 9, 2019The federal government uses census data to allocate funds for programs that help keep millions of families healthy, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
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New Cases Identified in Investigation of Lung Disease Among Teens and Young Adults Who Reported Vaping
posted Friday, Aug. 2, 2019Wisconsin Department of Health Services is seeing cases of teenagers and young adults with severe lung disease who all reported recent vaping. They are investigating to find a possible cause. All are urged not to vape.
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$100,000 Fundraising Goal Reached: Dream of a Black Women’s Health and Wellness Center Now Set to Become Reality
posted Wednesday, Jul. 31, 2019The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness is a Madison-based non-profit organization committed to empowering Black women and girls to build and sustain healthy, thriving, wellness-centered lives.
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Severe Lung Damage in Adolescents Who Report Vaping
posted Friday, Jul. 26, 2019The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is investigating a cluster of teenagers in Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Winnebago counties with severe lung disease who all reported recent vaping.