Archive
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Madison School District will continue to require masks in buildings through spring break
posted February 28, 2022Masks will continue to be required in Madison School District buildings beyond the March 1 expiration of the Dane County mask mandate, the district said Wednesday.
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Nearly 1 in 10 unvaccinated Dane Co. residents had COVID-19 in January
posted February 28, 2022With just days to go before the indoor mask mandate for Dane Co. expires, the county’s health department latest weekly update shows cases continuing to decline sharply.
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Some Madison businesses will require, encourage masks after county mandate lifts
posted February 28, 2022Starting Tuesday, Public Health Madison and Dane County will let its monthslong coronavirus mask mandate expire.
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Dane County COVID-19 mask mandate to expire March 1
posted February 16, 2022Nine months after Dane County residents could cast aside face masks indoors and six and a half months after being told to wear them again, they’ll get another reprieve March 1, when the county’s COVID-19 mask mandate will expire.
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Dane County’s mask mandate is expiring, but you might still need to wear one inside grocery stores
posted February 16, 2022For the first time in six months, starting March 1, Dane County will no longer be under a mask order.
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New COVID-19 omicron subvariant found in Dane County
posted February 7, 2022A subvariant of the Omicron variant has been identified in Dane County.
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Origins and Oversight of Private COVID-19 Testing Companies
posted February 7, 2022Private COVID-19 testing companies are unlike those run in partnership with a state healthy agency or the federal government.
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Free N95 masks in Wisconsin: Where to find them and how to wear them
posted February 2, 2022Free N95 masks can now be picked up by customers of select retail pharmacies and community health centers across Wisconsin, as part of the Biden administration's plan to tamp down the spread of COVID-19.
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Two years on, the fight against COVID in Wisconsin continues
posted February 1, 2022Public Health Madison & Dane County has led the fight against the pandemic at a local level, administering over 500,000 tests and over 116,000 vaccinations.
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‘Stealth omicron’ COVID-19 variant detected in Dane Co.
posted February 1, 2022Right now there is “insufficient” evidence that it causes more severe illness or is more contagious than the original omicron variant. Layering COVID prevention strategies is the best way to protect people from the virus.
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PHMDC mobile vaccine clinic workers see traffic increase at pop-up locations
posted January 25, 2022Pop up clinics are being set up to meet people where they are, offering more convenience and access.
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Dane County residents can report their at-home COVID-19 test results online
posted January 20, 2022Reporting helps public health estimate and understand exactly how much COVID is circulating in our community.
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Alliant Energy Center COVID-19 testing site adding weekend appointments starting next weekend
posted January 20, 2022More appointments are being added, and in many cases, same-day appointments are available.
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PHMDC: Dane Co. COVID-19 death rate cut in half since vaccines’ arrival
posted January 18, 2022Zooming out to include the five counties with the highest vaccination rates have seen their rates drop by 39 percent. The five least vaccinated counties have actually seen their death rates rise by nearly a third.
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Dane County hits pandemic peak of COVID-19 hospitalizations
posted January 11, 2022Hospitals are urging the public to get vaccinated and avoid going to emergency rooms for coronavirus tests.
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Wisconsin teens and high-risk younger kids are starting to get their COVID-19 booster shots
posted January 11, 2022The process for getting a booster shot is very similar to other doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. They are offered at pharmacies, hospitals and doctor’s offices, and sites run by local public health departments.
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‘We’re hitting our limits’: Madison hospitals stretched to capacity as COVID-19 continues to surge
posted January 11, 2022Health care providers in Madison are urging the community to take extra precautions as COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to push the local health care system to its limits.
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PHMDC expanding testing hours at South Park Street clinic
posted January 5, 2022From Tuesday to Sunday, the clinic will now be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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Omicron variant detected in Dane County, officials urge attention but not panic
posted December 17, 2021The best protection against COVID, including Omicron, is for people 5 and up to get vaccinated. If eligible, bolster your immunity with a booster as soon as possible. Vaccination greatly reduces risk of severe illness or death.
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Pediatric COVID-19 vaccine appointments available with fewer delays than adult boosters, health department says
posted December 7, 2021Vaccinating your children is a big part of keeping everyone safe this holiday. The process for signing a child up for the shot? It takes less than 5 minutes.
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Dane County businesses offer maskless spaces for fully-vaccinated people
posted November 30, 2021Because of one exception in the latest mask Order, some businesses are able to cater to the fully-vaccinated in a new way.
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'It can be life-changing': Health department offers free nurses to low-income pregnant people
posted November 29, 2021The free Nurse-Family Partnership Program offers specially trained nurses for regular visits to people in their first pregnancy, starting early in pregnancy and continuing through the child’s second birthday.
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Children’s COVID-19 vaccine helps fight community virus spread
posted November 15, 2021The newly approved Pfizer vaccine for those ages 5-11 will be a game changer for kids and the community as a whole.
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PHMDC opening more pediatric vaccine appointments
posted November 10, 2021The clinic at the Alliant Energy Center Arena can provide about 400 pediatric doses per day. "We have the staff on hand that can take the extra time that child or that family needs. There’s no rush through the process.”
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Health officials warn to guard against lead poisoning
posted October 29, 2021Most children who contract lead poisoning were exposed to the chemical by paint dust in homes built before 1978.
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Dane Co. health officials ready to give COVID-19 boosters, allow mix and matching
posted October 27, 2021Public Health says they are able to give boosters of Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson to those meeting criteria, based on supply.
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Alliant Energy Center gears up for big vaccine expansion as children inch closer to vaccine eligibility
posted October 27, 2021Public Health spokesperson says "Once children are approved for vaccine, our capacity will be able to grow to more than 1,000 doses a day."
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‘I know there’s a lot of confusion’: Health officials break down booster news
posted October 20, 2021Vaccinators are getting ready for a spike in vaccinations when boosters and vaccines for 5-11 year olds become authorized.
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Dane Co. reaches second lowest COVID-19 case rate of all Wis. counties
posted October 18, 2021Dane County health officials noted that the County has consistently had lower case rates among all age groups in Wisconsin, with the only exception being a recent spike in college-aged individuals.
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PHMDC to provide booster shots at temporary vaccine clinic
posted October 11, 2021Located in the Arena Building at Alliant Energy Center, the clinic will provide first and second vaccine doses for anyone 12 and older as well as booster doses for those who are eligible.
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With cold weather coming, officials stress COVID-19 boosters, first doses and flu shots
posted October 1, 2021COVID vaccines are readily available throughout Dane County. People with insurance can get flu shots from local clinics and pharmacies. Public Health gives free flu shots to adults and kids without insurance, kids on BadgerCare.
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Death rate of Hispanic babies more than doubles in Dane County
posted September 28, 2021“Public Health is just one player in this huge, complex issue. It’s going to take a full community approach to make a difference here.”
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Dane County expands testing capacity as ERs become overburdened with COVID-19 testing
posted September 24, 2021We have 32 different sites in and around Dane county that offer testing seven days a week and up to 120 hours a week that testing is available.
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Dane County public health officials highlight early COVID-19 trends in schools
posted September 24, 2021Dane County officials say they see early signs that COVID-19 mitigation efforts in schools are working, urge all who can be vaccinated to get vaccinated.
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UW Health doctor reminds people of effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine, despite breakthrough cases
posted September 14, 2021No vaccine is 100% perfect in preventing disease, but they are still important in preventing the worst from happening.
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Dane County health board opposes supervisor’s resolution to ‘pull back’ mask mandate
posted September 14, 2021Madison and Dane County’s Board of Health called a Dane County Board supervisor’s proposal to “pull back” the county’s indoor mask mandate “extremely disheartening.”
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Madison mayor outlines plans to respond to gun violence
posted September 13, 2021The City is working on community engagement and providing services, including the new CARES team and Public Health's Violence Prevention Unit.
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FDA gives full approval to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
posted August 23, 2021The U.S. gave full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, a milestone that may help lift public confidence in the shots as the nation battles the most contagious coronavirus mutant yet.
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What's Next for Wisconsin's Most Vaccinated Locales as Delta Variant Spreads
posted August 10, 2021Health officials in Dane and Door counties are trying to push local vaccinations even higher as employers are left to enforce their own vaccine and mask rules in the face of the highly contagious coronavirus variant.
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UW-Madison study reveals virus abundant in COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin, even among fully vaccinated
posted August 10, 2021UW officials announced that some vaccinated people infected with COVID-19 in Wisconsin in June and July had just as much virus in their nasal passages as newly infected unvaccinated people.
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'We will not stop now:' 70% of Dane County residents have 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine
posted August 10, 2021Dane County achieved a pandemic milestone Monday, as 70% of all residents have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
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Sun Prairie barbershop opens men’s clinic
posted July 9, 2021Local barbershop owners teamed up to focus on men's health in their communities.
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UW Health doctor helping boost vaccination rates in Latinx community
posted July 9, 2021Dane County has the strongest COVID-19 vaccination rate in Wisconsin for the Latinx community, and a UW Health physician has had a big hand in that effort.
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Delta variant of coronavirus not yet ‘prevalent’ in Dane County
posted June 29, 2021A strain of the coronavirus that transmits more rapidly and easily, known as the Delta variant, is currently not widespread in Dane County.
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‘We’re in the marathon part’: Health officials target remaining groups to get vaccinated along Path to Herd Immunity
posted June 7, 2021For health officials, the beginning of the vaccine rollout felt like a sprint. “It’s going to take a little more time now and that’s OK. We’re in the marathon part.”
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Geographical disparities in vaccination could lead to COVID ‘hotspots’ where outbreaks are more likely
posted May 27, 2021We’re seeing some COVID-19 vaccination disparities among rural populations, and we really rely on community connections to be able to understand barriers and how to address them.
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Hey, Alliant Energy Center: Thanks for all of those jabs and swabs
posted April 29, 2021We’d like to add one more remarkable effort to the long list of successes to celebrate: the Alliant Energy Center’s ever-evolving testing and vaccination services.
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'An honor to be here': Alliant Energy Center serves as a federal mass vaccination center
posted April 15, 2021To meet COVID-19 vaccine demand, Public Health Madison & Dane County has developed an operation at Alliant Energy Center that’s about as easy to navigate as a fast-food drive-up.
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Efforts ramp up to vaccinate people of color against COVID-19 in Wisconsin
posted April 7, 2021With all Wisconsin residents 16 and older now eligible for the vaccine, health officials, medical providers and community groups are increasing their push to make sure racial and ethnic minorities have access to the vaccine.
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Behind the effort to get Dane County residents vaccinated
posted March 25, 2021Vaccines have arrived in Dane County and distribution is underway. But varying needs within vulnerable communities are raising some complex questions.