The NNS coronavirus update for week of April 5: Vaccine eligibility opens to general public; Wisconsin Center gets federal support; Milwaukee mask mandate still in effect | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
April 5, 2021
The Wisconsin Center will have the capacity, staffing and resources to vaccinate up to 3,000 people in a day. (Photo by Adam Carr)
Here’s the latest update on COVID-19 in Milwaukee and the resources you need to combat it.
Effective Monday, all Wisconsin residents ages 16 and older are eligible for the coronavirus vaccine.
Supplies will be limited, however, for those from the ages of 16 to 18 who wish to get the shot. Only one of the three immunizations in use, the Pfizer vaccine, is approved for use in those under 18.
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The city’s central vaccination site will get an increase in support from the federal government beginning Tuesday, April 6, bringing more workers and vaccines into the city.
It was announced last week that the Wisconsin Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., would be designated as a federal community clinic for COVID-19 vaccinations. The site will operate seven days a week for the next eight weeks and will begin receiving federal vaccine allotments.
With an additional 1,000 doses from the state, the Wisconsin Center will have the capacity, staffing and resources to vaccinate up to 3,000 people in a day.
The site is appointment-only. To make an appointment, visit https://city.milwaukee.gov/CovidVax or call (414) 286-6800. You can also make an appointment at https://wi-telegov.egov.com/milwaukee-vaccines.
Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson said last week that some restrictions for local businesses could be reintroduced following an increase in cases.
Milwaukee County’s case indicator remained in the red again, indicating a significant upward trend in COVID-19 cases, which also are rising across the state.
The most recent public health order from the Milwaukee Health Department, enacted on March 19, loosened restrictions on businesses and gathering limits. Johnson said the health order would be reviewed on the week of April 18.
If trends do not improve, the department will have to re-enforce restrictions, Johnson said.
Last week, the Wisconsin Supreme Court voted to repeal the statewide mask mandate, leaving local jurisdictions to decide whether face coverings will be required in public settings.
The 4-3 decision from the conservative-controlled Supreme Court followed criticism of the mask orders from Republican lawmakers, who said Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, overstepped his authority by continuing to declare mask mandates without legislative approval.
The City of Milwaukee’s mandate, which has been in place since July, remains in effect.
Vaccine data
As of April 2, 272,871 people in Milwaukee County have received one dose of the vaccine. This includes 70% of the 65+ population, which amounts to 92,738 people.
The state has fully vaccinated 1,076,380 people with both doses of the vaccine. Nearly one-fifth of all Wisconsinites have been fully inoculated.
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To obtain a free mask, residents can visit these sites:
NNS reporters also gathered a list of where to buy locally made masks if you’re looking to show some local business love when masking up.
Check the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s website for the most updated facts and answers to questions about the mask ordinance.
Look here for up-to-date statistics on COVID-19 in the county. More precautions on how to stay safe and information on COVID-19 can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Contact your health provider, call IMPACT 2-1-1 or take a look at the county’s testing site map to find a testing center near you. The free community testing sites at the Northwest Health Center, 7630 W. Mill Rd., and Southside Health Center, 1639 S. 23rd St., are now open and operating. American Family Field (formerly Miller Park), 1 Brewers Way, is also open as an effective testing site.
For more information on testing, including how to identify symptoms and when you should get tested, visit TestUpMKE.com. Available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Burmese and Arabic.
For more information on vaccine distribution and where to find it, visit HealthyMKE.com. Available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Burmese and Arabic.
Check out our continuing coronavirus coverage.
Looking for more personalized direction to resources and information during the coronavirus crisis? Get connected with News414, a texting-based news resource from Milwaukee NNS, Wisconsin Watch and Outlier Media. You can text MILWAUKEE to 73224 and begin to receive free, personalized data via text messages.