Madison hospitals stretched to capacity as COVID-19 continues to surge

[luv2fly]

'We’re hitting our limits’: Madison hospitals stretched to capacity as COVID-19 continues to surge
Posted: January 6, 2022 11:39 AM
Updated: January 6, 2022 10:23 PM by Logan Rude, Tahleel Mohieldin

MADISON, Wis. — Health 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.

As of Thursday, COVID-19 hospitalizations at the city’s three major hospitals — UnityPoint Health – Meriter, UW Hospital, and SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital — were tied with the previous peak of 179. As cases continue to rise throughout Dane County, health care providers are worried that hospitalizations might reach even higher levels.

“We are asking our community to help keep our health care workers safe and healthy, by continuing to practice COVID-19 safety,” said Dr. Pam Wetzel, chief medical officer at UnityPoint Health – Meriter. “Continued spread of COVID-19 is preventable, we have the tools to stop the spread—masking, limiting gatherings and getting vaccinated and boosted.”

Officials said hospital employees are testing positive at similar rates seen within the community, which has contributed to staffing shortages that make providing care even more difficult.

More at

https://www.channel3000.com/madison-hospitals-at-full-capacity-as-covid-19-continues-to-surge-countywide/

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And this is in (I believe) the only county in Wisconsin with a mask mandate.

My trip to the grocery store today? People mostly masked, but not in a meaningful way since many were under their chin or under their nose. Do store employees say anything? Nope.

Had to go to Menards yesterday to get paint, and there were tons of young and old white men walking around with no mask at all. Store employees walk right by them and say nothing.

We're screwed.

[Luciferous]

1. I'm in Milwaukee and Aurora has shut down 3 urgent cares in the area because they don't have

enough workers to keep them open. It's the same here, hardly anybody wearing masks.

[AllyCat]

2. Dane county and City of Milwaukee are the only places with mask mandates

Our county board met last night to vote on a resolution to oppose Dane county’s efforts with the mask mandate. I never heard the outcome. It was brought forward by 3 RW idiots who feel da Jeebus will protect them.

[sybylla]

3. I figured that was the case - 3 RW idiots.

I sent an email in support of the mandate as did my daughter and her spouse. All these COVID records and these idiots think they should kill the mandate? JFC.

[AllyCat]

4. It failed 4-29. Apparently, the intial vote 24-7 to bring it to a vote

was to pull it out of committee and hand these idiots their hats. I honestly don't know how I could send my kids to school if there were no mask mandates. As it is, angry citizens approach the school board asking us to defy the law and let their kids go to school mask-free.

[sybylla]

5. Yay! That's good news.

I was looking for information on how it turned out and didn't see anything. I guessed it failed because passing it would have made it above the fold, so to speak.