6 lives disrupted: How COVID-19 changed Madison
From the Higher education reporter Kelly Meyerhofer shares her favorite stories of 2021 series
The torrent of disruption to daily life over the past year has been inescapable.
Calendar squares filled with weddings and events cleared. Vacations vanished. Schools shuttered and hand sanitizer was in short supply. We learned new words, like social distancing, herd immunity and doomscrolling.
(11) updates to this series since Updated
“Reporting the death counts out day after day was draining,” she said. “It felt like I was announcing a funeral every day.”
"I was getting my work done from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. every day," she said.
Rev. Marcus Allen knew what bringing everyone together could do for their spiritual and mental health. But each time he considered reopening the church, COVID-19 cases surged.
"We’re used to taking whatever comes through the door," said nurse Maria Hanson, who started journaling about the pandemic soon after treating the patient.
"It’s a risk vs. reward thing and I risk my life to save others," said Brandon Jones, who always worried about bringing the virus home to his wife and two kids.
“Usually a funeral is a major step in understanding that a life was lived and the person is now gone,” he said. “If families don’t get that, it’s just really hard.”
“Reporting the death counts out day after day was draining,” she said. “It felt like I was announcing a funeral every day.”
"I was getting my work done from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. every day," she said.
"We’re used to taking whatever comes through the door," said nurse Maria Hanson, who started journaling about the pandemic soon after treating the patient.
"It’s a risk vs. reward thing and I risk my life to save others," said Brandon Jones, who always worried about bringing the virus home to his wife and two kids.
“Usually a funeral is a major step in understanding that a life was lived and the person is now gone,” he said. “If families don’t get that, it’s just really hard.”
In this Series
Higher education reporter Kelly Meyerhofer shares her favorite stories of 2021
“Truly every aspect of our lives has been turned on its head,” said Malia Jones, a UW-Madison infectious disease epidemiologist.
More than 1.7 million vaccine doses have been administered in Wisconsin as new cases continue to diminish.
One public records expert called Chancellor Blank's suggestion to move COVID-19 communications between Big Ten leaders to a private portal “clearly illegal.”
Wisconsin is expected to take in about as much revenue this year than officials predicted before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Republican donor Jere Fabick filed the lawsuit.
In total, the latest federal stimulus provides $250 million for veterans homes across the country.
To administer doses, dentists have to complete eight hours of training.
The move follows a U.S. Department of Interior decision that 32 acres should be taken into trust for the purpose of developing a new casino.
Arguments centered around whether business trade groups had the right to bring their lawsuit.
The first case of the Brazilian variant of COVID-19 — a third strain that spreads more rapidly and easily than the original strain of the virus — has been discovered in Wisconsin, the state Department of Health Services said.
More than 390,000 Wisconsin voters have requested an absentee ballot for the April 6 election.
State superintendent candidate Jill Underly leads Deborah Kerr in campaign contributions and spending ahead of the April 6 election according to campaign finance reports released Monday.
Gov. Tony Evers controls most of how federal stimulus aid is spent in the state.
Since the start of the outbreak, Gov. Tony Evers has issued multiple public health emergencies and a series of related orders.
Gov. Tony Evers currently has discretion over the use of the more than $3 billion directed to the state.
The case could still be appealed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
"Of the many factors within the control of college decision makers, the level of vaccination coverage on their campus is the single most powerful determinant of campus safety."
UW-Madison denies having any blanket policy denying all requests but three instructors with a medical condition or disability said they were told that the university is denying nearly all requests.
The campus caseload from early August through mid-September is about a quarter of what was reported in that timeframe last fall.
The data offers the first complete picture of vaccination rates across the University of Wisconsin System.
The clinic at the Arena building at the Alliant Center will offer booster doses for those who are eligible, as well as first and second vaccine doses for anyone 12 and older.
Wisconsin hospital administrators say they have had to turn some patients away even when they needed emergency care.
After a bruising year brimming with horrific headlines, the first story I wrote in 2021 was filled with optimism for the year ahead: UW-Madiso…
State health officials caution that a recent move to an automatic data-importing process means the number of positive test results will be "temporarily elevated" while backlogged cases are brought into the system.
System President Tommy Thompson is working with chancellors to phase out the requirement no later than spring break.
Since the start of the outbreak, Gov. Tony Evers has issued multiple public health emergencies and a series of related orders.
