Local Covid-19

Everyone 16 and older in Wisconsin will be eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine starting April 5th.

Governor Tony Evers tweeted the announcement Tuesday afternoon. He said, “Wisconsin leads the nation in getting available shots in arms, and today we’re announcing everyone 16 and older will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine starting next week.”

The state has administered 2.7 million doses so far with more than one million Wisconsinites fully vaccinated.

The first Wisconsin case of a potentially more severe COVID-19 variant known that originated in Brazil was confirmed Friday by the state Department of Health Services.

The variant known as the P.1 is believed to spread more rapidly and easily than the original strain of COVID-19.

Wisconsin health officials also said the variant has unique mutations that may make it more difficult for antibodies generated through vaccinations or previous infections to fight it off.

As COVID-19 vaccinations ramp up in Wisconsin, spread of the virus is still a concern.

The Department of Health Services is reporting another 537 cases and two more deaths Thursday.

The 7-day average of new cases is up slightly at 479 cases per day.

DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk says that’s definitely better than November when we were averaging more than 6,000 cases a day, but it’s still not great.

The Wisconsin Senate has voted to take control of the state’s share of the $1.9 trillion federal coronavirus stimulus package away Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. Instead, lawmakers would have the ability to decide how to spend the estimated $5.7 billion coming for state and local governments. It was one of several coronavirus-related bills the Legislature was voting on Tuesday. The Republican-controlled Assembly also passed bills that would prohibit the government and employers from requiring people to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Gov. Tony Evers has signed a bill that allows dentists to administer COVID-19 vaccinations.

Evers announced he had signed the bill on Monday morning, the same day that nearly 2 million more people with preexisting conditions became eligible for immunization.

The general public will become eligible no later than May 1.

As of Sunday about 25% of Wisconsin's population had received at least one dose.

Nearly 15% had received two doses, completing their vaccination cycle.

The Lincoln County Health Department is reporting 100 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine have gone to waste.

It happened on Friday. The Health Department said a vial of the vaccine was not properly prepared, so they are not able to use it.

“We know how important each vaccine is to our community. It is just as important to our staff", said Shelley Hersil, Health Officer for Lincoln County. "Our staff is heartbroken over this error. We have worked very hard to not have any vaccine wasted and will continue to do so. We have taken steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again."

Michigan will expand vaccine eligibility today to residents age 50 and older.

This comes as public health experts are voicing fresh concerns about Michigan’s rising COVID-19 infection rate.

Ford Field is set to open Wednesday as Michigan's first federally run mass vaccine site.

State health officials say the state's case rate has increased 77% to more than 170 cases per million people.

On Monday, a broad new group of people in Wisconsin will become eligible for COVID-19 vaccines.

People age 16 or older with certain medical conditions will be eligible.

The conditions include chronic diseases, diabetes, and obesity.

The vaccine rollout has been successful in Wisconsin compared to other states, allowing the state to move up eligibility dates for the new group.

On Thursday, Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk sounded optimistic about where the state stands with regard to vaccinations.

Fewer than 2,400 doses of the precious and highly sought after coronavirus vaccine were wasted or spoiled in Wisconsin through February, with the single largest case happening when an employee did it on purpose.

That is according to data that the Wisconsin Department of Health Services provided to The Associated Press.

The data shows that through February, there had been more than 1.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Wisconsin and just 2,349 were wasted or spoiled.