WKND Ed for website 050820.qxp_Layout 1 5/7/20 4:48 PM Page 1 MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY JOURNAL SPECIAL FOCUS VOL. XXXVIV NO.6 APRIL 24, 2020 50 CENTS EDITIONEDITIONBULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN PERMIT 4668 Verdict in the Court WEEKENDof Public Opinion: WISCONSINITESWEEKEND SUPPORT COPINGCOPING PROTECTING HEALTH, WANT SAFE ECONOMIC RECOVERY Opposition to Fringe Elements WITH and Risky Immediate Rollback of WITH Safer at Home Measures From Across the State The Latest Photo courtesy of Chippewa News MADISON — The vast ma- “Governor Tony Evers Medical and his administra- jority of Wisconsinites have tion have under- rendered a clear verdict in the taken numerous measures to COVID-19 court of public opinion: they Challenge:COVID-19 protect the support safer at home meas- public, includ- ures and trust public health ing social dis- Is the Cure experts on how to safely tancing and restart our economy in the certain limits on business activity. face of the COVID-19 global Coming? Gov. Evers has also health pandemic. Gov. Tony Evers laid out a plan, based Op/Ed Article by Harry C. Alford&Kay DeBow In a media call today, a small business on the recommendations of public -Beyond The Rhetoric, May 5, 2020 owner and an account executive shared health experts, for a safe and inclu- how they have been directly impacted by sive economic recovery.” Who discovered the cure for polio? In 1952, an COVID-19, and their frustration with those 1,400 online supporters for measures to keep American medical researcher named Jonas Salk seeking to undermine public health, safety, and economic security. people safe while Wisconsin Organizing Together became the very first person to discover the Advocacy groups also announced they have 2020 had hundreds of people participate in a cure for polio. In April 1955, he announced the garnered thousands of online sign-ups in support safer at home online event. medicine, which is basically made up of an in- of safer at home measures. Because Donald Trump and his administration Travis Schachtner, owner of a small business wasted months downplaying the seriousness of jected dose of dead or inactivated poliovirus. in New Richmond, said social distancing has the COVID-19 pandemic, Wisconsin and other In 1957, American medical re- been a challenge, but necessary to protect public states have not had adequate supplies for testing searcher Albert Sabin devel- health. “My business was set to have a really and frontline health care providers have not had oped an oral vaccine. The profitable year, and that’s frustrating, but we will sufficient supplies of personal protective equip- drug received a license make it through. What my business wouldn’t be ment (PPE). only in 1962, almost 5 able to make it through is if public health isn’t put Governor Tony Evers and his administration years after its invention. first and people get sick because we open too have undertaken numerous measures to protect These two vaccines soon.” the public, including social distancing and certain helped remove polio in Milwaukee Account Executive Susan Berna limits on business activity. Gov. Evers has also many different parts of has been laid off from her job. But she said it’s laid out a plan, based on the recommendations the world. Within the pe- important to make sure we put a priority on public of public health experts, for a safe and inclusive riod of 1988 to 2007, the health and safety, “I want to get back to work and economic recovery. number of cases was trimmed earn a living. I’m angry I can’t do that because The Republican leadership of the state legisla- down significantly from 350,000 the Trump administration didn’t take this seriously ture has failed to produce their own plan, but they to 1,652 according to WhoDiscoveredIt.com from the start. have sued in state court to try to undo safer at These polio vaccines work as they prime the immune sys- Now we’re left scrambling to try to make up lost home measures. tem of people with immunogens. By using an infectious agent, time and get enough of things we need like tests Browne concluded, “In every corner of the state they stimulate immune response, the process of which is for the virus to be able to safely get back to work.” and from all walks of life, Wisconsinites have de- called immunization. As the immunity to polio developed, According to Mike Browne of A Better Wiscon- livered a clear verdict that they support protecting these vaccines successfully blocked the transmission of wild sin Together (ABWT), they’re far from alone in public health and safety so they can get back to poliovirus from one particular entity to another. These impor- their support for measures like social distancing work. tant developments were able to protect the recipients of vac- and limiting business activity to fight the spread The efforts and sacrifices of Travis, Susan and cines as well as the general population. of COVID-19. every other Wisconsinite doing their part to keep The above led to the cure for Polio which became known as Over 6,000 Wisconsinites signed up to be a our communities safe should be applauded, es- the disease of 20th Century. Today, the world is faced with a part of ABWT’s Good Neighbor Wisconsin Project pecially with frivolous lawsuits challenging safer similar challenge – COVID 19 which has become the plague of at home measures and Donald Trump pushing that supports safer at home, including individuals the 21st Century. There were times when it seemed hopeless. from every one of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. for a reckless abandonment of safety measures (continued on page 7) For Our Future Wisconsin has gathered over recommended by his own health experts.” WKND Ed for website 050820.qxp_Layout 1 5/7/20 4:48 PM Page 2 The Weekend Edition•COPING WITH COVID-19•May 8, 2020•Page 2 their medication doses and weeks minimum, take the next frequency. step by starting to bring back“Th According to Shah, the best regular aspects of work. IfPea way to maintain positivity is to things move smoothly, then limit your news intake and to continue to take small steps.sis focus on the facts of the virus. More steps do not translate to He also suggests eating well, “normal.” Companies can exercising, getting enough have 25 percent of their em- sleep, staying optimistic and ployees return every two avoiding or reducing drug and weeks. alcohol consumption. Another option is to start with “It’s easy to become anx- shorter hours and fewer peo- ious, but the best way to keep ple around the office, then positive is to focus on facts. gradually increase those num- Evidence doesn’t lie. Facts bers every few weeks. don’t lie,” he said. Workplaces can help ease “Remember, tomorrow is an- employees’ anxiety by screen- other day, and things are get- ing them upon entrance, as ting better. If you take as many well as provide hand sanitizer precautions as recommended, often. the chance of contracting the Although it’s easy to focus ANXIETY virus is lower.” on the negative side of the Shah suggests gradually COVID-19, the virus could pro- taking steps to move into nor- vide optimism for flu season. SURROUNDING THE malcy to ease anxiety that em- People have been diligent in ployees may be experiencing hand washing and sanitizing RETURN TO NORMALCY about returning to work. and staying home if they feel For example, bringing some ill. essential people back into the The outcome of this will not HOUSTON – With COVID returning to the workforce. stress-provoking situation. workforce, or opening stores only minimize the spread of chaos slowly dying down, peo- • People have become ac- They can use telehealth to and restaurants for pick-up or the virus, but has taught us to ple may be heading back to customed to the lifestyle after consult with their providers, takeout only. take the same precautions work soon, which can be anxi- working from home for at least and they may need to modify After about two to four when flu season begins. ety-provoking as they still try to one month. Many believe protect themselves against the there is no difference in pro- virus. A ductivity between working Baylor College of Medicine from home or at the office. expert dives into the anxieties • Although some businesses of returning back to a normal will reopen, children will con- schedule, and what normal tinue their schooling remotely. may look like in the near fu- Many parents are worried ture. about who will take care of “First, we need to realize their children when they go that ‘normal’ is something that back to work. changes with time. People “Every indication, every think they will go back to a pre- study and every stat shows COVID time, and that won’t that you don’t need to go back happen for a long time. to normalcy right away – you People need to understand can take gradual steps,” Shah the new normal,” said Dr. Asim said. “ Shah, professor and executive The advantage of doing this vice chair in the Menninger gradually is that it reduces Department of Psychiatry and anxiety. When you move rap- Behavioral Sciences at Baylor. idly, panic and anxiety are in- He outlines the stress peo- creased.” ple may feel going back to Individuals will feel anxious their normal schedules: about this change, whether or • The biggest anxiety is not they struggle with mental about catching the virus. There health issues.