MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — As vaccine rollout continues, some states are relaxing their coronavirus restrictions.
Wisconsin health officials say they’re happy with the work Wisconsinites are doing to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“With this great work that’s happening with vaccination and great patience that Wisconsinites have had with wearing their masks and physical distancing and keeping their social circle small,” Wisconsin DHS deputy secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said.
Willems Van Dijk says that now is not the time to become complacent about mitigation efforts.
“COVID obviously is still out there. I don’t think we’re at the point yet where we really want to test our system and see if we have enough people vaccinated that we’re able to protect our community. I’m confident that we don’t have herd immunity at this point and that if we get the right strain in our community or if we have an outbreak, that could quickly get out of hand,” Bellin Health emergency doctor Brad Burmeister said.
Green Bay resident David Schuyler says he thinks the virus is still a real threat, but he’s ready to stop wearing masks when the state says it’s safe to do so.
“Whenever the state’s ready I guess I’m good with that. I’m tired of wearing a mask though,” Schuyler said.
Health officials are also urging people to watch out for variants.
The state says they’re seeing fewer variant cases, but Willems Van Dijk says Wisconsin ranks high in the number of variants tested.
“Even though we are testing, we haven’t had a lot of variants, I would say let’s hang on,” Willems Van Dijk said.
“That light at the end of the tunnel is getting so close if we can just continue to follow those recommendations and get our community as protected as we possibly can then I think we can more seriously talk about letting up some of those public health precautions,” Dr. Burmeister said.
