Archives

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
December 1, 2020

• It’s not possible to precisely differentiate new cases at UW-W from those in the larger community, but last week there were 63 new positive test results in the Walworth County portion of the city, and during that period UW-W only reported 17. Presumably some of UW-W’s cases would have been reported in Jefferson County. Out of the tests reported in the Walworth County portion of the city in the past week, a concerning 41% were positive. Mandi Kolb, a 911 dispatcher, stated at the virtual WUSD board meeting on Nov. 23 that she is “taking call after call related to COVID-19.”
• The Walworth County portion of the city has three census tracts. Until December 1, all of those census tracts were in the initial, nonspecified reporting level of 0-4 deaths from COVID-19. Now, however, tract #04 has experienced a total of six deaths. From November 1 to December 1 the cumulative deaths in Walworth County have increased from 39 to 53.
• With a 7-day case incidence as of December 1 of 70.1, Walworth County’s positive cases have continued to moderate, from 86.3 in the past week. The county is still very deeply into the “very high risk” category (which begins at 25) under the Jefferson County model that Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD) is no longer using as guidance. Whitewater’s case incidence, 51.6, is still very high but has fallen considerably since UW-W went virtual. Meanwhile, Jefferson County is currently reporting a 7-day case incidence as of November 29 of 58, a considerable improvement from two weeks ago. The statewide case incidence is reported to be 103.2. (Case incidence = daily average new cases per 100,000 people.)
• Informed by new guidance from Walworth and Rock Counties, the WUSD board voted on November 23 to pause in-person instruction beginning Nov. 30. With rapidly rising cases in the area, the health departments reverted to Phase I in their COVID-19 guidance and expressed concern regarding the potential for additional spikes related to the upcoming holidays. The school district has now had four school closings since the gradual return to in-person school, with classes going virtual at Lakeview for 11/5-6, at the High School on 11/9, at Lincoln for 11/10-12, and at the High School for 11/20. Though the District Administrator indicated on November 23 that there is only evidence of one student having been infected at school, cases among students had risen considerably. Only two new cases among staff were identified during the short Thanksgiving week, and there were no new student cases. WUSD’s current data indicates that since September 1 there have been 57 positive cases among students and 19 staff members. In-person classes resumed fulltime for 4K – 5th grade on September 28; grades 6-12 began a hybrid model on October 12, and fulltime in-person classes resumed on November 2.
• UWWs current data shows that last week there were 15 students and 2 staff/others with positive PCR tests, a decline from the 47 students in the previous week. Many students had returned home, as in-person classes had ended the previous week. Positive results from the rapid antigen tests that are administered to asymptomatic and random volunteers had increased from 1.1% seven weeks ago to as high as 8.15%. Last week’s testing found only 2.9% positives.
• Two weeks ago the state introduced a new “critically high” COVID activity level. Per this state website, the state as a whole and all but seven counties now have “critically high” COVID activity levels. Jefferson, Rock, and Walworth counties are all at the critically high level. Per the state, “COVID-19 remains very contagious and most people in Wisconsin are still at risk of getting sick from the virus.”
  

DAILY CASE INCIDENCE PER 100,000 PEOPLE – WALWORTH COUNTY

End Date	New cases/14 days	Incidence	New cases/7 days	Incidence
9/15	527	38.8	403	59.2
9/22	648	47.7	245	36
9/29	379	27.9	134	19.7
10/5	302	22.2	176	25.9
10/16	308	22.6	176	25.9
10/25	427	31.4	265	39.0
11/1	533	39.2	268	39.4
11/8	795	58.5	527	77.6
11/16	1218	89.6	628	92.4
11/24	1266	93.1	586	86.3
12/1	1063	78.2	477	70.1

DAILY CASE INCIDENCE PER 100,00 PEOPLE – CITY OF WHITEWATER (WALWORTH COUNTY PORTION)

End Date	New cases/14 days	Incidence	New cases/7 days	Incidence
9/15	345	206.8	284	340.4
9/22	419	251.1	132	158.1
9/29	180	107.9	48	57.6
10/17	42	25.1	20	24.0
10/25	61	36.6	45	54.0
11/1	75	44.9	30	36.0
11/8	88	52.7	58	69.6
11/16	160	95.9	87	104.3
11/24	205	122.9	101	121.0
12/1	144	86.3	43	51.6

TEST POSITIVITY RESULTS – CITY OF WHITEWATER (WALWORTH COUNTY PORTION)

End Date	# Tests Reported – 14 days	# Positive	Positivity %	# Tests Reported – 7 days	#Positive	Positivity %
8/22	216	27	12.5%	103	6	5.8%
8/29	240	19	7.9%	128	13	9.2%
9/7	421	77	18.3%	274	60	21.9%
9/20	958	404	42.2%	571	204	35.7%
9/29	663	180	27.1%	236	48	20.3%
10/17	175	42	24.0%	80	20	25.0%
10/25	310	61	19.7%	140	45	32.1%
11/1	266	75	28.2%	126	30	23.8%
11/8	297	88	29.6%	171	58	33.4%
11/16	413	160	38.7%	234	87	37.2%
11/24	443	205	46.3%	182	101	55%
12/1	287	144	50.2%	105	43	41.0%

TEST POSITIVITY RESULTS – WALWORTH COUNTY

End Date	# Tests Reported – 14 days	#Positive	Positivity %	# Tests Reported – 7 days	# Positive	Positivity %	% of Those with Positive Results Who Reported being Asymptomatic	Total Deaths
8/22	2386	277	11.6%	1071	112	10.5%	11.4%	25
8/29	1972	210	10.6%	901	98	10.9%	11.1%	27
9/7	1953	228	11.7%	986	129	13.1%	10.9%	32
9/22	2689	648	24.1%	1249	245	19.6%	9.7%	34
9/29	2504	379	15.1%	1255	134	10.7%	9.75%	35
10/5	2189	302	13.8%	864	176	25.6%	9.49%	35
10/16	1803	308	14.6%	1142	176	15.4%	9.47%	36
10/25	3304	427	12.9%	1097	265	24.2%	9.36%	38
11/1	2289	533	23.3%	1192	268	22.5%	9.10%	39
11/8	2748	795	28.9%	1556	527	33.9%	8.8%	39
11/16	3465	1218	35.2%	1824	628	34.4%	7.84%	43
11/24	3651	1266	34%	1787	586	32.8%	7.51%	47
12/1	3081	1063	34.5%	1294	477	36.9%	7.47%	53

WUSD is providing the following “COVID Tracking Data” on its website at this link.

COVID TRACKING DATA

On September 23, 2020 the WUSD School Board voted to suspend the utilization of a community level metric.

Below is the cumulative and current number of close contact, symptomatic, COVID positive staff and students.

0District COVID Tracking Data Sept 1 – November 30 (updated Dec. 1)
		Cumulative	Nov. 30
STAFF
	Close Contact Positive Person	56	12
	Showing Symptoms	51	0
	Tested COVID-Positive	19	3
	Total Quarantined Staff	126
STUDENTS	Close Contact Positive Person	347	68
	Showing Symptoms	389	0
	Tested COVID-Positive	57	3
	Total Quarantined Students	793
	Totals	Number of Positive COVID Cases	76
	Number of Days of School	58

UWW has established the following dashboard which provides useful information. It is found at this link.

COVID-19 Dashboard

The COVID-19 pandemic is an ever-changing situation and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater actively monitors and reviews a series of health, safety, and resource metrics to guide decision-making with regard to university operations. These metrics are considered in combination and consultation with recommendations and orders from the state and county health departments before any changes in operations are made.

Last Updated 11/30/2020 at 9:00 AM

COVID-19 cases reported to UW-Whitewater

	New reports – Week of Nov. 15-21	Previous week	Cumulative reports since March 2020
Students	15	47	663
Employees	1	2	38
Other	1	0	6
Unknown	0	0	3

Dashboard is updated on business days with available data. Numbers include cases reported through university-coordinated testing, as well as those reported through the COVID-19 Hotline, which may include testing that occurred off-campus through other health clinics/providers. Student employees are counted in the student numbers. The “Other” category is defined as any positive cases reported to UW-Whitewater who are neither students nor employees and may include visitors to the university, contractors or vendors, or others who have been to the university in person.  These numbers represent individuals who have had direct contact with the campuses.  Individuals who are working or attending solely in a remote manner and not living in University Housing are not included.

Regional Metrics

	University Health and Counseling Services (11/16-11/30)	Walworth County (11/14-11/27)	Rock County (11/11-11/24)	Jefferson County	Wisconsin (7-day average)
Percent Positive	38% (100/264*)	20.45%	32.5%	25.1%	28.7%
Time to complete contact tracing	100% of contacts are initiated within 48 hours**	29% of contacts are initiated within 48 hours	33% of contacts are initiated within 48 hours	Not Available	N/A
Healthcare system capacity level	No crisis management of care	8% ICU beds available	Hospitals at a medium capacity level	Not Available	15% Available (Based on Immediate Bed Availability)
Total cases per 100,000	n/a	1262.0 (90.1 per day)	1187.4 (84.8 per day)	1455.0 (103.9/day)	1445.3 (103.2)

*UHCS percentage positive is based on PCR testing performed at the University Clinic site of students only.  Case totals are represented by (Total Positives/Total PCR Tests)

**To avoid duplication, UHCS actively partners with Walworth, Rock, and Jefferson Health Departments.  County Health Departments do tracing of positive cases and UHCS employees do tracing of contact cases. 

Previous 7 days of PCR Tests Administered

PCR* Test Date	# of PCR Tests Administered
11/19/20	14
11/20/20	21
11/23/20	22
11/24/20	3
11/25/20	10
11/26/20	0
11/27/20	8

*PCR testing is conducted on symptomatic individuals and individuals with positive Antigen testing results.

Total All PCR Tests	# of PCR Negative	# of PCR Positive	Percentage Positive
1576	1120	518	31.6%

3.2%Antigen* Test Date	# of Antigen Tests Administered	# of Antigen Negative Results	# of Antigen Positive Results	Percentage Positive
11/18/20	269	257	12	4.5%
11/19/20	270	260	10	3.7%
11/20/20	258	253	5	1.9%
11/23/20	299	290	9	3.0%
11/24/20	159	158	1	.6%
11/25/20	121	118	3	2.5%
11/26-27/20	0	0	0
Weekly total	1376	1336	40	2.9%
Total All Antigen Tests	7081	6781	288	4.1%

*Antigen testing is conducted on asymptomatic and random volunteers.

(UW-Whitewater submission) Anyone 5 years and older can get free, fast COVID-19 tests at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

The testing site is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, at the Kris Russell Volleyball Arena in the Williams Center, 907 W. Schwager Dr., Whitewater, WI 53190. Free parking is available in lots 7 and 9 on Warhawk Drive.

Pre-registration is required at doineedacovid19test.com. This is a rapid antigen test (nasal swab). People will receive their results within 15 minutes; space is set aside for people to safely distance while they wait.

Individuals who test negative using the rapid antigen test, but also are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or who test positive but do not have symptoms, are urged to get a confirmatory PCR test. A free PCR test will be available immediately to those who qualify on site.

Since the site opened Nov. 9, more than 6,500 tests have been conducted.

For more information on COVID-19 testing at UW-Whitewater, visit uww.edu/warhawks-return/testing.

(Seniors in the Park submission) Dr. Eric Loepp, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, presents “Now What? How The 2020 Presidential Election Will Shape American Politics in 2021” on Friday, December 4 at 10:30 a.m.

The recent presidential election was perhaps the most consequential event of what has proved to be an incredibly consequential year. For most of 2020, we focused on what would happen in November. Now it is time to focus on January and what 2021 may bring in the world of politics. What policies have a shot at becoming law next year? Will current policies be repealed? Join us online for a lively, interactive and civil conversation about what the next presidential term will bring, and what it means for Wisconsin, the country and the world.

This virtual presentation is available online, or if you are unable to Zoom, watch at the Starin Park Community Building on our TV. To register, call 262-473-0535, email dweberpal@whitewater-wi.gov with your preference of virtual or at the center, or go online to https://schedulesplus.com/wwtr/kiosk/.

Is the Banner one of your primary sources of local news and information? As you probably know, our publication is operated entirely on a volunteer basis, but we do have expenses for software, web hosting, IT support, etc. The Banner is owned by the Whitewater Community Foundation, and gifts to the Foundation may be designated for the Banner.  By the way, Section 2104 of the CARES Act permits eligible individuals who do not itemize deductions to deduct $300 of qualified charitable contributions as an “above-the-line” deduction, i.e., as an adjustment in determining adjusted gross income (AGI), for tax years beginning in 2020.

The Banner is careful to honor copyrights, but since the following New York Times opinion piece is about the threats to local journalism, we trust that they wouldn’t mind us sharing it. (Please try the link first.)

“A cornerstone of democracy, collapsing“ by David Leonhardt, New York Times, Dec. 1

In the internet’s early days, it seemed to have the potential to crush traditional print media. But its impact has turned out to be more nuanced. The internet has instead been a boon for some publications with a national audience. The New York Times has never had as many subscribers or readers — or employed as many journalists — as it does today. The Atlantic, The Washington Post and some others are also thriving.

It’s at the local level that the digital revolution has been as destructive as feared. Hundreds of local news organizations have folded, as their advertising revenue disappears, and the pandemic is exacerbating the crisis. At least 60 local newsrooms have closed since March, according to Poynter. Some of them were more than a century old, like The Eureka Sentinel, in Nevada; The Mineral Wells Index, in Texas; and The Morehead News, in Kentucky.

Hundreds of local news organizations have folded, as their advertising revenue disappears, and the pandemic is exacerbating the crisis. At least 60 local newsrooms have closed since March, according to Poynter. Some of them were more than a century old, like The Eureka Sentinel, in Nevada; The Mineral Wells Index, in Texas; and The Morehead News, in Kentucky.

This isn’t a story of creative destruction, in which nimble new entrants replace older companies. Often, nothing replaces a shuttered newsroom, leaving communities without any independent information about local government, schools and businesses. (A recent Times investigation found that some partisan groups have begun posing as local publishers, trying to pass off political propaganda as news.)

There are consequences for society. When a community’s newspaper closes, voter turnout and cross-party voting tend to decline, while political corruption and government waste rise, academic research has found. A democracy struggles to function when its citizens can’t stay informed.

What can be done? Eventually, savvy entrepreneurs may figure out how to make local news profitable. But several have tried in recent years, without success. For the foreseeable future, the only reliable answer seems to involve philanthropy. Americans have long accepted that the arts, higher education and organized religion all depend on charitable giving. Local journalism is now in the same category.

“We need philanthropists across the country to embrace robust local journalism,” Sarabeth Berman, the chief executive of the American Journalism Project, which funds local news sites, told me. “If you care about education, you need to worry if school boards and charter boards are covered. And if you care about the environment, you should make sure reporters like Ken Ward Jr. are covering coal country in West Virginia.” There are many other shining examples of the new nonprofit journalism. But even more communities receive little to no high-quality coverage.

I decided to write about this topic this morning, because today is Giving Tuesday, when people take a break from online shopping to focus on charitable giving. If you are worried about the state of local news, you can donate through NewsMatch, which matches donations to local publications, or to your local public-radio affiliate.

City of Whitewater Landmarks Commission – Thursday @ 3:30 p.m.
Click here for the agenda, which includes designation of Prairie Tillers mural as a local landmark.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/594292173
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (646) 749-3112
Access Code: 594-292-173

Whitewater Fire Department, Inc Business Meeting – Thurs. @ 6:30 p.m.
Agenda includes election of EMS member to Board of Directors
Due to Coronavirus Concerns, this will be a VIRTUAL MEETING.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.google.com/mrt-fwwb-trx
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: 470-238-8122
Access Code:
696 311 231

Tom Ganser writes, “Max takes a break in the Main Street sleigh on Small Business Saturday.  He is a rescue dog who has joined our family, thanks to the work of Paddy’s Paws in Fort Atkinson.  Until four weeks ago, Max had spent his entire life in Houston, Texas . . . so getting ready for cold and snow “up North” will be a bit of a challenge.  But he’s up to the challenge!”

Our thanks to Tom Ganser for submitting this cute picture and story.

— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share.  Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com or click on “submit a story” near the top right of our homepage.  Thanks for thinking about this!

(Whitewater Unites Lives submission) Joe Sherman is at WUL Hometown Hero.  He was nominated “For helping others, providing assistance, and practicing servant ministry in many ways, including delivering food, working with youth ministry, organizing special ministry activities (including an annual pork chop dinner), setting up big events, assisting with weddings and funerals, providing help and assistance for the other churches in our regional ministry, and building strong, caring relationships.”

His nomination includes:  “When it comes to helping others, providing assistance, and practicing servant ministry, Joe Sherman is top-notch. He is always eager to offer his services, his expertise and his help wherever it is needed. Joe is First United Methodist Church’s ‘paid’ maintenance man, but he’s so much more. He works with children’s ministry and youth ministry. He assists with worship. He volunteers his time with Bethel House. He provides his own equipment for much of the maintenance for the church and Bethel House. He delivers food, promotes ministry, organizes special ministry activities (including an annual pork chop dinner), sets up our big events, assists with weddings and funerals, provides help and assistance for the other churches in our regional ministry, and builds strong, caring relationships.”

In addition, “He does all of this willingly and with great passion. He also connects with older members, often providing maintenance services in their homes. He’s willing to learn new things to improve everything we do at the church … and beyond. He also does many things – offering help and assistance – anonymously. He is a godsend and a true servant. We are blessed to have him on staff and as an integral part of the FUMC faith community. He is a true hometown hero.”

WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.   

 Anyone who would like to nominate a local hero of any age should send their nomination, with a short description, to whitewaterunites@gmail.com