ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) — State and local healthcare officials gathered together on Wednesday to thank healthcare workers after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was called “Moving Forward”. There nary a mask in sight, and although Kool and the Gang’s ‘Celebration’ was played immediately after the speeches were given, DHS Deputy Secretary Deb Standridge says it’s no victory lap.
“We’re in a different phase of the pandemic right now, nobody is saying the virus is over. Nobody is saying that,” she told WTAQ.
COVID-19 transmission rates across the state of Wisconsin are low. In fact, on the CDC’s county level map, the entire state is the in “low” transmission category. If that changes, officials say they’ve learned lessons that will keep them ready.
“One of the biggest things we learned is that we can quickly capitalize on our partnerships,” said Anna Nick, Brown County Health Officer. “That it all comes together in order to make the biggest impact.”
DHS Secretary Designee Karen Timberlake says that DHS will largely continue it’s operations as it has.
“We’re going to continue to be in the ‘assurance’ business,” said Timberlake. “Making sure that, if we need testing, how are we going to get testing done? If we need vaccination, how are we going to get vaccination done?”
A subvariant of the Omicron virus strain is circulating, but experts say widespread immunity through vaccination and infection alike are limiting its spread.
