GREEN BAY, Wis. (NBC 26) -- Some hospitals are starting to limit visitations again, an increased number of businesses are grappling with their mask requirements, and the ongoing debate about students and what makes them safe in the classroom continues into yet another season. Today the Covid pandemic continues to cause stress in the world of the public and healthcare providers.
"They're tired of masking, they're tired of not gathering in groups, and tired of not doing the things they enjoy," says Dr. Sarah Lulloff the Medical Director for Infection Prevention at HSHS Eastern Wisconsin.
Dr. Lulloff understands the stress related to a new round of Covid fatigue that is setting in. With more and more people easily triggered related to vaccination discussions, she is reminding folks that now is not the time to let your guard down.
"If you look at the Brown county data, we are seeing a 47 percent increase in cases of Covid over the last two weeks. If you look at hospitalizations in Brown county, we're up 130 percent from two weeks ago."
But with 53 percent of Wisconsinites currently vaccinated and the percentage slowly rising, health care leaders are optimistic we're headed in the right direction. Especially considering now we have a weapon to fight the virus, that didn't exist last year.
"Last fall we didn't really have many tools to avoid where we were at. So, it was sort of depressing for everyone because there was nothing we could do," says Dr. Brad Burmeister an Emergency Physician at Bellin Health.
Dr. Burmeister says the Delta variant is ramping up hospitalizations for the young and the unvaccinated, and it's something few expected to see just a year ago.
"Early in Covid, prior to vaccinations, your typical patient was in their 70's and 80's. And now we continue to have patients who are more commonly 20, 30, 40," adds Dr. Burmeister.
And while it's unknown whether or not Wisconsin is about to endure a repeat of restrictions, closures,. and mandates due to the virus' spread. Today doctors remain optimistic that our country and the state of Wisconsin won't have to wait until spring of 2022 to get a handle on the virus.
"Vaccines are so easily accessible to get right now. The FDA just approved the Phizer vaccine for those 16-years of age and older and it's so easy to make an appointment to get vaccinated," adds Dr. Lolloff.
"At this point, we have a fully approved vaccine that is available that can prevent this from happening again," adds Dr. Burmeister.
