COVID 19 Public Health Emergency Winding Down, But Stay Informed and Up to Date

Thursday, April 27th, 2023 -- 12:01 PM

(Bob Hague, WRN) The federal government has announced the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency will end May 11.

But Wisconsin Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Deb Standridge says that doesn’t mean we can let our guard down. “We can't just say ‘oh it's gone, it's no longer around.’ It is around, and we have to be responsible and making sure that we are protecting our own health, those of our family and friends and the communities that we live.”

“We need to stay up to date on the vaccines that are available and make sure that we are up to date on our vaccines, and should we become ill get tested and seek medical care when appropriate."

Standridge advises people to stay informed. “Go up on our website and see what the cases are. I would also advise them as the public health emergency winds down to remember to stay vaccinated, to stay up to date on vaccinated, should they begin to experience symptoms to get tested and to seek medical care if they feel that they do have COVID.”

In Wisconsin, case numbers, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19 are significantly lower than they were during the surge in late 2021 and early 2022. The federal government has announced the Public Health Emergency will end May 11. 

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