MADISON, WI (WSAU) — The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has issued a Public Health Advisory for the new variant of COVID-19.
Officials are calling on all residents to take “urgent action” to slow the spread of the disease, saying they expect a large jump in the number of cases of the more contagious variant in the next few weeks.
Officials add if that happens, it could further strain an already overwhelmed healthcare system.
“I urge every Wisconsinite to take immediate action and get the COVID-19 vaccine and your booster dose if you haven’t received it already—this is critically important for mitigating surges in hospitalizations and deaths across our state,” said Governor Tony Evers in a press release. “Please get the vaccine, continue following public health best practices, and do your part to help slow the spread of the Omicron variant.”
As of Monday, more than 3.5 million people have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 1.3 million have had two doses to complete the initial series, plus a booster shot.
