Weekly Update: February 7, 2022
ICYMI: Recent COVID-19 News Releases
Black History Month Spotlight
 In honor of Black History Month, throughout February DHS will celebrate Black medical pioneers who have shaped health care and changed the face of medicine in America. We begin with Dr. James McCune Smith, the first Black person to earn a medical degree and run a pharmacy. Visit BlackHistoryMonth.gov to find ways to celebrate, learn, and honor.
And while we spend this time to celebrate, we also acknowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black communities across Wisconsin.
To see the data, visit the COVID-19: Racial and Ethnic Disparities page. And to learn more about how DHS is working to center equity in our work to reduce health disparities, visit the DHS Office of Health Equity home page. The best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 is get your free vaccination and booster, wear a mask, and get tested if you have been exposed or are feeling sick.
Approved! Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted its full approval of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine will now be marketed under the name Spikevax for the prevention of COVID-19 in people 18 years of age and older.
This is the same vaccine people have been getting for months. In order to grant full approval, the FDA required extensive data on safety and effectiveness, inspection of manufacturing facilities, and a comprehensive review of all clinical and real-world use. The full approval means that even more data were gathered and analyzed following the grant of emergency use authorization in December 2020 to further confirm that this vaccine works and is safe. All of the COVID-19 vaccines are extremely effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death – including from the Delta and Omicron variants.
To find a vaccine near you, visit Vaccines.gov or call 211 or 877-947-2211.
Update: K-12 School Outbreak Guidance
 The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has updated the Guidelines for the Prevention, Investigation, and Control of COVID-19 Outbreaks in K-12 Schools in Wisconsin in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) revised guidance for students in K-12 classroom settings.
The revised guidance shortens the recommended length of isolation and quarantine to five days. Individuals who are up to date on their vaccines do not need to quarantine unless they develop symptoms but should get tested at least 5 days after exposure and wear a well-fitting mask when around others for 10 full days. Previously, individuals who were fully vaccinated were exempt from quarantine. See a list of key takeaways and updates in the executive summary.
For more information on keeping kids safe and in school, visit the COVID-19: Health Kids page.
Critically High Case Activity: All 72 Wisconsin Counties
 As of February 3, all 72 Wisconsin counties are experiencing Critically High COVID-19 case activity. That means that over the previous two weeks they have reported more than 1,000 cases per 100,000 residents. But unlike recent weeks, almost all counties are now showing a shrinking trajectory in cases, meaning their COVID-19 case rate has decreased by at least 10 percent over the past week. No counties are currently experiencing increasing trajectories.
It is crucial that everyone do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19. That includes: getting vaccinated and boosted, wearing a well-fitting mask in public indoor settings, and staying home if you are feeling sick.
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