Milwaukee mayor in self-quarantine amid coronavirus concern Tom Barrett learned someone he's had contact with tested positive for COVID-19 Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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Adrienne: THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC HAS CLAIMED LIVES HERE IN WISCONSIN I’M ADRIENNE PEDERSEN. TODAY, ON "UPFRONT," WHAT WORRIES MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS? AND WHAT ABOUT WISCONSIN HOSPITALS? ARE THEY READY PLUS, THE PANDEMIC AND THE PO CAN VOTING FOR THE SPRING ELECTION STILL HAPPEN, OR SHOULD THE ELECTION BE DELAYED? I’LL TALK TO MILWAUKEE’S MAYO ABOUT BEING IN SELF-QUARANTINE AND RUNNING A CITY IN CRIS FROM HIS HOME. Announcer: taking on issues important to Wisconsin, this is "upfront," with your host Adrienne Pederse Adrienne: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK IS CHANGING OUR LIVES IN WAYS WE COULDN’T EVEN IMAGINE JUST TWO WEEKS AGO. WISCONSIN REMAINS UNDER A STATE AND NATIONAL EMERGENCY, AND NOW WE HAVE SEEN THE FIR CORONAVIRUS DEATHS IN OUR STATE. SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED. Offices, too BARS AND RESTAURANTS ARE CLOSED. GYMS CLOSED. PEOPLE ARE LEFT WITHOUT JOBS AND WE’RE ALL TRYING TO KEEP OU SOCIAL DISTANCE. THAT INCLUDES MILWAUKEE’S MAYOR, WHO IS SELF-QUARANTINED AT HOME AFTER HIS OWN EXPOSURE TO THE CORONAVIRUS. MAYOR TOM BARRETT JOINS US NOW VIA SKYPE. How are you feelin MAYOR BARRETT: I am feelin great in Milwaukee’s west sid I’m working from home. Adrienne: did you get tested for coronavirus? MAYOR BARRETT: no, I did not get tested. I have someone who works on my staff who tested positive. I do not have a fever, I am no showing symptoms, and unfortunately, this is one o the huge public policy issues. I am not one of those peop entitled to be tested right now, and that is one of the problems we are facing as a community that there are not enough testing equipment, persona protection equipment, and if you look at countries like South Korea, they got ahead of this. And then you look at countri like Italy, that is the challenge of this nation and o community is facing right now. Adrienne: so many people are working from home right now but this is different in your case because you are trying to run a city in crisis right now from your house. What are the challenges going along with tha MAYOR BARRETT: as we talked about earlier, some are the technology challenges. I have learned more about computers and technology than have in my lifetime because we have cabinet meetings, meetings with our EOC, and other meetings that have taken place over Skype, zoom, or conference calls. I have not slowed down at al it is just a different communication. I think around the nation, this is what people who are working from home experience now. Adrienne: how confident are you in being able to handle everything with coronavirus when you are not able to leave your house? MAYOR BARRETT: I am amazingly confident because in some ways there are fewer distractio honestly. I am able to reach out to people and I have no problem. I spoke with members of the Council this morning. I have talked to the governor, Senator Baldwin earlier today, so I have had many, many conversations and checking in with people and making sure the vitality services are still place, and that is what will continue to do From the Police Department, to the fire department, to garbage pickup, we are trying to do everything we can to make sure core city functions are operating. At the same time, my strongest message to people is you are safer at home. Adrienne: what does shelter-in-place or stay-at-home order look lik MAYOR BARRETT: it would allow people to get their essentials, like getting groceries and things like that. Really, I think rather than being caught up on terminology, it should be what the concept is. The concept is you self-quarantine and it is fundamental stuf If you had contact with le people, the less likely you are to contract the disease. I think everyone recognizes this right now, if this comes as a tidal wave, our health system will be overwhelmed. From hospital beds, to the equipment health-care workers need, it will not be there. So we have an obligation Some people say, well, I am Superman or superwoman, I’m going outsid It is not just about you but everyone else because you may be a carrier. For me, this is a time where community matters in a huge way. You might feel great, but help everyone else. Let’s be safer at home That is what I’m asking people to d Adrienne: the coronavirus is now deadly in Milwaukee, sad to say. What are you hearing from heal officials in terms of how the numbers could grow in your city? MAYOR BARRETT: we have seen how they have grown dramatically i the last 10 days, and they will continue to grow The question is, is the slope of the line going to be as severe as it was in Italy or will it taper off like it did in South Korea? I think the best chance that we have to have it taper off like South Korea involves three things. One is that the individual level. That is to be home, be safe, or be at home. As citizens, that is what we can do. The president of the United States has to do a lot more, quite honestly, to make sure that we get the testing because you look at what happened in South Korea and the message was test, test, test. Second is making sure you ha personal protection equipment because that is critical, bu there will be a need for mor beds That is something that is headed in our direction in the next two weeks. But when you saw it several days ago, the governor of California predicted 25 million people in California, 56% of the state, would be affected by this. That is sobering. Adrienne: for people who a scared, what do you think Milwaukee will look in a week from now? Things are changing quickl MAYOR BARRETT: I think you are going to see people on the street, and I think that is where we are right now and where we should be, fewer and fewer people on the street To the extent there are still businesses operating, I think you will see fewer operating. Clearly, we have to have essential business open and th means primarily food, pharmaceuticals, making sure people get what they need. But we will look at other issues. We will be looking at issues for the homeless What are we doing with the homeless? How do we make sure that our fire department is able respond? And 911 is not the number you call to get diagnosed. 911 is an emergency phon service for people who need medical care or have disasters or challenges like fires or crimes Please don’t use 911 for an analysis of the COVID viru That is not the appropriate place. Adrienne: I have heard criticism about your response that it piecemeal and different groups are operating in silos, not as whole, and that you should’ve gotten more ahead of this. What is your response? MAYOR BARRETT: my responses that is politics. I am a big boy and understand politics. Frankly, I was sooner than anybody else on the local level, but I don’t have time for politics right now, with all due respect. This is about dealing with the crisis we have now. I will do everything I can t help our community navigate through this. Adrienne: Mayor, we appreciate your time and we hope you continue to feel no symptoms for that 14-day quarantine. Thank you. MAYOR BARRETT: thank you. Adrienne: NEXT, THE PANDEMIC AND WISCONSIN HOSPITALS. ARE THEY READY? AND LATER, WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE rapidly approaching AP