THE VALUED VOICE

Keeping ourselves, our friends, neighbors and loved ones safe is not political. That's the message delivered by Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Democratic Congressman Mark Pocan, who appear together in the latest “Stop the COVID Spread!” coalition public education announcement aimed at combating the pandemic raging throughout Wisconsin. The new ad, the coalition’s fifth, began airing on broadcast and digital channels throughout the state this week as rampant community spread of COVID-19 continues to stress the state’s health care system.
 
Representing different political parties, geographic areas and bodies of government, Congressman Pocan and Speaker Vos have come together for a cause that all Wisconsin residents can agree on: beating COVID-19. “After another election, it’s clear we have differences, but we can also agree,” says Speaker Vos in the ad. “We can still live our lives and be sensible and safe.” Both elected officials speak about the importance of preventative measures including wearing masks, hand washing, practicing social distancing, and staying home whenever possible. "We have to do all we can to stay safe," adds Congressman Pocan.
 
Wisconsin needs unified responses to the COVID pandemic and aligning around a common message is critical,” said Eric Borgerding, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA). “We’re grateful to Speaker Vos and Congressman Pocan for joining us to send the public a crucial message about working together to slow COVID’s spread.”
 
“We all need to do our part to stop the spread of COVID and get Wisconsin out of this public health crisis,” added Wisconsin Counties Association Executive Director Mark D. O’Connell. “As Congressman Pocan and Speaker Vos have demonstrated, keeping Wisconsin safe is something upon which we can all agree.”

WHA's ongoing work with elected officials to identify and implement bipartisan strategies aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 and providing much-needed relief to Wisconsin’s hospitals and health systems has spurred a groundswell of legislative activity, including numerous expressions of support for adoption of safe public health measures. As an example, State Representatives Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska), Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) and Loren Oldenburg (R-Viroqua) released a joint statement regarding the continued rising number of COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin referencing a virtual incident command meeting organized by WHA.

“Recently we had the opportunity to participate in a webinar where a number of medical professionals discussed their current day-to-day experiences as hospital workers during this pandemic. The stories that the hospital staff shared show the reality, and the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Wisconsin Hospital Association is asking that we all work together to stop the spread,” the legislators wrote. “We are in the midst of a public health crisis. Across the state our hospitals are filling up or are already full, and in some cases, are sending sick people home to make room for the sickest of the sick. In addition, our medical staff are overburdened, stretched too thin, facing their own quarantines, or are so burned out that they cannot continue to work. We can each do our part to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The Wisconsin Hospital Association asks us to wear a mask, wash our hands and socially distance,” the statement continued.

Representatives Doyle’s, Billings’ and Oldenburg’s joint statement is but one recent expression of bipartisan support for desperately needed measures to fight COVID-19 coming from Wisconsin lawmakers.

Participation in WHA’s “Stop the COVID Spread!” coalition has also grown quickly to include more than 125 of Wisconsin’s leading health care, business and advocacy organizations. The organizations have joined together in a campaign to educate the public about the seriousness of the growing crisis in Wisconsin and the critical and growing need for preventative measures.
 
You can watch the full video here.
 
For more information about the “Stop the COVID Spread!” coalition and the importance of safe behaviors for both public and state economic health, visit www.wha.org/stopthecovidspread.