#STOPtheCOVIDSpread - Severity of Pandemic
Stop the COVID Spread! Coalition Releases New Ad Conveying
Severity of Pandemic in Wisconsin
Statewide coalition effort to curb COVID crisis doubles down on urgency in fourth ad since coalition launch
Madison, WI -- The statewide coalition effort to combat the spread of COVID-19 has doubled down on the urgency of its messaging as Wisconsin’s public health crisis threatens to overwhelm the state. Today, the “Stop the COVID Spread!” coalition released its fourth public education announcement on broadcast TV and digital platforms statewide, with a stern and serious new message in the coalition’s efforts urging Wisconsin residents to do their part to help reverse the public health crisis that is threatening to cause great harm to the state. The new ad comes as Wisconsin again hit new daily COVID-19 records, surpassing 7,000 new cases in a single day, and after a White House task force report again warned that Wisconsin’s ongoing health emergency will continue to lead to increasing hospitalizations and deaths unless more serious action is taken.
The latest ad features headlines from major publications around the state, documenting Wisconsin’s ever-growing public health crisis. “Positive cases are skyrocketing. Hospitals are filling up. Businesses are closing. Death counts are rising. Wisconsin – is losing,” says the narrator. “Our frontline workers are doing all they can, but they can’t do it alone. More people are getting sick, and dying. Unless we make changes, there will be more deaths we could have prevented. You can change this.”
“COVID has a vice grip on Wisconsin that’s getting tighter every day and the consequences for our citizens, our businesses and our health care systems are becoming worse,” said Eric Borgerding, President and CEO of the Wisconsin Hospital Association. “Last week, the White House Coronavirus Task force warned that Wisconsin will face more COVID deaths without a more robust state response to this virus. We need everyone to understand, accept, and act on these urgent warnings about Wisconsin that we continue to see from the White House Task Force and other experts. We need a unified message and response.”
The more urgent new ad message builds on previous public education announcements featuring a frontline nurse from Appleton, Wis., members of the Green Bay Packers, and UW System President Tommy Thompson. It is the latest effort launched by the “Stop the COVID Spread!” coalition encouraging the use of crucial safety measures to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“We have to move beyond arguing whether or not there is a pandemic with a virus that is killing people. We need to focus on solutions and stop ignoring reality,” said Brandon Scholz, President and CEO of the Wisconsin Grocers Association.
“Wisconsin is an incredible place to be and without everyone doing their part, we will have a hard time getting out of this pandemic and moving forward,” said WCA Executive Director Mark D. O’Connell. “It is time to face our current situation and do what we all need to do to open back up our state.”
Since its launch one month ago, the “Stop the COVID Spread!” coalition has grown dramatically to include more than 100 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. A full list of member organizations is below.
You can watch the full video at: https://youtu.be/B2hBTTWeHSs
You can watch the full video series here:
Thank you to these associations for coming together! The growing coalition is currently made up of the following organizations:
- Wisconsin Hospital Association, CO-CHAIR
- Wisconsin Counties Association, CO-CHAIR
- Wisconsin Grocers Association, CO-CHAIR
- Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), CO-CHAIR
- Wisconsin Restaurant Association, CO-CHAIR
- ACHE-WI
- Adams County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
- Alliance of Health Insurers
- Arts Wisconsin
- Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce
- Associated Builders & Contractors of Wisconsin
- Association of Wisconsin Surgery Centers, Inc.
- Association of Wisconsin Tourism Attractions
- Badger Bay Management Company
- Bayfield Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Bureau
- Beaver Dam Area Chamber of Commerce
- Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce
- Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce
- Deforest Windsor Area Chamber of Commerce
- Destination Madison
- Destination Wisconsin
- Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce
- Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce
- Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Center, Inc.
- Fitchburg Chamber of Commerce
- Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce
- Forward Janesville, Inc.
- Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Fox West Chamber of Commerce
- Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce
- Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Green Bay Chamber
- Greater Union Grove Area Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, Inc.
- Green Bay Packers
- Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce
- Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce
- Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce
- Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau
- Jefferson Chamber of Commerce
- Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce
- LeadingAge Wisconsin
- League of Municipalities
- Marinette Menominee Area Chamber of Commerce
- Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- Medical Society of Milwaukee County
- Mequon-Thiensville Area Chamber of Commerce
- Metastar
- Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC)
- Middleton Chamber of Commerce
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Monona East Side Business Alliance
- Monroe Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- Mosinee Area Chamber of Commerce
- New Berlin Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
- New Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
- Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce
- Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce
- Park Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
- Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin
- Portage Area Chamber of Commerce
- Portage County Business Council
- Pulaski Area Chamber of Commerce
- Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce
- Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce
- Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
- Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce
- Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce
- Skiing Wisconsin
- St. Germain Area Chamber of Commerce
- Stoughton Chamber of Commerce
- Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce
- The Arc Wisconsin
- The Chamber of Manitowoc County
- Tomah Chamber & Visitors Center
- United Way Wisconsin
- UW System
- VISIT Lake Geneva
- Visit Milwaukee
- WAMD-Wisconsin Association of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine
- Washburn Area Chamber of Commerce
- Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce
- Waukesha County Medical Society
- Waunakee Area Chamber of Commerce
- Waushara Area Chamber of Commerce
- West Bend Area Chamber of Commerce
- Whitewater Chamber of Commerce
- Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians
- Wisconsin Assisted Living Association
- Wisconsin Association for Home Health Care
- Wisconsin Association for Hospice and Palliative Care
- Wisconsin Association of Health Plans
- Wisconsin Association of Local Health Department and Boards (WALHDAB)
- Wisconsin Association of School Administrators
- Wisconsin Association of Surgery Centers, Inc.
- Wisconsin Bankers Association
- Wisconsin Broadcasters Association
- Wisconsin Builders Association
- Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative
- Wisconsin Chapter, American College of Emergency Physicians
- Wisconsin Credit Union League
- Wisconsin Dental Association
- Wisconsin Director of Nursing Council
- Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association
- Wisconsin Health Care Association / Wisconsin Center for Assisted Living
- Wisconsin Healthcare Business Forum
- Wisconsin Literacy Network
- Wisconsin Medical Society
- Wisconsin Office of Rural Health
- Wisconsin Organization of Nurse Leaders
- Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association
- Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association
- Wisconsin Propane Gas Association
- Wisconsin Psychiatric Association
- Wisconsin Public Health Association
- Wisconsin Realtors Association
- Wisconsin Safety Council
- Wisconsin Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
- Wisconsin Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Association
- Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association
- Wisconsin Swimming
- Wisconsin Technology Council
- Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association
- Wisconsin Utilities Association
For more information about the Stop the Spread coalition and the importance of safe behaviors for both public and state economic health, visit www.wha.org/stopthecovidspread.
