COVID in Milwaukee County, 3 years since cases confirmed

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee County Chief Health Policy Advisor Dr. Ben Weston on Tuesday, March 14 observed the three-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 cases confirmed in the county.

"Challenging, frustrating and at times heartbreaking," Weston said.

"Thinking about it makes me itch," said Storm Grey.

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Grey was pregnant with her daughter, Reign, during the pandemic – a time she will never forget: "Her dad wasn’t able to be there because you couldn’t have any visitors."

"COVID has been unpredictable," Weston said.

Milwaukee County had its first case on March 13, 2020. 

"Since that time we have seen hundreds of thousands of COVID cases in our county and 2,345 deaths," said Weston. 

Three years later, Weston is looking at the silver linings. 

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"We have seen the lowest level of hospitalizations in 10 months and relatively low deaths," Weston said.

Weston said the pandemic also took a big toll on kids: "It has altered the last three years of their childhood in many different ways."

Grey said she can relate with her 2-year-old daughter.

"She actually has a speech delay and a couple delays because she wasn’t able to get social interaction," said Grey.

As we look back on a chapter in our lives, the future remains a mystery.

"What we can do moving forward is keep our immunity as high as possible," Weston said.

Weston said, looking head, we will likely move toward annual COVID-19 boosters. The bivalent booster is the most-up-to-date vaccine.