Epidemiologists urge creation of ‘smart testing’ system in US to minimize climbing COVID-19 deaths

LOS ANGELES -- A report published on May 20 by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) is calling for greater coordination by state and federal agencies in developing a more accessible and functional coronavirus testing infrastructure across the U.S.Citing an “unprecedented” importance and to meet testing demands, the report says that more needs to be done at the federal level to ensure those demands are met.According to the report, a reliance on public health and commercial laboratories has limited critical potential for coronavirus testing.

Fauci: 'We don’t have to accept' 2nd wave of coronavirus as inevitable

WASHINGTON -- The nation’s top infectious disease expert sounded optimistic this week regarding the chances of a second wave of coronavirus infections hitting the United States — but only if all the countermeasures needed to address the outbreak remain in place.“We often talk about the possibility of a second wave, or of an outbreak when you’re reopening.

US mortgage rates fall; 30-year loan at all-time low 3.15%

WASHINGTON — Long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell this week as the key 30-year home loan marked an all-time low for the third time in the last few months since the coronavirus outbreak took hold.Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year loan tumbled to 3.15% from 3.24% last week.

'An important milestone:' CVS Health opens 7 COVID-19 test sites in Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE -- On Friday, May 29, CVS Health will open seven new COVID-19 test sites at select CVS Pharmacy drive-thru locations across Wisconsin.According to a news release, these new sites will utilize self-swab tests and "deliver on the company’s commitment to establish 1,000 locations across the country by the end of May as originally announced on April 27."These new test sites help enable a goal of processing up to 1.5 million tests per month, subject to availability of supplies and lab capacity.“CVS Health has been at the forefront of helping our nation scale-up COVID-19 testing capabilities, and we’re proud to meet our goal of establishing 1,000 testing sites in communities across the country,” said Larry Merlo, president and CEO, CVS Health, in the release. “Opening access to testing in more locations using our drive-thru window represents an important milestone in our response to the pandemic.

Portion of gift shop merchandise at Milwaukee County Zoo now available online

MILWAUKEE --Though the Milwaukee County Zoo is temporarily closed due to COVID-19, a portion of gift shop merchandise is now online and available for purchase through the zoo’s website.New this year: An assortment of merchandise featuring the Milwaukee Flag, and several other custom lines are available for purchase.

Top spellers prepare to crown national champion, from home

NEW YORK -- Like dozens of other veteran spellers in their final year of eligibility, Anson Cook had big plans for this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee, which was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.The 13-year-old eighth-grader from Potomac, Maryland, was a two-time participant in the bee, and last year he finished in a tie for 41st.

CVS Health tests self-driving vehicle prescription delivery

LOS ANGELES -- CVS Health will try delivering prescriptions with self-driving vehicles in a test that begins next month.The drugstore chain said Thursday that it will partner with the Silicon Valley robotics company Nuro on the delivery of medicines and other products to customers near a Houston-area store.A CVS spokesman said the prescriptions will routinely be delivered within an hour of being ordered.

41 million have lost jobs since virus hit, but layoffs slow

WASHINGTON — Roughly 2.1 million people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, a sign that companies are still slashing jobs in the face of a deep recession even as more businesses reopen and rehire some laid-off employees.About 41 million people have now applied for aid since the virus outbreak intensified in March, though not all of them are still unemployed.

'It's positive and the kids love it:' 'Spidey in a Civic' on a mission to spread smiles

MILWAUKEE -- If you need a pick-me-up, there are a collection of feel-good stories at ShareLemonade.com.It's a place to celebrate the good, and turn lemons into lemonade.One freshly-picked story from the site focused on one man's mission to bring smiles to as many faces as possible by donning a special costume.