The global curve is flattening, but COVID-19 (coronavirus) infections are still rising and new hotspots, like Brazil, may be emerging. That's a big improvement from weeks of dire, exponential growth across the world. But global or even U.S.-wide stats are difficult to parse when you're trying to figure out if the local situation in your town and state is getting better or worse.
- PUB DATE: 4/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Popular Mechanics

“She tried to do her job, and it killed her”: So said Dr. Philip Breen of his daughter, Dr. Lorna Breen, the medical director of the emergency department at New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital — who died by suicide Sunday in Charlottesville, Va., where she was staying with family. Her work amid the coronavirus pandemic took such a toll.
- PUB DATE: 4/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: New York Post

Mattel is honoring essential workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight with a special edition #ThankYouHeroes collection from Fisher-Price. The collection will include sixteen different figures that will be a selection of doctors, nurses, EMTs and delivery drivers. Mattel will also offer a special five-character Little People set that includes a grocery store worker figure.
- PUB DATE: 4/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ABC News

John Legend is helping to pay tribute to the incredible first responders who are risking their lives everyday on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. The Grammy-winning multi-talent will be sharing a special performance during May 1st's iHeartRadio's First Responder Fridays with FirstNet Built with AT&T.
- PUB DATE: 4/29/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Fox Sports Radio

One person died Tuesday after a fire broke out at a house in Sheboygan. Firefighters responded around 2 p.m. Tuesday to a house in the 2300 block of South Ninth Street in Sheboygan, according to the Sheboygan Fire Department. A caller reported smoke was coming from the second-floor window of the home.
- PUB DATE: 4/28/2020 3:39:48 PM - SOURCE: Sheboygan Press

A North Fond du Lac man is accused of using stolen underwear to set several fires in the county. Michael L. Miller, 43, has been charged in Fond du Lac County with 27 counts--including arson and possession of child pornography. Details of the case were revealed in a criminal complaint obtained by Action 2 News.
- PUB DATE: 4/28/2020 10:36:44 AM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

Medical investigators throughout the world are cooking up ideas that will hopefully put an end to COVID-19, sparing thousands of lives while bringing our old way of life back. (Maybe.) Count among them, investigators with the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, and the ideas they’re cooking up come right from the kitchen.
- PUB DATE: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Infection Control Today

For the first time, a special type of COVID-19 test is available for first responders. "First responders wake up every single day, and they are going out to communities and not knowing where they might be getting exposure to COVID-19," Christine Wiggs, with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, said. "We believe that providing them with antibody tests to understand whether they've been recently exposed is an important first step.
- PUB DATE: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KASW-CW6 & KTVK-3TV (AZfamily.com)

Acadian Total Security is using existing technology in a new way to help stop the spread of coronavirus as businesses look to reopen. “Thermal cameras have been used for quite a while. I’ll just give an example: a chemical plant. We’ve had cameras on a boiler where you want them to run at a certain temperature so you set a parameter saying 'if it reaches this temperature, I need to be alerted right away because something could be blowing soon if it’s too hot," Jason Brown, Director of Sales, said.
- PUB DATE: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KPLC-TV NBC/CW+ 7 Lake Charles

Lime, the scooter company, is rolling out a new scooter service designed to help health care workers and first responders in the coronavirus pandemic. Called Lime Aid, it provides free 30-minute rides for public-health personnel and law-enforcement officers, in select cities around the world. That includes Dallas and Austin, plus Baltimore, Nashville, Oklahoma City, and Salt Lake City, but also Paris, Cologne, and Tel Aviv.
- PUB DATE: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Culture Map Dallas

The bulk of the diagnosed COVID-19 cases in Vermont are clustered in the Burlington area, home to some of the long-term care facilities that have seen outbreaks, but Hartford and Woodstock have also seen a notable number of cases. The Vermont Department of Health on Monday released a town-by-town breakdown that showed Hartford had 10 COVID-19 cases and Woodstock 7.
- PUB DATE: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Valley News

Onalaska’s fire department is in new hands for now. Troy Gudie was appointed Monday as the interim fire chief for the city of Onalaska. He’s stepping in for former chief Billy Hayes who abruptly resigned last week. Gudie was previously the assistant fire chief to Hayes. He says he would need to think more about taking the full time position.
- PUB DATE: 4/27/2020 9:54:34 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

A bread oven led to a fire at a Sun Prairie bakery Monday night. Dane County dispatch said it received a call at 6:17 p.m. for a report of a structure fire at Pan-O-Gold Baking on 1000 Wilburn Road. The caller originally told officials that flames were coming from a vent on the building’s roof. The Sun Prairie Fire Department responded to the scene and quickly extinguished the fire.
- PUB DATE: 4/27/2020 5:27:48 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

Firefighters responded Sunday evening to a report of a fire coming from the third floor of an apartment building in the 400 block of West Main Street. Officials said the occupant of the apartment had left for a while, but when he returned he heard a smoke alarm sounding. When he entered his apartment he found a fire burning on and above his stove.
- PUB DATE: 4/27/2020 3:43:25 PM - SOURCE: WMSN-TV Fox 47 Madison

Multiple crews are responding to a feed mill fire in the Village of Boyd. According to police, firefighters were called to the Boyd Feed and Supply Feed Mill on Adams Street just before 4:30 a.m. Monday morning. When they arrived, the building was fully-engulfed in flames and neighbors were evacuated from the area.
- PUB DATE: 4/27/2020 5:32:13 AM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

According to the International Association of Fire Fighters, firefighters across the country are battling on the front lines of COVID-19 and fire departments are feeling the strain of this massive public health emergency. The IAFF has released the following numbers as of Friday, April 24, 2020: 1,653 firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19; 4,304 isolated; 66 hospitalized; Six deaths.
- PUB DATE: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WEYI-TV NBC 25 Saginaw

Parma Heights (International Association of Fire Fighters) IAFF Local 1690 recently filed an unfair labor practice charge with the State Employment Relations Board (SERB) related to the city’s attempt to unify pay periods across all departments. Representing Parma Heights IAFF Local 1690 is Susannah Muskovitz and Arish S.
- PUB DATE: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Cleveland.com

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) today said it will take heroism in Congress to save fire and EMS in communities across the country. Legal and regulatory minutiae prevent CARES Act money from immediately helping firefighters protect their communities and themselves during the current COVID-19 crisis.
- PUB DATE: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: IAFC.org

The new coronavirus doesn't care about a blue uniform or a shiny badge. Police, firefighters, paramedics and corrections officers are just a 911 call away from contracting COVID-19 and spreading it. With N95 masks hanging off their duty belts and disposable blue gloves stuffed in their back pockets, they respond to radio calls, make arrests and manage prisoners.
- PUB DATE: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Stamford Advocate

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released additional symptoms related to novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Health officials recommend those experiencing any of these symptoms contact their physician or the local health department. Previously, guidance from state and federal health officials cautioned people not to call unless experiencing the three traditional symptoms of COVID-19.
- PUB DATE: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Clarksville Now