
Workers at one of UW-Madison's COVID-19 test sites receive samples earlier this semester.
The first month of UW-Madison’s semester last fall saw nearly 1,900 on-campus student COVID-19 cases, two dorm quarantines, at least one hospitalization and a public rebuke by Dane County’s top leader.
The spring semester was shaping up to be entirely different — that is, until this week when the university reported 278 positive student cases over the past three days. Those results alone represent a third of the student cases reported since the semester started in late January.
The concerning uptick in COVID-19 cases among students living on and off campus led University Health Services director Jake Baggott to send an email Friday urging students to comply with public health precautions in order to avoid the restrictions UW-Madison imposed last fall amid dozens of campus outbreaks.
UW-Madison’s contact tracing has found many of the students who recently tested positive attended gatherings, sometimes without wearing masks. Officials have responded by increasing testing in some dorms to every other day instead of twice per week.
If cases continue to rise, restrictions may include dorm quarantines, stay-at-home orders or increased testing for students living off campus.
Baggott’s message to students and staff came a day after Dane County confirmed a more contagious variant of the virus was detected in a person with no recent travel history outside of the county. Also this week, The Daily Cardinal reported that UW-Madison has found “a small number” of COVID-19 reinfections among members of the campus community.
Despite the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, UW-Madison’s seven-day average positivity rate remains low at 1% thanks to a new saliva-based testing program that dramatically increased capacity. The university administered about 150,000 tests last year — roughly the same number it has conducted in the first four weeks of this semester.
Much of UW-Madison’s focus has been on working through kinks in the new testing program, which has drawn complaints about long lines and rejected tests.
The university switched from appointment-based testing to a drop-in style. UW-Madison adjusted staff schedules to better accommodate peak testing times, though some people on campus say getting tested on the weekend is still difficult. While 14 testing sites are open on weekdays, there are five open on Saturdays and four on Sundays.
Another adjustment involved delaying building access restrictions. Students and employees this semester are using a mobile phone app to receive test results and access their Badger Badge, which allows them to enter campus buildings when they are in compliance with testing requirements. Enforcement of building access was pushed back several weeks as the campus community adjusted to the new testing program, which Chancellor Rebecca Blank at a meeting earlier this week said was the right call. Since enforcement took effect Feb. 10, she said there’s been few, if any, problems.
Lori Reesor, the vice chancellor for student affairs, said at the same meeting that the new testing program was going well, so well that the university cut back on its COVID-19 call center availability because there were fewer questions coming in for staff to answer.
Still, some students remain frustrated with the new style of testing, the increased requirements and the potential disciplinary action for skipping tests. A handful of students have reported receiving false positive test results.
Senior Kristina Smeshko said she tested positive at Union South earlier this month. Experiencing no symptoms and wanting peace of mind, she got tested at Alliant Energy Center four days after receiving her positive test result from UW-Madison. The test was negative.
Smeshko returned to Alliant the next day and two days after that. Both results came back negative.
With three negative test results in hand, she determined her result from the university must have been wrong.
But she worried about being able to get tested for COVID-19 later this semester. UW-Madison policy exempts individuals who test positive from its twice-weekly testing for 90 days.
Smeshko twice called University Health Services for guidance on the matter but said the staff had no answers to offer.
UW-Madison spokesperson John Lucas said the chances of a false positive result are “extremely low” because the university uses PCR tests, which are considered to be the gold standard in diagnostic testing.
Students infected with COVID-19 can choose to resume testing after their 10-day isolation period has passed but before the 90-day exemption period expires, he said. Getting tested off campus won’t “overturn” a positive result on campus and he discouraged students from doing so.
“We’re urging campus to trust the results they receive,” he said. “Seeking an additional test puts others at risk.”
Sports Radio

Since March, I began researching, writing and recording 2-minute stories about historical sporting events involving Monona Grove High School for airing on WVMO, local Monona Radio. My stories are played randomly throughout the week, but may be heard at noon, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. every Monday.
— Steve Martinelli, Monona
Holz Hausen

I have started a holz hausen in our backyard. The inspiration for the round wood pile came from a book I bought for my husband, who enjoys splitting wood. It isn't easy. It requires an eye for keeping things level and properly spaced. COVID-19 has made the world small. Working on my woodpile feels productive and thoughtful and beautiful.
— Jenifer Smith, Monona
Crystal Grid

My daughter and I started to create crystal grids for our companion animals as a way to visually and energetically maintain their health and wellness through the pandemic. A crystal grid is the purposeful placement of crystals (with various energy frequencies) on a platform to support an intention (lower anxiety, protect health, clearer focus, etc.). We became interested in the subject after shopping local in Marshall at Steven's Rocks & Gifts. The owner, Steven, is a wealth of knowledge on which stones are safe for touching as well as their energetic properties. For Christmas, I made my daughter’s newly adopted horse, Duke, a crystal grid to hang on his stall so he wouldn’t be lonely when she couldn’t be with him — we don’t have a barn for him on our farm yet, so we board him at a Orchard View Equestrian Center. My daughter was thrilled— we both cried. With all the worries girls her age are experiencing in addition to the pandemic safety guidance, this truly comforted my daughter in knowing Duke would continue to receive feelings of being loved and protected when she wasn’t there. We also believe it’s why Duke happily greets us every afternoon even when we forgot to bring him an apple.
— Cindy Brosig & Ruth, Marshall
Disc Golf

I played Ultimate Frisbee often prior to the pandemic. Like most sports, it can't be played safely at the moment, so I tried out disc golf. I've loved walking through the woods and learning how the varied discs fly. Madison is home to many courses, including Yahara Hills, which is open all winter. In warmer months I mostly played the city courses at Heistand and Elver.
— Austin Cary, Madison, seen at the 18th tee box at Elver Park Disc Golf Course
Melvis

I'm a female Elvis impersonator named MELVIS. I started in June 2019, so though I didn't start this in quarantine, with more time I've developed it more. In 2020, I had one outdoor socially distanced gig; otherwise, I've been posting cover songs on social media, performing livestreams on Twitch and writing parody lyrics for Elvis songs based on current events ("Wear A Mask," "Surrender," "U.S. Mail"). I also impersonate Rachel Maddow, which was fun to explore around the election and I have plans to add more impersonations this year. I'm not sure what will come of my act after COVID, but it's been a fun way to get creative, hone my skills and most importantly bring comedy to people who need it in this rough time. It's been a way to keep myself laughing too.
— Melissa Brumm, Madison
Rick's Walking Sticks

My pandemic hobby began with a walk in the woods with my wife, Susan, picking up a couple of branches, bringing them home, and Rick's Walking Sticks was born. As I worked on the sticks, my extra time took on a comfortable and useful purpose as people passed by and chatted with me adhering to social distancing, smiling and some saying, "Looks like they're one of a kind."
— Richard Shafel, Madison
Pickling

Planting a garden is something I do every year, but this year with COVID-19 it gave me more time outside enjoying my garden. That made me realize the amount of green beans I planted. This led me to my new hobby — pickling. I pickled beans, asparagus, cucumbers and even eggs!
— Randy Loomis, Deerfield
Painting Dragonflies

During COVID my daughter and I were laid off from our jobs. We spent many hours in our garage painting ... (including) dragonflies we painted out of old fan blades. Once assembled by my husband, we hung them on our pool deck for everyone to enjoy.
— Mary and Samantha Loomis, Deerfield
Hand Puppets and Dolls

While socially isolating, I created a multitude of “friends” in the form of hand puppets, dolls and toys. Some were made for donation, some for dear little ones and some for the fun of it. I made more than I can count.
— Barbara Rottman, Fitchburg
Hub Cap Art

I have worked as a handmade paper artist for years so repurposing and recycling is in my nature. In the past few years I have taken up repurposing hubcaps. You know, the ones that you find laying on the streets/roads as you fly by? Had a few close calls running to get them, but all in all it's fun to give them a new life. This hubcap was found on the road between Madison and Paoli when summer was blooming and the sweet corn was ready.
— Mary Lou Krase, Madison
Foam Board Birdhouses

I started designing and constructing birdhouses using rigid foam board. The goal is to provide homes for species that are of special concern because of declining populations. Pictured is an 18-unit designed for purple martins, which are a species of special concern in Wisconsin. These birds are totally dependent on humans providing housing for them. It is believed this tradition was started centuries ago by Native Americans. I hope the foam board will keep the birds warmer in the spring and cooler in the summer.
— Russ Hefty, Belleville
Fantasy Sculptures

I create fantasy sculptures with homemade paper clay, and have added a variety of gnomes, including swinging gnomes, to bring joy to myself and others. These quirky little guys always help lighten a dark mood.
— Carolyn Dargevics, Milton
Junk Robots

My Quirky Quarantine Hobby is making assembled robots out of small objects, junk, found objects and things people don’t want but are too good to throw away. They can be animal, humanoid or mythical beasts such as dragons.
— Gail Gladding, Oregon
Despite the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, UW-Madison’s seven-day average positivity rate remains low at 1% thanks to a new saliva-based testing program that dramatically increased capacity. The university administered about 150,000 tests last year — roughly the same number it has conducted in the first four weeks of this semester.