Wisconsin passed another grim milestone - 6,000 deaths caused by the coronavirus - on Friday, even as COVID-19 cases drop and more people receive the vaccine.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reportedthat 6,020 people have died from complications caused by the virus since the pandemic began in the state, including 28 new deaths on Friday.
The daily death toll is on average lower than it has been in months, with an average daily death toll over the last week at 26.
Meanwhile, efforts to vaccinate the state's population continue to expand. As of Friday, just under 660,000 vaccines have been given, with about 130,000 more in transit and 980,000 allocated for Wisconsin for future use. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two shots for full treatment, and Wisconsin has a population of a little over 5.8 million people.
Meanwhile on Friday, Gov. Tony Evers promised to veto the first bill passed by the legislature to address the pandemic in 10 months - a Republican-backed measure that Democrats say would do nothing to combat the virus or help reopen the state.
Evers announced his intention to veto the bill moments after the GOP-led Senate voted along party lines Friday sending it to him.
Evers called on the Legislature to pass a version he can support.
The governor had backed an earlier, more limited, version. But Republicans added provisions he opposed. One of those would prohibit employers from requiring workers to get vaccinated.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.