Happy Wednesday! In this week's Big I Buzz, we are discussing how the Wisconsin DMV is looking to adjust their road test, the latest updates in the CDC COVID-19 recommendations and why nearly 800 residents of French Island are planning to sue the city of La Crosse, WI. 

Wisconsin DMV Looking to Make Road Test Waiver Program Permanent

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation began to pilot a program that would allow 16 and 17-year-olds to skip the road test requirement in Wisconsin. With over 49,000 waivers being signed since the program started last year, the DMV believes that the waiver option has been beneficial and they're looking to have the program be made permanent. 

According to WEAU, "Instead of actually getting behind the wheel to get their license, parents of the teens can go online and choose to waive the road test for their child. Officials with the Department of Motor Vehicles said teenagers are required to hold a drivers permit for at least six months, required to complete the approved driver education courses with third-party schools or with their high school, and have to log at least 30 hours of driving with their parent or sponsor in a variety of conditions. Then, the teenagers can receive a probationary driver's license online, where distractions are limited in the car by requiring them to only have one person in the vehicle that's not related to them, and then there are limited hours that they can operate the vehicle." Read more here. 

CDC Says: Fully Vaccinated People No Longer Need to Wear a Mask or Physically Distance in Any Settings

On May 13, the CDC made changes to the public health recommendations for fully vaccinated people. The CDC released these recommendations: "

"Fully vaccinated people can: 

• Resume activities without wearing masks or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local businesses and workplace guidance

• Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel

• Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States

• Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings

• Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic

• Refrain from routine screening testing if feasible"

In light of the CDC's guidance saying that fully vaccinated people can stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings, some businesses are lifting face mask requirements for customers who are vaccinated. This has raised questions about medical privacy, leaving many to wonder whether asking for proof of a COVID vaccine is a HIPAA violation. Multiple news outlets have reported that non-health-care businesses don't violate HIPAA if they ask for proof of a COVID-19 vaccine. HIPAA is applied within people in the medical-related fields, including insurance and medical providers. However, HIPAA doesn't protect personal health information in every situation. According to Kayte Spector-Bagdady, a medical ethics researcher at the University of Michigan, said, "HIPAA only governs certain kinds of entities - your clinician, hospital or others in the health care sphere. It does not apply to the average person or to a business outside health care. It doesn't give someone personal protection against ever having to disclose their health information." 

Nearly 800 Residents to Sue Wisconsin City Over PFAS Contamination

Following contamination of private drinking water wells from chemicals known as PFAS, nearly 800 residents of French Island plan to sue the city of La Crosse, Wisconsin. This could expose the city to up to more than $39 million in claims. 

According to Insurance Journal, "The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources last year launched an investigation that includes the city of La Crosse regarding contamination on the island stemming from the La Crosse Regional Airport. The DNR flagged two city wells for the presence of PFAS, which have since been taken out of service, Wisconsin Public Radio reported." Read more here. 

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