COVID-19: Spike In Cases Among Washburn County Teenagers

Press Release

Washburn County, WI – The Washburn County Health Department is monitoring an alarming spike in confirmed cases of COVID-19, with many of the new cases occurring in Washburn County teenagers. While the Health Department is working hard to identify and notify all contacts of the new confirmed cases, parents are encouraged to discuss with their teens if they have recently spent time with anyone who they may have heard has tested positive for COVID-19. Parents are advised to seek testing for their child immediately if there is any reason to suspect they were exposed to someone with COVID-19. Individuals can spread the virus two days before symptoms appear.

Effective contact tracing and our ability to notify the public of possible community exposure is dependent on the ability of confirmed cases to recall close contacts and activities during the Health Department’s disease interview process. We can only go on the information we are provided. If you are contacted by the Health Department as part of a disease investigation or for contact tracing, help us help the community by answering our questions honestly and as thoroughly as possible.

Our total confirmed case count, as of 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 2nd, currently stands at 35 with 26 active cases and 9 recovered. Full case counts including currently monitoring and negative test results are released weekdays at 2:00 pm on the Washburn County Health Department Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WashburnCoHealthDept/

The ongoing spike in cases reaffirms the importance of wearing face coverings or masks when in public to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. When combined with physical distancing and good hand hygiene, wearing face coverings is our best defense against spreading the virus. Find guidance on making your own cloth face coverings here:https://www.co.washburn.wi.us/news/public-health/cloth-face-coverings.

Washburn County businesses and residents should take the following steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Physical distancing of at least 6 feet from people who do not live together.
• Use of cloth face coverings when in public places.
• Frequent hand washing with soap and water, or sanitize with hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are unavailable.
• If experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 (https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/symptoms.htm), isolate yourself as much as possible and get tested.
• Businesses should follow the WEDC’s guidelines for reopening (https://wedc.org/reopen-guidelines/)

Visit https://www.co.washburn.wi.us/news/public-health/Coronavirus-Outbreak for up-to-date information and Washburn County testing information by provider. Questions can be directed to the Health Department at 715- 635-4400 or by email to health@co.washburn.wi.us.