Three counties issue COVID-19 alert

The Brillion News

CHILTON - The counties of Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago, and the cities of Menasha and Appleton, on Friday, October 2, issued a "public health emergency COVID-19 alert" telling people to take dramatic action to stop the spread of the virus.

The alert is not an order, but raises alarms.

"Due to escalation in cases, public health is not able to notify positive cases and their close contacts in a timely manner," the joint press release said. "This severely limits efforts to contain the virus."

The statement also says that hospitals are "enacting emergency plans" but doesn't say what those plans are.

The press release advises people to act now:

• Physically distance at least 6 feet from people with whom you do not live.

• Wear a cloth face mask, unless unable to wear one for medical reasons.

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

• Indoors, do not gather with people outside of your household.

• Outdoors, limit gatherings to 10 people or fewer, physically distance, and wear face coverings.

• Self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days after return from travel.

• If symptomatic, call your health care provider, get a test, and stay home while awaiting results.

• Cooperate with public health officials if you have tested positive or are a close contact.

The agencies also call for not holding indoor gatherings; for restaurants and bars to offer take-out, curbside pickup and delivery only; and workplaces to keep only essential workers on site.

For additional information, see the Facebook page for Calumet County Public Health.

The Facebook page, in a mid-September post, said there was "significant uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 in Calumet County and the Fox Valley area due to a lack of community participation in physical distancing, mark-wearing, and disregard for quarantine and isolation recommendations."

It gives no source for that causative conclusion being reached.

As of October 1, Calumet County Public Health said there were 979 confirmed cases of 8,410 total tests, with two deaths and eight people currently hospitalized.

That death rate among confirmed cases is 0.002 percent. There 979 people who tested positive for COVID-19 and 7,431 who tested negative.