Wisconsin Southeast Region Health Alert & Call to Action:

Do Your Part, Stop the Spread

October 29, 2020- You have the power. Take action now. Do your part to stop the spread. The health departments across southeast Wisconsin urgently state that we have reached a critical level of the pandemic. Southeastern Wisconsin is currently experiencing critically high levels of COVID-19 and significant spread in our communities. Your help is necessary to reduce the spread and to protect our families, our friends, and our community.

All residents who live and work in southeastern Wisconsin must continue to take personal responsibility to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Even though not all who test positive for COVID-19 experience a severe case of the virus, we all risk getting the virus and spreading it to others – maybe without realizing we’re sick. Taking extra precautions now will allow our schools to stay open, our businesses to remain operational, and it helps us all to protect our most vulnerable relatives and neighbors from the effects of COVID-19.

Given this surge, local health department efforts to control the spread of the virus have become increasingly strained. Demand has exceeded local public health capacity to effectively identify cases and conduct case investigation and contact tracing. In response to the surge in COVID-19 positive cases, local health departments will be prioritizing disease notification and investigation over contact notification. While we will continue to do our best to notify and investigate everyone with a positive result and to inform those who may have been exposed to a positive individual, additional prioritization is needed due to the volume of new positive cases. Additionally, the lack of notification, disease investigation and contact tracing capacity may result in delayed notification and fewer attempted follow-ups by the health department. 

Here is how you can do your part to stop the spread:

Individuals who test positive, we need you to do the following:

• Stay home and isolate for a minimum of 10 days after symptom onset per these instructions. If you did not have symptoms and were tested, remain isolated for 10 days from the date of testing.
• You can return to work or school on day 11 if meeting the criteria (free of fever and improvement in other symptoms for 24 hours).
• Notify your employer or school.
• Notify your close contacts and ask them to quarantine for 14 days from the last day of contact with you with these instructions.

  Employers, what you need to know:

• Physically distance at least 6 feet from people with whom you do not live.
• Wear a cloth face covering, 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.
• Stay home as much as possible, especially if you are sick. If symptomatic, get tested, and stay home while awaiting results.
• Cooperate with public health officials if you have tested positive or are a close contact.

• Due to increased numbers of cases, health departments may rely on cases to directly report their COVID-19 positive status to their employers.
• Please discuss the return to work date with your employee by using the isolation release flyers:
• Symptomatic
• Asymptomatic

  Additional information for businesses and employers can be found here. In order to keep our business, schools, and economy open and keep our health care infrastructure intact, we are urging everyone take immediate action now to slow the spread.

  Act Now – Stop the Spread

   

  Please continue to follow all recommended preventive actions to slow the spread of disease:

• Businesses and community organizations use WEDC Guidelines. When possible encourage remote work opportunities to support physical distancing.
• Retail, Hospitality, Restaurants/Bars: To the extent possible, limit person to person contact and encourage curbside pick-up/delivery options. Require masking/face coverings of staff and customers.

• Gatherings: Gatherings with individuals outside of your household are not recommended at this time, including but not limited to bonfires, cookouts, sleepovers, weddings, golf outings, recreational leagues, and celebrations. Avoid unnecessary activities and travel within the community that puts you in contact with others.

For more information, please visit the COVID-19 page at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/index.htm