No positive cases in Crawford County, though our area is not immune
UPDATE—March 15–9:00pm—Crawford County Health has been monitoring the situation all weekend, and just reported there are NO CONFIRMED CASES of Cornavirus in Crawford County at this time. However, Allamakee County is reporting 2 positive cases, one adult and one child under age 18.
UPDATE—March 13–5:00pm: Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has mandated all Wisconsin schools close, starting Wednesday, March 18. The anticipated reopening date is April 6.
By Correne Martin
There are currently a lot more questions than answers about what may transpire daily, as the national Novel Coronavirus 2019 pandemic spreads.
This little corner of the world is not immune to the illness, or even the anxiety that comes along with not knowing enough about COVID-19.
As of Friday morning, March 13, Crawford County Public Health Officer Cindy Riniker reported, “There have been no positive cases confirmed in Crawford County. Yet there are people under investigation around us in nearby counties.”
What Riniker does know for certain is that its existence in local communities is being monitored hourly. Anybody traveling back from California, Washington, New York—whether they exhibit symptoms of the virus or not—are urged to contact the public health department at 326-0229. Also, Riniker said, people should call if they have recently been to any other country of concern, or on a cruise anywhere in the U.S. or internationally.
Day zero is the day you return home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising that the virus can live on surfaces for two hours up to several days.
“So people don’t know how long they’re shedding the virus,” Riniker stated. “But, even with the flu, you’re shedding the virus one to two days before you start seeing symptoms.”
Individuals who have traveled to the above highly affected areas—which, of course, are growing in number rapidly—are currently asked to self quarantine.
“It’s considered a limited self quarantine,” Riniker said. “You can go get medicine, groceries and necessities. Just don’t go at peak times of the day.”
She noted that testing for COVID-19 is free; however, patients will be responsible for associated clinic or ER visit fees.
Riniker said she’s been in discussions with area medical, nursing home, law enforcement, school, and aging and disability professionals—any who service the vulnerable—as well as numerous businesses, regarding local response to COVID-19.
“We shut the meal sites down today,” she said, Friday morning. All three sites in Crawford County are presently closed through April 17. If you need a home delivered meal during this time, contact the Aging and Disability Resource Center at 326-0235.
“I’m also working with the churches right now, and I’ve had a lot of employers calling me.” As for the businesses, she said there are no restrictions currently.
“Each business is supposed to have its own infectious control plan. We’re not shutting any business down,” she commented. “For anyone we investigate, we’ll talk to those who they’ve been in contact with.”
Also, she said, area nursing homes and health care facilities are triaging and screening visitors now.
At schools, Riniker said the CDC and Wisconsin Department of Health’s recommendation is for them to remain open unless a person from their staff or student body is being investigated. She said all schools are following public health guidance in terms of cleaning algorithms.
The decision made by the city of Prairie du Chien to cancel the community’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, Riniker acknowledged, was a difficult one for health officials to weigh in on. However, she explained, the decision came down to the state health department’s strong recommendation to cancel or postpone all non-essential mass gatherings of 250 people or more. Most local businesses, at this time, have chosen to remain open for the celebration Saturday.
If you believe you may have symptoms of the Coronavirus, or recently returned from a place of concern, the health department advises you to contact them, so next steps can be discussed, at 326-0229.
