by Kevin Zimmermann
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) – As the coronavirus pandemic enters its 4th month of local presence and progresses with few unexpected twists, the County Division of Health Services announced today that it will issue daily updates Monday through Friday only. Since first issued on March 12th, the reports had been released daily. A recent uptick in cases has flattened somewhat, and hospitalizations are, as of today, zero as the two that were being treated yesterday have now been released.
186 total cases of COVID-19 have now been confirmed in Sheboygan County with the addition of 3 since yesterday. Another 310 tests came back negative, yielding a confirmation rate of less than 1%. 36 cases remain active, down 5 from yesterday as 8 persons have recovered in the last 24 hours.
In Wisconsin since Sunday, 3.8% of test returns…or 249 persons…were positive while 6,300 tested negative. That pushed the state total cases over 25K at 25,068 positive returns. 745 persons have died of the coronavirus in Wisconsin, one having succumbed to the disease since Sunday.
The County DHS also promoted new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control concerning face coverings. Given that the coronavirus is still highly contagious, the CDC recommends that in addition to staying home as much as possible, practicing social distancing and frequently cleaning hands, that everyone wear cloth face coverings when leaving their homes, regardless of whether they have fever or symptoms of COVID-19. This is because of evidence that people with COVID-19 can spread the disease, even when they don’t have any symptoms. The face coverings, therefore, are worn to protect others, and not necessarily or exclusively the wearer. The exceptions are that young children under age 2 or those with difficulty breathing or who can’t remove the mask on their own should not wear one.
