If you perceive that the current status of the coronavirus pandemic in Sheboygan County looks familiar, you would be right. Current statistics are starting to resemble those seen when we were emerging from the worst and still carefully washing, masking, physically distancing and ramping up vaccinations against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
As the Sheboygan County Division of Public Health closed its reporting this past week, it listed 313 active cases of COVID-19 being monitored, similar to the 324 reported on February 5th. On that day, a two-week average of 225.3 active cases per 100,000 persons was noted. The two-week average from August 4-17 was higher, at 344.9. Hospitalizations on February 5th were 7…this past Friday it was 8. On February 5th the percent-positive test rate was 22%, and the past Friday the running average for the entire pandemic had lowered only slightly to 20.9% of all tests. Currently, 3 long-term care facilities are undergoing facility-wide investigations, those being Pine Haven, Rocky Knoll and Sunny Ridge. On February 5th the number was 6.
Although many of those metrics are similar, what has changed is behavior, with many now gathering in larger groups, unmasked, and without the same regard for social distancing. Large public events are being held, and classrooms at schools will soon be populated with students…and in the case of the Sheboygan Area School District, for one, encouraging but no longer requiring attendees to wear masks.
Also changing are the vaccination totals and rates. While totals are up, rates are down. For the week of February 7th a total of 3,509 doses were administered in Sheboygan County. This past week, preliminary numbers were under 1,000. As of August 20th, 52.3% of the county had received at least one dose of vaccine, while 49.3% were fully vaccinated.
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