Marathon County Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situational Report April 12, 2021 Joan Theurer, Health Officer
What we Know COVID-19 is a disease caused by a virus strain that began spreading in people in December 2019. Health experts are concerned because little is known about this new respiratory virus. On March 11, 2020 the COVID-19 outbreak was characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization.
For the week ending on April 10, - Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports 30,897,028 cases in the U.S. and 558,028 deaths. 183 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered.
- WI Department of Health Services reports 8,625 (1.5%) active cases, 569,164 (97.4%) recovered, for a total of 584,739 confirmed cases in WI. Ever hospitalized 28,119 (4.8%), and 6,676 (1.1%) deaths. The 7 day percent positive by test is 3.7%. Total hospital bed utilization in WI is 82%. Refer to state summary date and county level data. Wisconsin’s rank in the U.S. of the average daily case rate in the last 7 days was 28; for deaths at 37. In terms of vaccinations, 36.6% of WI residents received at least 1 dose and 23.8% completed the vaccine series. Wisconsin is ranked 12 in the U.S. for the number of does administered per 100,000.
- Marathon County reports 263 (1.9%) active cases, 13,646 (96.8%) recovered, and 14,095 confirmed cases in Marathon County. Ever hospitalized 648 (4.6%), and 184 confirmed deaths (1.3%). The 7 day percent positive by test is 6.9%. Total bed utilization in the North Central region is 78%. In terms of vaccinations, 30.9% of Marathon County residents received at least 1 dose and 18.2% completed the vaccine series.
Marathon County New Confirmed Cases by Week (Sun-Sat)
44296 154 April 3 85 March 27 52 March 20 64
March 13 50 March 6 87 February 27 106
February 20 80
Marathon County’s COVID-19 case activity level is high.
Individuals, businesses, and other entities can reduce risk for exposure by physically distancing and avoid gatherings, wear a face covering, wash hands frequently, stay home if sick, and get tested if exposed to someone with COVID.
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Strategies being carried out to control the spread of COVID-19 in Marathon County and counties across Wisconsin include: harm reduction behaviors, surveillance activities, “boxing the virus in”, and vaccines. Controlling the spread of COVID-19 is critical in keeping schools and businesses open along with preventing strain on the health care system.
Harm reduction behaviors are actions everyone can take to reduce their risk in being exposed to COVID- 19: - Social distance from people you don’t live with, - Wear a face mask when you are not at home, in indoor spaces or unable to physically distance, - Spend more time at home and avoid gatherings, - Wash your hands frequently, - Stay home when sick, - Get vaccinated.
People in Marathon County are being asked to wear a face mask as a way to slow and prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus.
Surveillance is the collecting data to inform health departments how quickly the virus is spreading in communities, who is being infected, the severity of the virus, and the percent of individuals vaccinated. Data is important for two reasons: to monitor for signs in a surge in cases, and awareness of the level of risk for exposure in a county. Refer to Marathon County COVID-19 Dashboard.
“Boxing it in” is a containment strategy to control the spread of the virus and suppress a surge in cases. To “Box in the virus”, health care providers and local health departments continue efforts to:
- Test every individual who has symptoms of COVID-19, - Isolate individuals with COVID-19, - Find everyone who had close contact to infected people, and
- Quarantine all close contacts. “Boxing It In”
Marathon County has a high number of COVID-19 cases. Residents are being advised to isolate at home and inform those who had close contact while waiting for guidance from the Health Department. Refer to Guidance for Residents and Workplaces.
Vaccines are an important tool in stopping the spread of COVID-19. The safety of vaccines is a top priority. Three vaccines have been approved by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP): - Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for persons aged 16 years or older, began to be distributed the week of December 14, - Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for persons 18 years or older, began to be distributed the week of December 20, - Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID vaccine for persons 18 years of age and older, began to be distributed the week of March 8.
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On April 5, 2021 all persons over the age of 16 are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccination. Information on how individuals eligible can receive a vaccine is available on Marathon County Health Department COVID-19 Vaccine webpage.
Major Developments U.S. CDC updates for the week ending April 10, Science Brief: SARS-CoV-2 and Surface (Fomite) Transmission for Indoor Community Environments
Ensuring COVID-19 Vaccine Safety in the US
EARLY RELEASE: Factors Associated with Participation in Elementary School-Based SARS-CoV-2 Testing – Salt Lake County, Utah, December 2020-January 2021
Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
US COVID-19 Cases Caused by Variants
How to talk about COVID-19 vaccines with friends and family
Death Certificate – Based ICD-10 Diagnosis Codes for COVID-19 Mortality Surveillance – United States, January-December 2020
Community Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Associated with a Local Bar Opening Event – Illinois, February 2021
COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality Among American Indian/Alaska Native and White Persons – Montana, March 13-November 30, 2020
Use of Stay-at-Home Orders and Mask Mandates to Control COVID-19 Transmission – Blackfeet Tribal Reservation, Montana, June-December 2020
COVID-19 Science Update Released: April 9, 2021 Edition 84
COVID-19 Cases, Deaths, and Vaccines in the U.S.
Wisconsin On April 5, WI Department of Health Services released Everyone Age 16 and Older Now Eligible for the COVID-19 Vaccine
On April 6, Gov. Evers Announces FEMA Support for COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Clinic in Madison Begins April 7
On April 6, Gov. Evers Announces More Than $46 Million in Support to Small Businesses
On April 7, WI Department of Health Services posted new webpages on Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)
On April 8, DHS Releases New COVID-19 Variant Trackers, updates include tracking newly classified variants of concern and displaying information by HERC region
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On April 8, Gov. Evers, DHS Announce Community-Based Vaccination Clinic in Douglas County to Open April 13
Actions Marathon County is Taking Local actions are guided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), WI Department of Health Services, WI Emergency Management, and the State of WI COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). The following pandemic functions are being carried out.
Contact Tracing and Surveillance - Inform individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 to isolate and contact close contacts to quarantine - Received 1004 reported negative, positive, probable or contacts to cases in the past week, for a total of 85,860 from March 1, 2020-April 10, 2021 - Request assistance from WI Department of Health Services Contact Tracing Team to conduct disease investigations and contact tracing given the high number of cases this past week - Follow-up on 26 active facility outbreaks to ensure best practices are in place to control further spread, having 556 facility outbreaks since April 7, 2020 - Provide oversight to 28 contracted employees who are carrying out disease investigation, contact tracing activities, or support tasks
Community Containment and Mitigation - Inform the public what they can do to reduce their risk in being exposed to the COVID-19 virus - Keep the public abreast of groups eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine and how they can get vaccinated - Maintain alternative isolate sites for residents known or suspected to be infected with COVID-19 who cannot isolate safely at home in the Wausau and Marshfield area; maintain isolation sites for the homeless population in the greater Wausau area - Provide a weekly report to area schools on recommendations for mitigation/control measure and COVID-19 School Decision metrics; coordinate vaccinations; field questions from schools - Keep the Wausau Area Chamber of Commerce informed of recommendations and resources for workplaces to carryout contact tracing and notification, as well as vaccine eligibility - Field 4 calls from businesses or business related questions the week of April 4, 2021, having 819 calls from businesses or business related questions since March 25, 2020
Health Care System Response - Maintain a comprehensive and coordinated testing system among area health care systems, o Collaborate with Aspirus by providing Emergency Management West Street site for testing o Provide consultation with long-term care facilities on outbreak testing o Stay informed of UW-Stevens Point at Wausau community antigen testing site - Facilitate vaccine planning efforts in Marathon County, host a meeting on April 7 among vaccine partners o Outreach to COVID-19 vaccination providers to stay abreast of their capacity to vaccinate o Identify and close barriers in accessing vaccinations among eligible groups
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- Facilitate vaccine planning efforts through a multi-county approach with local health departments in Clark, Portage, Marathon, and Wood counties; with health care system partners of Ascension, Aspirus, Bridge Community Health Clinic, and Marshfield Clinic Health System; UW-Stevens Point – host a meeting on April 9 o Address identified gaps in vaccine distribution within priority populations o Ensure an aligned and unified message on vaccine effectiveness and safety - Hold vaccination clinics targeting vulnerable persons 65+ who do not have access to other options, inmates at Marathon County Jail - Promote the launch of the WI Department of Health Services AMI Northcentral Regional COVID-19 Community-Based Vaccination Clinic located at Northcentral Technical College, Center for Business and Industry - Further outreach plans with H2N partner organizations; arrange for a tour at the AMI Northcentral Regional COVID-19 Community-Based Vaccination Clinic; coordinate work to implement new WI Department of Health Services grant objectives between Aging & Disability Resource Center of Central WI, Bridge Community Health Clinic, and Hmong American Center - Participate in the weekly NCW-HERC (North Central Wisconsin Health Emergency Readiness Coalition) Board of Directors calls to keep abreast of response plans for hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, EMS, and Emergency Management - Carryout a county-wide system to respond to PPE requests from allocations received from the state
Communication - Inform the public who is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and how to get a vaccine through COVID-19 Vaccine webpage, Facebook, Everbridge, and media - Outreach efforts to populations: o Hispanic: Weekly outreach and food distribution with St. Bernard Parish; participate in H2N meetings; distributed updated eligibility graphic in Spanish to liaisons o Hmong: Participate in H2N meetings; distributed updated eligibility graphic in Hmong to liaisons o Plain Clothes: No outreach - Provide accurate, timely and consistent information via Marathon County Health Department website - Inform the community via Marathon County Health Department Facebook o Posts: 26, Shares: 42, New Followers: 1 for week of April 4, 2021 o Posts: 1,461, Shares: 10,632, Followers: 5,561 since March 1, 2020 - Participate in “3 Things Podcast” on COVID with the City of Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg - Issue 2 press releases, conduct 5 interviews, and provide 2 media consult during the week of April 4; for a total of 62 press releases and 303 interviews with the media since March 1, 2020 - Field 74 calls from the general public during the week of April 4
What the Public Can Do Inform self and family members about the facts of COVID-19 vaccine and the benefits of getting a vaccine.
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Get vaccinated.
Social distance from others who don’t live in your household.
Wear a face mask.
Keep social circles small. Avoid crowded and poorly indoor ventilated spaces.
Wash your hands frequently.
Stay home if sick. If you have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19, get tested and quarantine yourself.
Reach out for help if you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s OK to ask for help. Call 211 to find a helping professional. Visit Helping Wisconsin cope during COVID-19.
Seek credible sources of information from the Marathon County Health Department and the State of WI Department of Health Services to learn more about COVID-19.
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