MONROE — More than two years in, the COVID-19 pandemic is revving up again across the country and Wisconsin and Green County are no exception.

Wisconsin saw its highest weekend total of COVID-19 cases in 14 weeks, with a net increase of 5,070 cases since the last report by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services last Friday, according to state officials. The sub-variant Omicron, BA.2 is the most prominent strain in Wisconsin and the culprit for most of the surge in new cases here.

For a public growing weary of the virus and related precautions, it is still important to stay vigilant, officials said.

“I can’t believe it’s been two years already,” said Bridget Craker, a health educator who has focused on the pandemic locally for the Green County Health Department.  “The good thing is that the precautions seem more normal to people now than they did at the start of the pandemic.”

While seven Wisconsin counties are returning to indoor masking in some situations and other precautions due to elevated cases, Green County has seen only moderate increases thus far, she said.

Weekly cases in May have been slightly higher than the weekly number of cases throughout March and April. In March, there were 177 confirmed cases of COVID-19, a number that rose to 211 in April and 216 so far in May. As of Wednesday, Craker said, the county is averaging 14.43 cases per day.

“We have seen a slight increase in COVID patient hospitalizations,” she said. “However, the ICUs are not seeing the same kind of increase in the South Central Region of Wisconsin.”

 The department is recommending the following measures at this point, according to Craker:

●  People who are at high risk for severe illness, should talk to their healthcare provider about wearing a mask and taking other precautions

●  Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines

●  People with symptoms should get tested

As for testing, community members can receive free at-home test kits through the federal government. The first round provided four free test kits per household, the second round was for four free test kits per household; and now officials have re-opened the ordering for a third time to get eight free test kits per household

Green County Public Health also is offering COVID-19 testing. Residents are asked to call to schedule an appointment, at (608) 328-9390. Moreover, community members will also need to register for their test ahead of time at gcpublichealth.org.

Healthcare providers and pharmacies are also offering testing and Green County Public Health has a map with local testing site locations on the site.

“As COVID-19 cases increase it’s important to utilize more of our prevention strategies,” she added. “Go to gcpublichealth.org to find the next steps on what to do if you have COVID-19 or you were with someone who did.”