MONROE — In November 2021, 732 Green County residents tested positive for COVID-19. This is the largest number of cases in a single month in Green County.
Through November, there have been 307 hospitalizations in the county since the pandemic began, with 25 new hospitalizations taking place in the month. There were five deaths due to COVID-19 in November, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS).
As cases continue to rise, Green County Public Health urges community members to act to prevent the spread of COVID-19 this holiday season. The best way to protect against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Currently, everyone over the age of 5 is eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19. If vaccinated and over the age of 16, a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose is available.
Taking additional steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is also necessary, even for people who have been vaccinated. No vaccine is 100% effective, and breakthrough infectious of those who have been vaccinated can happen. The COVID-19 virus is extremely contagious and these mitigation measures will add additional layers of protection to keep you and others healthy.
The DHS updates its data dashboard of breakthrough cases on the 15th of every month. In October, the rate of infection was 456.4 breakthrough cases for every 100,000 people vaccinated, with 12.2 hospitalizations and 1.8 deaths. Unvaccinated case rate was at 2,255.1 cases per 100,000, with 132 hospitalizations and 27.3 deaths. In total, Unvaccinated persons were nearly 5-times (490%) more likely to contract the virus, 10.8-times (1,080%) more likely to be hospitalized, and 15.1-times (1,510%) more likely to die in the county in October. There are approximately 37,000 residents in Green County.
Take the following actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
● Wear a mask in indoor public places.
● Practice physical distancing; stay at least 6 feet away from people you do not live with.
● Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer.
● If you are sick stay home, do not attend work, school, holiday gatherings or other events.
● If you are sick or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, get tested for COVID-19.
The Green County Public Health contact tracing staff have heard from people who thought their symptoms were just their yearly cold or seasonal allergies, the department said in a news release Dec. 13. Not everyone with COVID-19 has severe symptoms — but they could pass the virus on to someone who may develop serious symptoms. If you have any symptoms — a runny nose, cough, sore throat, headache, body aches, chills, loss of taste/smell, or a fever, please get tested. To find local testing locations, visit the Green County Public Health website.
“When planning holiday gatherings with loved ones keep these recommendations in mind,” RoAnn Warden, Green County Public Health Officer, said in the press release. “Keeping gatherings small, or having virtual gatherings with people you do not live with is the safest option. If you do gather with others having outdoor gatherings (if the weather is appropriate) is safer than gathering indoors. Encourage family members and loved ones to stay home from the gathering if they are not feeling well.”
For more recommendations, visit the CDC’s website.
“Green County Public Health would like to wish everyone in our county a happy holiday season. It has been a very difficult past year and a half for our community, and we hope that community members will consider the health of themselves and their neighbors this holiday season,” Warden said. “We encourage everyone to stay up-to-date on the COVID-19 situation in Green County, and in Wisconsin. Please visit the Green County Public Health Facebook page and website, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ website and social media pages.”
— Editor Adam Krebs contributed to this story.
