Richland Center, WI: The Richland County Health Human Services Public Health Office is announcing that two (2) confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Richland County. “Public Health staff are in frequent contact with these individuals to monitor their symptoms and ensure they are receiving support to be able to isolate at home,” said Rose Kohout, Richland County Public Health Manager/Local Health Officer.
Richland County Public Health continues to carefully monitor this outbreak and is investigating potential cases in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). These actions include:
- Identifying and contacting anyone who has been in close contact with a person who has COVID-19. These individuals are asked to quarantine themselves for 14 days from their exposure and will be monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms;
- Determining when a person can be released from isolation; and
- Preparing Richland County for community spread of COVID-19.
We are working with our local, state, and federal partners to deal quickly and effectively when people are diagnosed with COVID-19, have symptoms of COVID-19, or have been around people have been infected with the coronavirus.
Although these are the first diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in Richland County, it is very likely that there are other people in our community with the illness who have not been diagnosed, and may not be tested. “Most people who have COVID-19 will get better on their own at home,” said Kohout. “As the majority of persons will NOT receive a test, it is vital that each of us practice common sense measures to avoid getting sick or spreading the virus.”
These measures include:
- Frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and water
- Cover coughs and sneezes
- Avoid touching your face
- Stay home when sick
- Practice social distancing (at least 6 feet away from other people)
- Staying at home and only going out for essential activities
- Clean and disinfect all frequently-touch surfaces
If you have been in contact with someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, you should do the following:
- Monitor yourself for symptoms for 14 days (fever greater than 100.4 degrees and/or cough) and
- Maintain social distancing (6 feet from other people).
If you have or develop symptoms (fever over 100.4 degrees and/or cough):
- Monitor your symptoms.
- Isolate yourself at home.
- Maintain social distancing within your home of at least 6 feet between people.
- If your symptoms worsen (difficulty breathing or other severe symptoms) call you healthcare provider.
- You must stay home and socially distance yourself (6 feet) from other people until you have no fever for 72 hours (without the aid of medication), AND
- Other symptoms have improved, AND
- Seven (7) days have passed since your symptoms first appeared.
All individuals who may have had contact with the persons who have confirmed COVID-19 will be contacted directly by the Richland County Public Health Office. The Richland County Public Health Office will continue to work with the Department of Health Services (DHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and our local partners to make sure our community remains safe and healthy,” said Rose Kohout, Richland County Public Health Manager/Local Health Officer.
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