Richland Center, WI: A virtual Emergency Operations Center meeting was held again this morning to share information between Richland County officials and community partners in a joint response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Public Health Manager/Local Health Officer, Rose Kohout announced that as of 2:00pm Sunday, April 19th the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) confirmed that in the state of Wisconsin there were 4,346 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 45,323 have tested negative, there were 220 deaths, and 1,190 hospitalizations due to COVID-19. Of those that tested positive for COVID-19 in the state of Wisconsin, 27% have been hospitalized. There are 8 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Richland County, 189 have tested negative, and there has been 1 death as a result of COVID-19 at this time.
The Richland Hospital Coronavirus Hotline remains available 24 hours/day and patients should call (608) 604-9953 BEFORE coming to the hospital. The Richland Hospital continues to offer COVID-19 testing out of their “Respiratory Illness Evaluation” drive-thru service every day from 8am-5pm, even on weekends and holidays, for Tier 1 and Tier 2 priorities only. Patients needing hands-on medical care should always call the hospital main number (608) 647-6321 before coming to the hospital. Additional information about the online or telemedicine services being offered can be found at https://www.richlandhospital.com/online-services/.
Richland County Community Partners reiterated that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has suspended all burning permits until further notice. Richland County citizens need to be aware that the burning of debris in barrels, as well as the burning of debris on piles on the ground, grass or wooded areas is prohibited at this time. Small campfires used for warmth or cooking do not require a permit, but are discouraged.
Richland County small business owners, farmers and local banks are encouraged to attend a “Town Hall Conference Call” on Tuesday, April 21st at 2:30pm with Congressman Ron Kind’s Office. To register for the call, please email Marty Richards at marty.richards@richlandcenter.com. A local workgroup continues to meet to identify the Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Richland County families.
Richland County Community Partners shared the status of their individual organization’s emergency response, reviewed staffing and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) needs and local inventory, continued efforts to assist small business owners, and discussed priority topics to support the community through the recovery process.
For the most up-to-date COVID-19 information, follow Richland County Health & Human Services on Facebook or consult the following websites:
- Richland County: https://covid.co.richland.wi.us
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
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