Situational Report - Updated January 21, 2021

Cases overall have been declining, but we are seeing more people struggling with longer term symptoms of COVID-19.   We are still seeing an increase of cases due to get togethers over the holidays.    

Bayfield County Health Department and many other area providers are preparing for increased vaccine distribution to the Tier 1B group which includes people over the age of 65. Other populations may be added to this group by the State of Wisconsin Department of Health in the upcoming days.    

January 21, 2021 - NEWS RELEASE - Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Plan for Bayfield County

Local health care and hospitals are still at a critical shortage of staff and ICU beds. Memorial Medical Center has issued a Letter to the Community asking residents to please follow COVID-19 prevention practices and limit gatherings. 

Restaurants and workplaces can help by:

• Promote take out or delivery service at this time. 
• Limiting large groups in their establishments
• Require staff to wear masks when working with the public.
• Ask customers to wear a mask when not seated at their table.
• Remove any self service items for the next two weeks (no self serve buffets, coffee, or salad bars).  
• Disinfect multi-touch surfaces frequently
• Insist all patrons wear masks when in your establishment (stores/workplaces) or when not seated at a table (restaurants/bars).   
• Make sure workers understand not to work when sick or when they have had a known exposure to a COVID-19 positive individual in the last 14 days.
  

Bars/Taverns can help by:

• DO NOT put out any food for customer self service.  
• Require staff to wear masks when working with the public.
  
• Ask customers to wear masks when not at their table.
• Limit seating at the bar.
• Encourage groups of hunters to sit at tables, rather than the bar.
  
• Postponing any local gatherings until after hunting season or hold them virtually (meat raffles, packer parties, league activities) 
• Protect your bartender by installing a plexiglass divider or having their work space area free of barstools or patrons.  (ie. create a safe area for your bartender to work rather than being face to face with the public)

Bayfield County Health has issued a temporary mass gathering limitation for events over 100 persons to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.  The mass gathering order can be found in our press release section towards the bottom of the page and also on a new page dedicated to all Public Health Orders.    We continue to monitor this situation and work with area partners to identify all cases and close contacts in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.  We ask that residents help do their part by wearing a mask in public, keeping children home from school when they are ill, and social distance if headed into public.   We will continue to update the Community Exposures page and the risk involved at each location.

Special note for parents of school age children

As schools begin to re-open it is vital that parents are diligent in keeping their children home when they are not feeling well.    While schools are working hard to have good procedures in place to prevent COVID transmission at the school, the BEST way to prevent transmission is to keep infections out of the school to begin with.