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CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
For non-emergency Coronavirus (COVID-19) questions, you can call our COVID-19 Information Line at (715) 373-3324 OR email us at BaycoHD@bayfieldcounty.org
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.
Concerned about A possible exposure to COVID-19 In Your Community?
UPDATES FROM STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Novemeber
November 23, 2020 - NEWS RELEASE - Bayfield County Reports Seventh and Eighth Death from COVID-19
November 14, 2020 - NEWS RELEASE - Bayfield County Records Sixth Death from COVID-19
November 13, 2020 - NEWS RELEASE - Bayfield County Records Fourth and Fifth Death from COVID-19
November 5, 2020 - NEWS RELEASE - Bayfield County Reports Third Death From COVID-19
OCTOBER
October 30, 2020 - PRESS RELEASE - Call to Action for COVID-19 Prevention
October 27, 2020 - PRESS RELEASE - Second Death of Bayfield County Resident due to COVID-19
October 26, 2020 - Bayfield & Ashland Counties Issue Small Gathering Advisory
September
September 22, 2020 - PRESS RELEASE - Drummond Area School District Moves to Virtual Schooling
September 4, 2020 - PRESS RELEASE - Bayfield County Health Issues Mass Gathering Limitation Order
September 4, 2020 - PRESS RELEASE - Community Exposure Event in Washburn, WI on August 29, 2020
JULY
July 13, 2020 - PRESS RELEASE - Ashland and Bayfield Counties Issue Mask Advisory
July 9, 2020 - PRESS RELEASE - COVID-19 Exposure in Port Wing Community
July 6, 2020 - PRESS RELEASE - 4th COVID-19 Case in Bayfield County
July 2, 2020 - PRESS RELEASE - National Guard Returns to Iron River, Wisconsin for COVID-19 testing
June
JUNE 5, 2020 - PRESS RELEASE - Free COVID-19 Testing Events Coming to Bayfield County
may
May 14, 2020 - Press Release - Bayfield and Ashland County Issues Travel Safer Advisory
May 13, 2020 - Press Release - Wisconsin Supreme Court Decision Safer At Home 5-13-2020
May 1, 2020 - Press Release - Wisconsin National Guard Testing Clinic - Ashland, WI
May 1, 2020 - Press Release - Wisconsin National Guard Testing Clinic - Solon Springs, WI
APRIL
April 24, 2020 - Press Release - No Garage Sales in Bayfield or Ashland Counties
April 17 - Press Release - First death from COVID-19 of a Bayfield County Resident
MARCH
March 31 - Press Release - Third COVID-19 Case Reaffirms Community Spread in Bayfield County
March 26 - Press Release - Second COVID-19 Case in Bayfield County and Confirmed Community Spread
March 22 - Press Release - Bayfield County Issues Travel Advisory
March 22 - State of WI Announces New Webpage Resource for COVID-19
March 21 - Updated Guidance from Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture for Businesses:
March 20 - Updated Mass Gathering Ordinance - Now Includes Salons and Tattoo Parlors
March 19 - Press Release - Bayfield County Has First Confirmed COVID-19 Case
March 18 - Child Care Providers - Order Restricting Size of Child Care Settings
March 16 - Wisconsin Department of Health Guidance for Childcare, Head Start and 3 - 4 Yr Old Kindergarten
COVID-19 Prevention Plan
- FOR FAMILIES
- GENERAL WORKPLACES
- BED AND BREAKFASTS
- BODY ART ESTABLISHMENTS
- CAMPGROUNDS
- CHURCHES
- CONVENIENCE STORES & GAS STATIONS
- FARMERS MARKETS
- GROCERY AND RETAIL FOOD
- HOTELS & MOTELS
- RESTAURANTS
- VACATION RENTALS AND TOURIST ROOMING HOUSES
Secondary Contacts
If you have been notified by the Health Department that you had contact with a Coronavirus case, please follow self-quarantine measures for High Risk Exposure and Self-Isolation Procedures for individuals being evaluated for COVID-19.
For All other bayfield county residents
To protect your family and our communities, please take the following precautions.
- Avoid unnecessary trips.
- Practice social distancing any time you must leave your house.
- Stay home if you are sick and practice self-isolation (separate bedroom/bathroom) from your family members if possible.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Follow our Tips for Healthy Communities.
- Help prevent the spread of Coronavirus in your community and other other settings by following these Guidance Documents.