March 18, 2020 – Washington Co., WI – On March 17, 2020 the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department issued a notification that “a person residing in Washington County has tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). This person sought medical care and was tested as a result of their symptoms.”
Valerie Grimm with the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department said the person was not exposed to the public. “This person immediately sought medical care and they followed all of our protocol,” said Grimm. “They stayed home and the spread is limited because they followed all our guidelines.”
Grimm said it was a “quick response” by the person involved and “all the health department standards were followed” and the “person self quarantined.”
Grimm said “because of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) the Health Department can only release the county with which the person lives and no other information will be released.
The decision to not release the municipality is board policy, according to the director of the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department Kirsten Johnson.
That government-run department is chaired by Washington County Board Chairman Don Kriefall (262) 335-4307
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Below is the initial announcement.
The individual is currently isolated and has followed all recommendations made by the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department.
To prevent the spread of illness, the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department is conducting a contact investigation to identify and follow-up with any people who had close contact with this individual. Close contacts will be monitored by local public health department staff; individuals will complete daily symptom and temperature checks and will be self-quarantined.
Today, Governor Tony Evers ordered a moratorium on mass gatherings of 10 people or more to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Effective at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 all public and private mass gatherings of 10 or more are prohibited in the State of Wisconsin. Additionally, all bars and restaurants shall close in the State of Wisconsin except for delivery and take-out services.
To minimize the spread of illness, the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department recommends people postpone or cancel non-essential travel to areas with COVID-19, including both international travel and domestic travel. Residents are urged to stay home if they are sick, practice social distancing of 6 feet or more between other people, practice good hygiene by washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and frequently disinfect commonly touched surfaces.
“In an effort to slow the spread of COVID- 19, we ask all of our residents to heed the Governor’s orders and to consider the health of the most vulnerable in our communities,” said Health Officer Kirsten Johnson.
There are numerous resources on the CDC website to help prepare for and respond to COVID-19.