The Bayfield County Health Department announced Thursday that it has one confirmed case of COVID-19.
It’s the first case detected in Bayfield County. The Bayfield School District was notified the case involved one of its high school students.
"This individual recently traveled where community spread of COVID-19 is occurring, and developed symptoms shortly afterwards,” according to a health department news release.
Bayfield County Health Department and area health care providers are partnering to keep track of this outbreak.
Officials reviewed self-quarantine procedures with the person. Furthermore, the health department plans to contact the person daily to monitor symptoms and ensure they are receiving support to isolate themselves at home.
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All families with students at Bayfield School are being asked to self-quarantine for 14 days, through April 2, and to contact their doctor if they experience a fever, cough or shortness of breath, the district posted on its website.
“We are also working with local, state and federal partners to deal quickly and effectively when people have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been around people who have been infected with the coronavirus,” said Sara Wartman, Bayfield County public health officer.
The Bayfield County Health Department and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) responsibilities include:
• Identifying and contacting anyone who has been in close contact with a person who has COVID-19. These people are asked to quarantine themselves for 14 days from the date of their exposure and will be monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms. People with symptoms are tested for COVID-19.
• Performing follow-up testing for individuals who test positive to determine when a person can be released from isolation.
• Providing guidance to clinicians regarding testing.
• Preparing Wisconsin for community spread of COVID-19.
“We will continue to work with DHS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and our local partners to make sure our community remains safe and healthy,” Wartman said.
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As of Thursday, 155 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus have been reported in Wisconsin, according to the state Department of Health Services . Nearly 2,200 people have tested negative for the illness.
This article was updated at 3:34 p.m. March 19 to add the latest number of cases reported by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and include information from the Bayfield School District. It was originally posted at 1:48 p.m. March 19.
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