Communicable Disease-COVID-19 and others

COVID-19: A Global Pandemic

Updated March 26, 2020 at 2:08 p.m.

DO YOUR PART. PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING IN ALL INSTANCES
TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 IN OUR COMMUNITY. 

YOU ARE SAFER AT HOME.

Not following guidelines undermines the sacrifices our community is making.

Underlined items are links to quality websites and key resources for you and your family.

Social distancing is: keep a 6 foot distance between you and other people,  stay home if you are ill, if you traveled outside of Wisconsin in the past 14 days-self quarantine for the full 14 days. And keep washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

NEW resources from CDC on YouTube in American Sign Language, ASL.  

Children and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). 

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services will keep updates at this website. Links to resources are also included here.

Symptoms of COVID-19. 

Key Messages

• If you are experiencing signs and symptoms of COVID-19, please call your health care provider
• You are safer at home. 
• We all need to work together to and stay home. This will help us flatten the curve and protect the capacity of the health care system to serve those who will suffer with the most severe disease from COVID-19. Keeping our health care system from becoming overwhelmed so it can care for us during this pandemic is our number one priority.
• The only tool we have to stem the tide of COVID-19 is physical separation from each other. We have to stop this virus from spreading further.
• The COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting changes to our lifestyles, can make anyone anxious or even depressed. Do not hesitate to ask for help if you're feeling overwhelmed. Call 800-985-5990 to speak to a trained crisis counselor or text TalkWithUS to 66747.
• While you may not be able to be in the same room with your support system, you can still call or video chat with them.
• Younger people, and particularly those who are 18 to 30 years old, aren’t immune to COVID-19. Anyone can contract COVID-19. So it's important for everyone, including young and healthy people, to practice social distancing.
• Together we can make a difference in the fight against COVID-19.
  • Stay home if you can and especially if you are sick.
  • Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.
  • Practice social distancing. Please keep six feet between people and avoid direct physical contact

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after contact with someone who has COVID-19. If you have been to an affected geographic area within the past two weeks and develop symptoms, call your doctor.

Protect Yourself by:

• Wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.
• Keep a personal radius of six feet around yourself.
• Regularly clean and disinfect commonly used surfaces and objects. 
• Avoid people who are sick.

Personal protective equipment (PPE):  How to don (put on), use and doft (remove) ppe.

For your mental health:

Take a break from watching/listening to the media. Find ways to relax and decompress. The volume of media coverage may cause people to feel anxious and stressed. Try to enjoy some time outdoors, in the sunshine, and maybe even try meditation or mindfulness exercises. Our world is enduring unprecedented challenges. Embrace finding ways to have a peaceful moment with your family. 

Also, maintain a daily routine similar to the routine you followed prior to the limitations imparted due to COVID-19.  This is especially important for children.  Set aside specific time for reading, school work, physical activities, and so on.  Create a written plan with each of your children.  Be sure to include expectations for teenagers and having friends over while no adult is present. Frank discussions about your expectations help limit risk taking behaviors.

A video for children to explain coronavirus and the current situation.

Travel advisory updates are located here. Please check here before and after you travel.  Governor Evers executive orders are located here.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services updates its information on the state's investigation of COVID-19 Monday through Friday at 2:00 p.m. 

Meningitis Information

Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges, the tissue and fluid covering the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis may be caused by a virus or a bacterium.

Students aged 11 years and older may be eligible for meningitis vaccine. Please speak with your child's health care provider about what your child needs or should have based upon your circumstances.  Some children aged 16 or older may need a booster dose of meningitis vaccine.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services provides detailed information on meningitis.  Details may be found here.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also provide information.

See details on where to get vaccines under the IMMUNIZATION tab.