For the Tomahawk Leader
LINCOLN COUNTY – The Lincoln County Health Department (LCHD) announced on Thursday, Nov. 12 that Lincoln County has reached a “Critical High” number of COVID-19 cases.
In a release, LCHD urged county businesses, organizations and residents to “follow the strategies below to slow the spread of disease.”
“Because of the surge of cases our hospitals are filling up and we are losing loved ones due to this virus,” said Shelley Hersil, Lincoln County Health Officer. “We as a community and as individuals need to do all we can to slow the spread, so health care can do their job in providing everyone with the care they need, as they need it. If activities are not essential, I ask that they be postponed until our community is healthier. Lincoln County’s surge of cases is impacting individuals of all ages. We are seeing spread among families, workplaces, schools, and throughout the community.”
According to the release, 66 Lincoln County residents have been hospitalized due to COVID-19. Last week, 41% of COVID-19 tests came back positive, resulting in 289 new cases. A total of 16 COVID-19 associated deaths have occurred in Lincoln County as of Thursday, Nov. 12.
LCHD said health officials “want to remind everyone you should expect to come in contact with COVID-19 when leaving your home.”
“We ask all community members to follow public health recommendations and avoid going in public unless absolutely necessary, such as going to work and picking up groceries, refilling prescriptions and other essentials,” LCHD stated. “If you have to leave your home, make sure you are not sick, practice physical distancing, wear face coverings and wash hands often. We understand this is tough and that everyone is tired, but we need everyone to work together to slow the spread of COVID-19.”
LCHD said that although it is “doing all we can to mitigate the spread (of COVID-19),” contract tracing and disease investigation are ineffective “unless we all work together and do what our part when we can.”
“We are facing very challenging times ahead,” LCHD stated.
Visit www.co.lincoln.wi.us/covid19 for the most recent Lincoln County COVID-19 data reports and updates and www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/disease.htm for Wisconsin COVID-19 data, resources, statistics and more.