COVID-19

ThedaCare updates isolation, masking guidelines

Published by admin on Tue, 03/12/2024 - 12:26pm

ThedaCare is updating isolation and masking guidelines at all facilities. The goal of these guidelines is to provide a safe, healing environment.

Guidelines for visiting a patient in isolation, including those being treated for COVID-19, include a limit of two visitors at the same time. Visitors should go directly to the patient’s room and remain in the room during the visit, except to use the public restroom. For everyone’s safety, visitors should wear personal protective equipment, including masks, and follow all instructions provided.

Oconto County health officials release COVID alert

Published by admin on Fri, 08/06/2021 - 10:25am

Oconto County Public Health issued a health alert Aug. 5 in response to quickly rising COVID-19 cases in the county.

According to the Centers for Disease Control’s Data Tracker, Oconto County is experiencing a high level of community transmission of COVID-19, defined as more than 100 new COVID-19 cases in seven days and more than 10% of COVID-19 tests being positive, the health alert said.

Gillett parents ask to end mask mandate

Published by admin on Tue, 04/20/2021 - 3:50pm

Twenty parents of children in the Gillett School District asked the school board April 15 to consider repealing the current mandate that students wear masks or face coverings while in school.

“I know that you all are going through a lot of things with all of the COVID-19 restrictions,” said Lisa Anderson, mother of two Gillett students. “But, there are a lot of health concerns for healthy people wearing masks.”

Anderson expressed her concerns about how children are getting masks.

Brewers vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson

Published by admin on Mon, 04/05/2021 - 4:07pm

The Milwaukee Brewers announced the team received the COVID-19 vaccine over the weekend but wouldn’t disclose what percentage of players and staffers participated.

Major League Baseball has announced it would relax protocols for teams that had 85% of their players and primary field staff vaccinated. Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns declined to say whether the Brewers had reached that 85% threshold.

Stearns did say the Brewers who participated received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Oconto County Public Health accepting COVID-19 vaccination appointments

Published by admin on Tue, 03/16/2021 - 4:45pm

UPDATE: Oconto County Public Health (OCPH) is now accepting COVID-19 vaccination appointments for those who are currently eligible in Wisconsin as well as for those who will become eligible on March 22, including individuals age 16 and older with asthma (moderate-to-severe), cancer, cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain), chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), cystic fibrosis, diabetes, Down syndrome, heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies), hypertension or h

COVID numbers plummet in Oconto County

Published by admin on Mon, 03/15/2021 - 3:52pm

Oconto County has seen a dramatic decline in local COVID-19 activity in the past month or so, Oconto Falls School District Superintendent Dean Hess told the school board March 8.

Metrics such as the number of cases per 100,000 and new cases have plunged since the peaks of last fall, Hess said.

“In each one of these areas that in months past we were seeing data that had us in the highest risk, or in some cases two or three times the level of the highest risk, we’re now seeing numbers that put us anywhere from low to moderate,” he said.

March 23-24 are virtual days for Gillett schools

Published by admin on Wed, 03/10/2021 - 10:25am

The Gillett School District will be fully virtual on March 23-24, after staff members received their second COVID-19 shot.

Taking the lead from other area school districts, the district announcement said the decision to go fully virtual for these two days stems from side effects people are experiencing after receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Most of the Gillett staff is scheduled to receive their second dose on March 22 or March 23.

Gillett prom will go on, with some restrictions

Published by admin on Tue, 02/23/2021 - 3:47pm

Gillett High School juniors and seniors will get their long-awaited prom on May 8, with pandemic-era restrictions on who can attend, the Gillett School Board learned Feb. 18.

The prom, which was canceled last year, will be open only to the classes of 2021 and 2022, with no people from outside the Gillett School District, Superintendent Todd Hencsik said.

“I know I’m going to hear from parents, for example, ‘My child has been dating this person from Suring for three years,’ but we feel it’s necessary to draw the line,” Hencsik said.

Oconto County ready to ‘go on offense’ against COVID-19

Published by admin on Wed, 01/27/2021 - 8:14am

Oconto County Public Health started a waiting list for COVID-19 vaccinations on Jan. 20, and the deluge began.

“We had about 120 calls in the first hour,” Health & Human Services Director Mike Reimer told the Oconto County Board. “It backed up our voicemail system.” Reimer added that they had to ask Wayne Sleeter, technology services director, to increase the storage on the phones so they could keep up with the calls coming in.

Oconto County asks for patience on vaccine distribution

Published by admin on Wed, 01/20/2021 - 12:39pm

Oconto County Public Health is asking people to be patient as they wait for COVID-19 vaccine to become more readily available locally, and in the meantime the department continues to encourage people to observe safety protocols.