by Kevin Zimmermann
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) – Another Sheboygan County resident – identified only as a person between the ages of 40 and 59, has fallen victim to COVID-19 as Governor Evers declared a public health emergency and subsequently required face coverings be worn statewide by everyone 5 and older.
The order requires the masks when an individual is indoors or in an enclosed space, other than at a private residence AND when another person or persons who are not members of individual’s household or living unit are present in the same room or enclosed space. “Enclosed Space” refers to a confined space open to the public where individuals congregate, including but not limited to outdoor bars, restaurants, taxis, public transit, ride-share vehicles, and outdoor park structures in addition to indoor areas. Exceptions are allowed for eating and drinking, communicating with deaf and hard of hearing, sleeping and many other situations that could not be done with the face covered. The emergency order puts to an end the patchwork of various measures taken by cities, counties and municipalities in their own attempts to reign in the spread of the coronavirus.
While acknowledging that local health departments have been doing “a heck of a job” responding to the pandemic, the governor says a statewide approach is needed to get Wisconsin back on track.
“While emotions are high when it comes to wearing face coverings in public,” he said, “my job as governor is to put people first and to do what’s best for the people of our state, so that’s what I am going to do.”
The State of Emergency will remain in effect for 60 days, or until it is revoked by the Governor or by joint resolution of the Wisconsin State Legislature, and the Emergency Order mandating masks will go into effect at 12:01AM Saturday, August 1st and will expire September 28th, or by a subsequent superseding emergency order.
Both documents involved in these declarations are linked in the Sheboygan County Division of Public Health’s daily update, available at sheboygancounty.com
——-THE NUMBERS—–
The 6th death from COVID-19 in Sheboygan County comes as 16 others recovered from the disease. Ten more persons tested positive out of 157 returns received. 198 cases are now active and 3 remain hospitalized.
In Wisconsin a new daily high of 17,270 tests were returned in a single day, and a new daily high number of positive returns, 1,059, also were received. 295 persons are hospitalized, 101 of them in the ICU. The positive percentage of test returns is relatively flat at 6.1%. 8 persons in all died of COVID-19 in Wisconsin since Wednesday.
Sheboygan County currently has 15 facilities being investigated for instances of COVID-19. In the weekly “Facility-wide Investigations” report, 4 of those are long-term care facilities with two of them named – Pine Haven on Haven Drive in Sheboygan Falls, and Sheboygan Senior Community. The previous investigations at Pine Haven on Giddings Avenue and Sheboygan Progressive Care Center have been completed. 7 non-healthcare workplaces are being investigated, and 4 “other” settings are also being examined.
