Covid-19 cases, demand for testing explode

Ozaukee County’s coronavirus case numbers are exploding, causing one public health official to call the situation “dire” this week.

On Tuesday morning, the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department received reports of 378 new positive Covid-19 tests, a number that Bailey Murph, Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department senior public health strategist, said would reach more than 400 by day’s end.

That’s easily the largest number of new cases logged by the department in one day since the coronavirus pandemic began in spring, she said. 

Of that number, 149 cases were in Ozaukee County and 229 in Washington County, Murph said.

“It’s pretty dire right now,” she said. “We’re urging people to stay home as much as they can. There’s so much spread right now.”

People need to pay attention to the numbers, Murph said. 

“Some people are really compliant (wearing masks and social distancing). It is kind of a wake-up call for others who are on the fence of ‘Should I wear a mask? Should I go out?’” she said. “Masks are still one of the best ways to protect yourself and others.”

The increasing number of cases in Ozaukee and Washington counties can be attributed to two things, Murph said — increased testing and community spread.

The county is working with the Wisconsin National Guard to host free testing sites on Fridays and Saturdays at the Ozaukee County Transit Center. Testing is also offered in Washington County on Tuesdays.

The lines for testing have been long, and the 300 tests a day the state allocated to the county were being taken up early each day, Murph said.

That number has now been increased by the state to 450 tests each day, she said.

Those tests are in addition to testing offered by the Public Health Department for students and school staff members.

Murph said the reasons for the long lines are a pent-up demand for testing and the increasing number of people who are getting sick from the disease.

“I think it’s increasing, period,” she said. “And testing has become a little more accessible.

“We’re seeing a lot of community spread and it’s ravaging households,” she added, noting the department is doing a lot of testing of families.

The county’s positivity rate is currently more than 20%, Murph noted

“It’s shocking and it’s not,” she said. “The risk around our community and the state is so high right now. We’re really at a critical level (in southeastern Wisconsin).”  

The department’s contact tracers are working into the evening and on weekends to reach everyone who’s tested positive, Murph said. 

As of Tuesday night, the department reported 2,945 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ozaukee County. Of that number, 902 are active cases and 2,018 people have recovered. The hospitalization rate is 5.43%.

Another 28,099 tests in Ozaukee County have been negative, according to the department.

Twenty-five people in the county have died of Covid-19.

The number of positive cases reflects an increase of 324 since Thursday, Oct. 30, and the active cases have increased by 187 people, according to the department.

Murph said the department is seeing a significant number of school cases, noting that it has identified several hundred students who have been in close contact with someone who has Covid-19.

“Some schools are seeing a larger percentage of students being affected. Some are seeing a larger percentage of staff,” she said. “It varies from school to school.”

Although the department advises school districts on how to handle the disease, she said, it is up to individual districts to decide when to close schools.

The department is also seeing a number of workplace exposures, Murph said. 

Murph said the department is urging people to get their flu shots, noting that the flu appears to compound issues with Covid-19.

The Ozaukee County testing sites are held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays , Nov. 6 and 13, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 7, 14, 21 and Dec. 5, at the Transit Services Building, 410 S. Spring St., Port Washington. 

Testing, which is for people ages 5 and older, will be closed earlier if the county reaches its 450 test limit.

Murph said the department is urging people to register online at register.covidconnect.wi.gov, although they may also register at the testing site.

“It just saves time, especially when you have a lot of cars,” she said.

But, she added, online registration does not guarantee a test. Testing is done on a first come, first served basis.

Given the potential for increased exposure over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, Murph said, the department is working on plans for additional testing.

“We know on Dec. 5, the need for testing won’t go away,” she said, referring to the last planned testing date.