Face-Covering Recommendations Back in Place

Door County Public Health issued new recommendations for everyone to wear masks while indoors at public spaces, regardless of vaccination status. 

The new guidance issued Aug. 6 was put into place during a surge in COVID-19 cases across the county and state. The disease activity level for COVID-19 is high in all Wisconsin counties but one, including Door County, according to data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS). In Milwaukee County, the risk level is “very high.”

Masks are also now required in all Door County government facilities. The recommendation will remain in place until numbers drop back down to a “moderate” level for a sustained period or until further guidance is issued.

Door County’s high-level categorization of case activity is created by combining the county’s moderately high burden of 71.3 cases per 100,000 people and a trajectory showing no significant change in cases, according to the WDHS.

As of Aug. 9, there have been 16 new confirmed cases in Door County since Aug. 1. During the past month, between July 9 and Aug. 9, there have been 29 new cases. There have been 2,678 total cases in Door County since the pandemic began in 2020.  

“Scientific evidence shows that masks play an important role in reducing the spread of COVID-19,” according to Door County Public Health. “The increasing numbers of confirmed cases, as well as the multitude of visitors coming to our area, make it important that we all wear a face covering in indoor public places. Together, we all can help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Door County.”

Masks are recommended for those older than two years. 

The Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene tests a sampling of all positive cases for variant identification, and 80% of those tested for the current week were positive for the Delta variant. The Delta variant is highly

transmissible, causing the current surge in cases, and it can spread from vaccinated as well as unvaccinated people when infected.

The best way to protect yourself, your family and your community is by getting fully vaccinated, and local, state and federal public-health officials recommend everyone do so as soon as they are able.

Maintaining social distance while in public, staying home when sick, sanitizing high-touch areas and hand-washing are also recommended.

“This is a critical time for Door County with a marked increase in COVID-19 activity over the past two weeks,” according to the statement issued by Door County Public Health on Aug. 6. “The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing severe illness that can lead to hospitalizations or death, and vaccination remains the top defense against COVID-19, including the Delta variant.”