Clark County Health Department Will Now Be Providing County Specific COVID Data Every Tuesday

Tuesday, December 21st, 2021 -- 1:01 PM

The Clark County Health Department and their local partners currently have a COVID-19 online Data Dashboard that is available on the Clark County website: www.clarkcounty.wi.gov/covid-19.

The CCHD will now be providing Clark County specific COVID-19 data updates on a weekly basis, Tuesdays. This new data update will be available today. In addition, the CCHD will no longer be providing an active confirmed COVID-19 cases municipality map.

With the rise in individuals utilizing both rapid antigen tests and at-home testing, individuals who chose not to be tested for COVID-19, and the increase in COVID-19 cases, there is active COVID-19 widespread throughout the county.

On a monthly basis, the CCHD will now provide a COVID-19 data update for Clark County from the month prior, posted mid-way through the next month. This data update will include total cases, total hospitalizations, and total deaths for the month prior.

It will also include a breakdown of cases by age range for the previous month. This new data update will also be available tomorrow. There are numerous breakdowns of both county and statewide COVID-19 data available through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website COVID-19: Wisconsin Data Summary: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/data.htm.

The CCHD has been co-hosting free COVID-19 testing sites through the National Guard in both Clark and Taylor County. After January 8, 2022, the National Guard will not be providing free COVID-19 testing community sites throughout the state.

Already scheduled free COVID-19 testing through the National Guard in both Clark and Taylor County are as follows Taylor County will be Tuesday, December 21st, 2021 and Tuesday, January 4th, 2022 at the Medford Fire Department (Medford) from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

In Clark County, they’ll be Tuesday, December 28th, 2021 at the Owen-Withee-Curtiss Fire Department in Curtiss from 10:00 AM to   6:00 PM. There are additional COVID-19 testing options available through healthcare facilities, pharmacies, etc.

To find current COVID-19 testing options, please visit the Clark County COVID-19 Testing Information webpage: www.clarkcountywi.gov/ph-covid-19-testing. The Wisconsin DHS sent out a press release announcing a public health advisory urging Wisconsin residents to take urgent action to prevent hospitalizations and deaths, in relation to the Omicron variant.

The Omicron variant has been identified in Wisconsin, and is anticipated in the coming weeks to cause a rapid increase in disease activity. A rapid increase in disease activity will overwhelm health care systems that are already strained.

This will affect all medical emergencies, not just COVID-19 medical emergencies, such as those seeking immediate life-saving attention for traumas, heart attacks, strokes, etc., when there is already a lack of hospital capacity.

The full public health advisory is available at: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/news/releases/122021.htm. COVID-19 vaccines continue to be extremely effective at preventing serious illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Wisconsin DHS provides monthly updates comparing age-adjusted COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths among those who are fully vaccinated versus those who are not fully vaccinated. This data is available at: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine-status.htm.

COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for those aged 5 and older. It is now recommended for those who are aged 16 and older to additionally receive a COVID-19 booster dose. The CCHD continues to provide free COVID-19 vaccines.

The CCHD has the following vaccines available including Moderna, ages 18+, which includes dose 1, dose 2, an additional dose, and a booster dose. They have Johnson & Johnson, Ages 18+, which includes dose 1, an additional dose, and a booster dose.

Finally, they have Pfizer for Ages 5-11, which includes dose 1 and dose 2. The CCHD does not have the Pfizer vaccine for those aged 12 and older. To find COVID-19 vaccine clinics available both through the CCHD and other vaccines administration entities, please visit the Clark County COVID-19 Vaccine Information webpage at: www.clarkcountywi.gov/vaccine-information, or www.vaccines.gov.

The CCHD also recommends additional COVID-19 preventative measures, including masking and social distancing in public spaces, washing your hands, staying home when sick, and getting tested for COVID-19.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.