Waushara County Health Department releases updated COVID-19 guidelines

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Over the course of the last year the community has worked hard to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This was in large part due to the efforts of physical distancing, masking, increased sanitation and limiting trips as much as possible. This has been difficult for many, but your efforts have kept disease rates low in our communities.

On July 27 the CDC. Guidelines were updated for individuals who are fully vaccinated. Even though the CDC has given this guidance COVID-19 has not gone away and we are now dealing with the Delta Variant. Preliminary research has indicated that only a small portion of vaccinated people will contract COVID, even the variant. Research has also indicated that vaccinated people who do contract COVID can spread it to others. The efforts you take in the coming months will determine how well the virus continues to be contained.

On Sept. 9, President Biden directed OSHA to draft an emergency rule to require testing and vaccinations for employers with 100 or more employees and other categories. This rule has not been published as of yet, but employers should be aware that this rule is coming and may alter employer’s requirements.

The Waushara County Health Department has issued the following safety recommendations for following CDC guidelines for those that are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

You are considered fully vaccinated if it has been two or more weeks since they got the second dose in a two-dose series (such as Pfizer or Moderna), or one dose of a single-dose vaccine (such as Johnson & Johnson).

You are still required to wear a mask in any health care facility, correctional, or detention facility and homeless shelters. You are also required to wear a mask travelers on planes, buses, trains, and all forms of public transportation within the US or places where masks are required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, or in any business or employer that has a specific policy related to masking.

Vaccinated people:

•May participate or attend indoor or outdoor activities without a mask.

•Should wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission (Waushara County is high transmission per CDC and critically high per Wisconsin Department of Health as of Oct. 6).

•If immunocompromised or at increased risk or if someone in the household is at increased risk or unvaccinated, consider making regardless of transmission level.

•If in close contact with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 positive case, be tested three to five days after exposure and wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until a negative test result.

•Isolate for 10 days if experiencing symptoms or have tested positive.

Public Schools:

•Will be under the direction of State DPI and each individual school.

•CDC is currently recommending universal masking of all teachers, students, staff, and visitors regardless of vaccination status.

Playgrounds: This area is frequented by children who are not fully vaccinated at this time.

•Businesses with playgrounds may reopen if they can maintain an increased cleaning frequency.

•Sanitize commonly touched surfaces frequently (i.e. at least twice a day) with an EOA approved product for novel coronavirus.

•Limit capacity to 50% of total occupancy.

Religious gatherings:

•Guidance provided by your church’s hierarchy.

The Waushara County Health Department cannot give legal advice to anyone regarding the potential liability to any business, person, or organization that operates with, or without, adherence to these recommendations. Each individual should consult with his or her own legal counsel if they become ill at a business, event, or due to the actions of others. Likewise, you should consult with your own legal counsel if your business, event, or action contributes to the illness of others.

The Waushara County Health Department appre-ciates your commitment to keeping the community safe as the coming months are navigated. Your efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 are greatly appreciated by those who live, work, and play in Waushara County.

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