Health officials in Brown County confirmed the county's first death from Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Thursday.
“We are devastated by the loss of a life to COVID-19 here in Brown County,” said Brown County Public Health Officer Anna Destree, De Pere Health Officer Debbie Armbruster and Oneida Nation Health Department Public Health Officer Michelle Myers in a joint statement.
“Our hearts go out to all the loved ones affected by this death and all those who continue to suffer from this virus in our community. We are urging the public to continue to practice social distancing now more than ever so we can save as many lives as possible.”
The individual who passed away was a 58-year-old man.
The man had been hospitalized for more than a week. Ted Shove, with the county health department, said the man had other illnesses that likely played a significant role in his death. During the past several months, he had been hospitalized several times.
He had been included in Brown County's total confirmed case count since prior to April 1. Health officials said he did not travel and is believed to have contracted the virus due to community spread.
When the man was showing symptoms and was hospitalized, health care workers were in full PPE.
People who came in contact with the man and may have been at risk for exposure have been contacted. There is no known community spread as a result of this case.
