OCONTO COUNTY (NBC 26) -- Health officials in Oconto County are warning the public about the spread of COVID-19 as the Labor Day weekend approaches.
In a formal call to action Wednesday, the Oconto County Health Officer put an emphasis on social distancing and avoiding large gatherings during the holiday.
Oconto County health officials stated that COVID-19 cases in the county have increased dramatically since late July.
County health officials said in the first two weeks of July, approximately 2% of tests were positive for COVID-19. In the last two weeks of August, approximately 16% have been positive. The county cites data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
The number of positive cases doubled from 200 on August 5 to 405 on August 27, according to a news release from Oconto County's Department of Health and Human Services.
County health officials said this increase is not due to increased testing. This means that more people who are being tested are sick, the county says. There were 488 people tested in the first week of August, and 384 in the last week of August.
From August 13 to 27, the county says the total number of Oconto County residents hospitalized for COVID-19 doubled from 13 to 27.
“With Labor Day weekend approaching, we strongly urge people to avoid hosting or attending large, crowded events. Keep your gatherings small and outdoors. Wash your hands often, wear a mask and stay home if you’re sick, on isolation or quarantine or waiting for COVID-19 test results," stated health officer Debra Konitzer.
The county also said it plans to begin releasing county-specific data on its Facebook page starting in mid-September. Click hereto learn more.
