How is Waukesha County dealing with the rising number of coronavirus cases? – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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WAUKESHA - Against a backdrop of again-rising coronavirus cases statewide and locally, Waukesha County has stepped up certain public health initiatives, though no new enforcement measures are planned, following the county's trend sincethe pandemic's early days.

Mindful of the fact that COVID-19 cases were expected to climb in the fall, the county's public health department in particular has concentrated on the use of trained contact tracers to get a handle on where and how the virus is being transmitted.

Other efforts already in place since spring have also been heightened, including free testing sites as part of what Linda Wickstrom, public information officer for the Department of Health & Human Services& Emergency Operations Center, called a "four-pronged approach."

Waukesha County saw a single-day record-high 172 cases as recently as Sept. 17, with another 100 cases reported in the most recent data Sept. 21, according to the county's COVID-19 dashboard. That outpaced spikes in late July and in the first half of Augustand was more than triple the highest number, 52, through May.

It also mirrored state reports, which topped 2,500 twice on Sept. 18 and 19, according to Wisconsin data.

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Wickstrom said the county has not been caught off guard by the recent spikes. In fact, to a large extent, it was anticipated.

"For months, Waukesha County Public Health has been aware of and preparing for a potential increase in COVID-19 cases in the fall," she said. "It was anticipated in spring that an increase could occur later in the year due to a combination of factors including Labor Day activities, schools reopening, and individuals spending more time indoors as the weather cools down."

Given that reality, the health department beefed up its infrastructure "to historically unforeseen levels" by addressing four areas: contact tracing, COVID testing, data collection and educational partnerships.

Contract tracingrequires more staffing as cases increase, and the county has responded in kind, Wickstrom said, increasing the number of contact tracers from eight initially to a staff of more than 200 that also includes support staff and specialists.

"The new team consists of contact tracers, disease investigators and administrative staff that were hired, trained, and onboarded to track and stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the community," she said.

The number of contact tracers was aided by a partnership with Carroll University that created a structured training program. In all, 114 contact tracers were added to the county's staff through that program.

Carroll wasn't alone among educational institutions now playing a role in pandemic control efforts.

A line forms outside the Waukesha County Expo Center on July 22, before the opening of a free COVID-19 drive-thru testing site. By the end of September, there will have been eight community drive-thru test events at the expo center. The Wisconsin National Guard conducts the tests.(Photo: Scott Ash / Now News Group)

"Waukesha County is working in partnership with all public school districts and dozens of private schools in the county to engage staff in initial contact tracing efforts to ensure faster response to positive cases," Wickstrom said. "Schools have direct access to disease investigators for guidance regarding specific situations related to the virus."

She added that the county also worked with school boards and district administrators on safety protocols and other COVID-related plans for the new school year.

The county also partnered for more testing events, a rare occurrence during the onset of the pandemic because of the lack of access to testing kits. By the end of September, eight community drive-thru test events at the Waukesha County Expo Center will have taken place, Wickstrom said. Each event now offers 600 tests, 200 more than previous events at the center.

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That's on top of several other testing sites offered by the county by appointment.

Even the county's dashboard offering a daily snapshot of what's going on within the county in the pandemic battle has been revised. The website now reflectsactive child cases within school district boundaries, hospital capacity data andCOVID-19 trends over a 14-day period.

The extension of Gov. Tony Evers mask mandate on Tuesday, extending the requirement for indoor masks through Nov. 21, has again raised questions about how the county will enforce violations.

When it comes to enforcement, the county has continued along the same path it initiated in spring, relying on the public's reports to various officials and no data on when and where complaints have been focused.

"Waukesha County had processes in place prior to the pandemic that made it quick and uncomplicated for constituents to email or call their local elected officials and the Department of Health and Human Services," Wikstrom said. "During the pandemic, staff within Public Health and Environmental Health have been responding by email or phone conversation regarding residents concerns over and interpretation of State orders. The county appreciates how residents have reached out with the desire to help keep our community safe."

The county also continues to stress guidelines for safety protocols aimed at the general population, including six-foot social distancing, mask usage for closer contact, frequent hand cleaning and avoidance of other people, especially those who are already ill or infected.

Wickstrom said the county's response acknowledges its awareness of the rising coronavirus infectionnumbers as well as the tendency for people to become complacent, requiring health officials to again stress the need for caution.

"COVID-19 does not become less contagious because some people become tired of it," she said in a summary of measures the county hopes people will continue to abide by.

Contact Jim Riccioli at (262) 446-6635 or james.riccioli@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jariccioli.

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How is Waukesha County dealing with the rising number of coronavirus cases? - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel