NEW RICHMOND – St. Croix County Public Health has extended its Health Advisory until April 5, 2022. Although the number of reported cases is dropping in St. Croix County, we still need everyone’s help to protect our community.

As of Feb. 6, 2022, St. Croix County was experiencing an average of 59 reported COVID19 cases a day. COVID-19 transmission remains high for our county at a case rate of 651 cases per 100,000 population in a seven-day period for Jan. 30 through Feb. 5, 2022. Community transmission is considered high when the COVID-19 case rate is at least 100 cases per 100,000 population in a seven-day period.

Together we can continue to lower the spread of COVID-19 in our community by following these simple steps:

•Get your COVID-19 vaccine or booster if eligible

•Wear a mask in public (a well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask is recommended for better protection; read the St. Croix County Health Advisory for more guidance on masking)

•Practice physical distancing

•Stay home when you are sick (if your children are sick, do not send them to school)

•Get tested if you have symptoms or are a close contact

•Wash your hands frequently A layered approach using these recommendations can help us slow the spread of COVID19. Of these recommendations, vaccination remains the best tool we have to prevent unnecessary health issues and loss of life. Unvaccinated individuals are more likely to be hospitalized and die from COVID-19 compared to those fully vaccinated. Data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) for December 2021 shows that people not fully vaccinated were diagnosed with COVID-19 at a rate three times higher, hospitalized with COVID-19 at a rate 10 times higher, and died from COVID-19 at a rate 14 times higher than people who were fully vaccinated.

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Everyone 5 years of age and older are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in Wisconsin. Public Health is offering free first and second doses and booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine on Mondays at the Services Center in New Richmond from noon – 4 p.m.

You can sign up for your vaccine by following the instructions on the St. Croix County website: sccwi.gov/COVID-19-Vaccine The CDC recommends COVID-19 booster shots for people 12 years of age and older for protection against COVID-19 severe illness, hospitalization, and death. The current recommendations for booster shots are:

•Pfizer: For ages 12 and older 5 months after your second dose

•Moderna: For ages 18 and older 5 months after your second dose

•J& J: For ages 18 and older 2 months after your first dose

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Public Health urges everyone who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or has been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 to get tested. PCR testing is available at the St. Croix County Services Center in New Richmond. You can find a more information and a list of testing locations on the St. Croix County website: sccwi.gov/COVID19-Testing ____________________________________________