Taylor County Public health urges people to continue to wear masks
Taylor County public health director Patty Krug is joining with Price and Marathon County health officials to urge people to continue to wear face masks to control the spread of COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services recommend that individuals wear masks to slow the spread of COVID-19. Face masks provide an additional step to help prevent people from getting and spreading COVID-19.
Despite the decline in the number of COVID cases in recent weeks, Wisconsin is still experiencing a high level of COVID-19 activity. Moreover, on March 26, Wisconsin identified its third variant strain of the virus that causes COVID-19 circulating in Wisconsin. These three new strains spread more rapidly and easily.
The COVID-19 vaccine will prevent a person from serious illness and death. As of April 5, 12% of Taylor County residents have completed the vaccine series and nearly 19% have received at least one dose.
According to the CDC, more research is needed to know if people can spread the virus after being vaccinated, hence the need to wear face masks. Wearing a mask, even after you are vaccinated, is an important part of disease prevention. Any person over the age of 16 is now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
To protect the health and safety of people in the region, every tool available to control the spread of COVID-19 needs to be used. Wearing a face mask, physically distancing, limiting in-person gatherings, and washing hands are actions individuals can take to decrease their risk for being exposed to COVID-19. By carrying out these actions, each of us can reduce the likelihood of a surge in cases similar to what we experienced between mid-September 2020 and mid-January 2021.
Individuals are advised to wear a face mask when: Indoors or in an enclosed space with persons you do not live with, other than at a private residence, and another person or persons who are not members of individual’s household or living unit are present in the same room or enclosed space.
Face masks are recommended in other settings, including outdoors, when it is not possible to maintain physical distancing.
